ON THIS PAGE (Part I)
Introduction
Scripture Alone or Scripture Plus Tradition?
Sola Scriptura Is Not Taught in the Bible
Tradition Is Not a Dirty Word
All Scripture Is God-breathed And Completes And Fully Equips The Man Of God
The "Word of God" Refers to Oral Teaching Also
ON NEXT PAGE (Part II)
Jesus and Paul Accepted Non-Biblical Oral and Written Traditions
The Apostles Exercised Authority at the Council of Jerusalem
Pharisees, Sadducees, and Oral, Extra Biblical Tradition
Old Testament Jews Did Not Believe in Sola Scriptura
Going to The Bible Hasn't Worked
The Canon
Introduction
Sola Scriptura, one of the five solas of the Reformation, is a Latin phrase meaning "by Scripture alone,"
The word "alone" does not mean that Protestants "believe the Scriptures are the only source of knowledge, the only witness to the truth, or the only book we can consult when doing theology. Sola Scriptura means the Bible is the final determining factor or arbiter in all religious questions or controversies.
Catholicism on the other hand holds that both Scriptures and the teachings of the Church are equally authoritative sources of doctrine. According to Rome
.. both Scripture and Tradition must be accepted and honored with equal feelings of devotion and reverence. Sacred Tradition and sacred Scripture make up a single sacred deposit of the Word of God, which is entrusted to the Church. [01]
There is however, no unity between Scripture and Catholic tradition. And to complicate matters, the traditions of the Catholic Church is recorded in 150 volumes many of which contradict another. For example, pope Gregory XIV said that it was not murder to abort an embryo of less than 40 days reversing a decision reversed a 1588 decree by Pope Sixtus V, which treated termination of pregnancy at any stage as homicide.
Finally, in 1869, Pope Pius IX sidestepped the hominization debate and declared that the fetus, "although not ensouled, is directed to the forming of man. Therefore, its ejection is anticipated homicide" at any stage of pregnancy and incurs excommunication. [02]
Another outstanding example HERE
Which is one of the reasons Sola Scriptura was one of the five solas of the Reformation. (Emphasis Added)
The dispute with Rome was not over the inspiration or inerrancy of Scripture. Rome affirmed both doctrines. The problem, instead, was due to the fact that over the course of many centuries, Rome had gradually adopted a view of the relation between the church, Scripture, and tradition that effectively placed final authority somewhere other than God. Tradition was conceived of as a second source of revelation, and the pope and Roman magisterium were viewed as the final authority in matters of faith and practice. [03]
Note: The Latin word Magister is the root for modern terms like master or magistrate. In Catholicism the Magisterium is the official teaching authority of the Catholic Church, made up of the Pope and the bishops who are believed to have infallible authority to teach religious truth.
Scripture Alone or Scripture Plus Tradition?
The Catholic church argues that the Bible neither explicitly says, nor implicitly implies, that it is the Christian’s only authoritative guide.
An article entitled 'A Quick Ten-Step Refutation of Sola Scriptura' (Henceforth TSR), written by Catholic apologist Dave Armstrong on Catholic Answers, denies that biblical passages teach that Scripture is the rule of faith in isolation from the Church and Tradition.
In other words, it sets out to prove that Catholic tradition is commensurate with the Word of God.
What follows are a refutation of some of the points made on Catholic Answers. (Please note that I have not always maintained the order of the points as in the original article. (As a reminder - TSR is Ten-Step Refutation. IPS (in red) is InPlainSite)
TSR
One of the statements made is that.. "Sola Scriptura Is Not Taught in the Bible
"Catholics agree with Protestants that Scripture is a "standard of truth" - even the preeminent standard - but not in a sense that rules out the binding authority of authentic apostolic tradition and the Church. The Bible doesn't teach that. Catholics agree that Scripture is materially insufficient.
In other words, in this view, every true doctrine can be found in the Bible, if only implicitly and indirectly by deduction. But no biblical passage teaches that Scripture is the formal authority or rule of faith in isolation from the Church and Tradition. Sola scriptura can't even be deduced from implicit passages." [04]
Much to the contrary, unless you have your mind already firmly made up, Sola Scriptura CAN be deduced (in fact easily deduced) from the New Testament.
Dave Armstrong goes on to say...
"Tradition Is Not a Dirty Word"
"When the phrases "word of God" or "word of the Lord" appear in Acts and the epistles, they almost always refer to oral preaching, not to Scripture. For example:
"When you received the word of God which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men but as what it really is, the word of God". (1 Thessalonians 2:13)
If we compare this passage with another, written to the same church, Paul appears to regard oral teaching and the word of God as synonymous:
"Keep away from any brother who is living in idleness and not in accord with the tradition that you received from us” (2 Thessalonians 3:6) [05]
He goes on to say (Emphasis Added)
"Protestants often quote the verses in the Bible where corrupt traditions of men are condemned (e.g., Matt. 15: 2–6; Mark 7:8 – 13; Col. 2:8). Of course, Catholics agree with this. But it's not the whole truth. True, apostolic tradition also is endorsed positively. This Tradition is in total harmony with and consistent with Scripture." [06]
Note the words "True, apostolic tradition" in the quote immediately above.
IPS:
Which completely misses the point Paul was making.
If 2 Thessalonians 3:6 is read carefully Paul said to keep away from any brother who was not living according to the tradition he received from THEM ie. the Apostles. In fact, he was reiterating what he had said in his previous letter to the Thessalonians
And we continually thank God because, when you received the word of God that you heard from us (Paul and Silas in this case), you accepted it not as the word of men, but as the true word of God - the word which is now at work in you who believe. (1 Thessalonians 2:13)
In other words Paul regarded the teachings of the Apostles as being synonymous with the word of God. So the "True, apostolic tradition" that Dave Armstrong mentions can only mean the tradition they learned from the original Apostles that were "the Lord's command".
Jesus' emphasis on holding on to God's word rather than tradition ...
and in vain do they worship Me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.’ "Neglecting the commandment of God, you hold to the tradition of men.” He was also saying to them, "You are experts at setting aside the commandment of God in order to keep your tradition. (Mark 7:7-9 NASB)
... was also stressed by Paul in his second letter to the Thessalonians
Therefore, brothers, stand firm and cling to the traditions we taught you, whether by speech or by letter. (2 Thessalonians 2:15 BSB)
... As he told the Corinthians they traditions they taught were "the Lord's command".
If anyone considers himself a prophet or spiritual person, let him acknowledge that what I am writing you is the Lord's command. (1 Corinthians 14:37 BSB)
He repeated this in his letter to the Galatians when he said 'the gospel he preached "was not devised by man" but "received it by revelation from Jesus Christ". (Galatians 1:11-12). He added in verse 16 that he "did not rush to consult with flesh and blood". (If we would only learn to do the same)
Paul also praised the Corinthians for
"... remembering me in everything and for maintaining the traditions, just as I passed them on to you. (1 Corinthians 11:2 BSB)
And instructed Timothy to
Hold on to the pattern of sound teaching you have heard from me, with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. (2 Timothy 1:13 BSB)
Then, a little later in the same letter, added that "evil men and impostors go from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived" then urged him to
"... continue in the things you have learned and firmly believed, since you know from whom you have learned them. From infancy you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for instruction, for conviction, for correction, and for training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be complete, fully equipped for every good work. (2 Timothy 3:13-17 BSB)
He also commanded the Thessalonians
Now we command you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, to keep away from any brother who leads an undisciplined life that is not in keeping with the tradition you received from us. (2 Thessalonians 3:6 BSB)
He also warned the Colossians about deception based on human tradition
See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception, which are based on human tradition and the spiritual forces of the world rather than on Christ. (Colossians 2:8 BSB)
All Scripture Is God-breathed And Completes And Fully Equips The Man Of God
Although the New Testament does not contain a record of everything that Jesus did (John 21:25) in chapter 20 of his Gospel John wrote,
Jesus performed many other signs in the presence of His disciples, which are not written in this book. But these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in His name. (John 20:30-31 BSB)
We can infer from this statement that John included in his gospel all the essential teachings of Christ necessary for salvation was recorded
Paul was no less clear when he told Timothy that
All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for instruction, for conviction, for correction, and for training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be complete, fully equipped for every good work. (2 Timothy 3:16-17 BSB)
NOTE: If, as Rome says, the sacraments (Baptism, the Eucharist, confession, etc.) that, according to Roman Catholicism, are all essential for salvation, Paul was very mistaken - Scripture is not enough to "complete" the man of God and 'fully equip' him for every good work.
See Catholicism's Salvation Requirements
The Bereans: One also has to ask how the Bereans verified the truth of what Paul and Silas were telling them.
The answer - by searching the Scriptures.
In other words, the Scriptures had to confirm the truth of what they were being told otherwise the two apostles would probably have been relegated to the 'tellers of tall tales' bin.
Now the Bereans were more noble-minded than the Thessalonians, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if these teachings were true. (Acts 17:11 BSB)
(It is a tragedy of immense proportions that we don't follow their example today)
Of course let us not forget that in writing to believers, Jude said our faith was once for all delivered to the saints.
Beloved, while I was making every effort to write you about our common salvation, I felt the necessity to write to you appealing that you contend earnestly for the faith that was once for all time handed down to the saints. (Jude 1:3 NASB)
Then to crown it all we have Ephesians 2:19-20
Therefore you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of God's household, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus Himself as the cornerstone. (Ephesians 2:19-20 BSB)
In the above verse the English word 'built' was translated from the Greek epoikodomethentes which is the aorist passive tense. [07]. This tense is explained so by The Mezzofanti Guild - a site all about language learning authored by a Christian. (Emphasis Added)
The simplest way to think about the aorist tense is this: It describes an action as a whole, complete event. [08]
Please Note: One of the texts that many Christians put forth as supporting evidence for Sola Scriptura is 1 Corinthians 4:6 in which Paul warned the Corinthians not to go beyond what was written. This is not a verse that can be used to support Sola Scriptura - not if read in context. See Footnote I
Also See Context is CRUCIAL
In Summary:
I have absolutely no idea how many more verses it would take to convince someone that Scripture teaches that only the teachings of the Apostles are to be regarded as truth and that the Bible has told us ALL we need to know. (That is if Paul's statements are to be relied on)
The only tradition endorsed by the Apostles was what they passed on the the early believers. The church was built on the foundation they laid based on the Hebrew Scriptures of which Jesus was the foundation.
Therefore you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of God's household, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus Himself as the cornerstone. (Ephesians 2:19-20 BSB)
The church and its hierarchy have made up its own rules and regulations and created its own doctrines. The very fact that these 'traditions" contradict Scripture means that they are nothing but the precepts of men that Jesus condemned.
They worship Me in vain; they teach as doctrine the precepts of men.’ You have disregarded the commandment of God to keep the tradition of men." He went on to say, "You neatly set aside the command of God to maintain your own tradition. (Mark 7:7-9 BSB)
In any case, if as Catholicism claims, the teaching authority of the church and its traditions are commensurate with the Scriptures how is it possible that so many of its beliefs and teachings flatly contradict what the Bible says. For example see,
The Mass - An Actual Sacrifice?
Transubstantiation
Purgatory and Indulgences
The Catholic Sacrament of Confession
Also See
Catholicism - Christian or Cult?
Thus the ONLY way to keep our feet on the straight and narrow is to stick to what the Father has revealed in the Bible that we know is to be completely relied on. The same cannot be said for man's traditions formulated somewhere along the line. Humans are not only very, very fallible but, all too often, get carried away by their own sense of self-importance.
This does not mean that all tradition is to be shunned but only those that do not conform to Scripture.
Also See Section A Remarkable Book Called The Bible - Evidence For The Bible's Credibility
TSR
"The "Word of God" Refers to Oral Teaching"
"Word" in Holy Scripture often refers to a proclaimed, oral teaching of prophets or apostles. What the prophets spoke was the word of God regardless of whether or not their utterances were recorded later as written Scripture. For example, we read in Jeremiah:
"For twenty-three years . . . the word of the Lord has come to me and I have spoken to you again and again . . . 'But you did not listen to me,’ declares the Lord. . . . Therefore the Lord Almighty says this: "Because you have not listened to my words. . . .'" (Jer. 25:3, 7-8 [NIV])
This was the word of God even though some of it was not recorded in writing. It had equal authority as writing or proclamation-never-reduced-to-writing. This was true also of apostolic preaching." [09]
IPS:
True enough. Considering that Jesus taught for about three years and Paul preached for approximately thirty makes it obvious that not everything they said could have been written down. However, A Quick Ten-Step Refutation goes on to say (Emphasis Added)
"When the phrases "word of God" or "word of the Lord" appear in Acts and the epistles, they almost always refer to oral preaching, not to Scripture. For example:
"When you received the word of God which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men but as what it really is, the word of God" (1 Thess. 2:13)." [10]
To be noted however is that the phrase the "Word of God" is found over 200 times in the Old Testament. In every case it referred to something the Lord specifically said to a particular person at that time. For example,
After these events, the word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision: "Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, your very great reward." (Genesis 15:1 BSB)
The word of the Lord came to Jeremiah in the thirteenth year of the reign of Josiah son of Amon king of Judah, (Jeremiah 1:2 BSB)
This is the burden of the word of the Lord to Israel through Malachi (Malachi 1:1 BSB)
On the other hand the phrase occurs only 13 times in the New Testament (most often in Acts) and, with one single exception, always referred to the Gospel - not oral preaching. For example,
And after Peter and John had testified and spoken the word of the Lord, they returned to Jerusalem, preaching the gospel in many of the Samaritan villages. (Acts 8:25 BSB)
Some time later Paul said to Barnabas, "Let us go back and visit the brothers in every town where we proclaimed the word of the Lord, to see how they are doing." (Acts 15:36 BSB)
When the Gentiles heard this, they rejoiced and glorified the word of the Lord, and all who were appointed for eternal life believed. And the word of the Lord spread throughout that region. (Acts 13:48-49 BSB)
Finally, brothers, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may spread quickly and be held in honor, just as it was with you. (2 Thessalonians 3:1 BSB)
However, the 'Word of the Lord' came to many in the Old Testament but, with one exception (1 Thessalonians 4:13-17 See Footnote II). never happened again after Christ began His ministry simply because ...
Jesus is The "Word of God"
Jesus was the epitome of God's revelation. So much so that John twice called Him "The Word of God"
In the beginning was the Word (Gk. logos), and the Word (Gk. logos) was with God, and the Word (Gk. logos) was God. (John 1:1 BSB)
He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood, and His name is The Word of God. (Revelation 19:13 BSB)
The author of Hebrews said something very significant in the context of this article. In his words,
On many past occasions and in many different ways, God spoke to our fathers through the prophets. But in these last days He has spoken to us by His Son, whom He appointed heir of all things, and through whom He made the universe. (Hebrews 1:1-2 BSB)
The first thing we see in this passage in verse one and in the first half of verse two, is that Christians heed God's final word as supremely authoritative. This verse also stresses the finality of God's revelation in Christ. It's not simply that God has given us a greater revelation than He had in the Old Testament. It is that He has given us a final revelation in the Lord Jesus Christ.
God is saying here, 'My word was not completely uttered until Christ came. When Christ came, the word spoken in Him, indeed, was My final word.'
The Lord Jesus is the word of God in all its fullness. Christ is the goal of all that Old Testament revelation. It culminates in Him. It is fulfilled in Him. F.F. Bruce puts it this way:
"The story of divine revelation is a story of progression up to Christ. But there is no progression beyond Him." In other words, once you get Christ, you've gotten to the very highest point, as well, of God's revelation. There's nothing beyond Christ which is greater or higher. [11]
As said by David Guzik in his commentary on John (Emphasis Added)
"Using the properties of light as an illustration, we may say that God spoke in a spectrum in the Old Testament. Jesus is a prism that collected all those bands of light and focused them into one pure beam... It isn't so much that Jesus brought a message from the Father; He is a message from the Father." [12]
There's no revelation beyond Christ and what He taught and said.
Footnote I - Going Beyond What Was Written
In 1 Corinthians 4:6 Paul warned the Corinthians not to go beyond what was written
Brothers, I have applied these things to myself and Apollos for your benefit, so that you may learn from us not to go beyond what is written. Then you will not take pride in one man over another. (BSB)
This is not a verse that can be used to support Sola Scriptura - not if one reads and understands the context. Beginning in chapter 1 verse 10 Paul said the church was greatly divided in their opinion of their leaders. They were letting personal preferences and opinions actually cause quarrels amongst them.
Individuals among you are saying, "I follow Paul", "I follow Apollos", "I follow Cephas", or "I follow Christ." (1 Corinthians 1:12 BSB)
Paul was painstakingly seeking to remind them that all the apostles were to be regarded as servants. As he asked "What then is Apollos? And what is Paul? They are servants through whom you believed, as the Lord has assigned to each his role. (1 Corinthians 3:5). Each of the apostles played a different but crucial role - one planted, one watered but ultimately it was God who made it grow (3:6-9).
He then told them to stop boasting in men (3:21) and that he personally did not care if he was judged by them or by any human court and did not in fact even judge himself (4:3).
The following verses begin with the word "therefore" which indicates that the instructions Paul gives here are the conclusion of his argument in verses 1-4,
(5) Therefore judge nothing before the appointed time; wait until the Lord comes. He will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will expose the motives of men’s hearts. At that time each will receive his praise from God. (6) Brothers, I have applied these things to myself and Apollos for your benefit, so that you may learn from us not to go beyond what is written. Then you will not take pride in one man over another. (7) For who makes you so superior? What do you have that you did not receive? And if you did receive it, why do you boast as though you did not?
In transferring the entire discussion to himself and Apollos (who were literally made de facto leaders of factions) Paul's aimed to show the impropriety of boasting in men. He wanted the Corinthian Christians to keep their thinking Biblical and not to use standards beyond the Word of God to judge him or the other apostles.
Footnote II
Brothers, we do not want you to be uninformed about those who sleep in death, so that you will not grieve like the rest, who are without hope. For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, we also believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in Him. By the word of the Lord, we declare to you that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who have fallen asleep.
For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a loud command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will be the first to rise. After that, we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will always be with the Lord. (1 Thessalonians 4:13-17 BSB)
Although it is extremely unlikely, it is possible that Paul was referring to something Jesus said that went unrecorded. I say this is very unlikely because a revelation of this magnitude would have been recorded by at least one Gospel author if not all four. Thus it is more than likely that Paul knew this by direct revelation.
Matthew was the only one who even came close,
At that time the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and all the tribes of the earth will mourn. They will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven, with power and great glory. And He will send out His angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather His elect from the four winds, from one end of the heavens to the other. (Matthew 24:30-31 BSB)
Continue On To Part II HERE
End Notes
[01] Vatican II on Tradition. https://tinyurl.com/46htxzs6
[02] John L. Allen Jr. Under Vatican ruling, abortion triggers automatic excommunication.
https://www.natcath.org/NCR_Online/archives/011703/011703d.htm
[03] Dr. Keith Mathison, professor of systematic theology. The Five Solas.
https://reformationbiblecollege.org/blog/the-five-solas
[04] Dave Armstrong. A Quick Ten-Step Refutation of Sola Scriptura.
https://www.catholic.com/magazine/print-edition/a-quick-ten-step-refutation-of-sola-scriptura
[05] ibid.
[06] ibid.
[07] https://biblehub.com/greek/epoikodome_thentes_2026.htm
[08] Donovan Nagel. The Aorist Tense In Koine Greek: A Simple Guide For Beginners. https://tinyurl.com/4eynr3km
[09] Dave Armstrong. A Quick Ten-Step Refutation of Sola Scriptura.
https://www.catholic.com/magazine/print-edition/a-quick-ten-step-refutation-of-sola-scriptura
[10] ibid.
[11] J. Ligon Duncan III. Jesus: The Great Revelation of God. https://tinyurl.com/2s3e2nrp
[12] David Guzik. https://enduringword.com/bible-commentary/hebrews-1/
|
