Sola Scriptura

[Guest]

Keep in mind that Scripture is objective, while tradition, reason, experience, emotions and general revelation are all subjective.

Acts 17:10-12

 

Then the brethren immediately sent Paul and Silas away by night to Berea. When they arrived, they went into the synagogue of the Jews. These were more fair-minded than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness, and searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so. Therefore many of them believed, and also not a few of the Greeks, prominent women as well as men.

Notice we read that they searched scripture, not asked their Pastor, Deacon or Bishop.

 

 

But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men. Matthew 15:9

[Guest Judas Machabeus]

Firstly thank you kwick for the kind words. I am working on becoming more intimate with Gods word. I'm currently doing a bible study on Mark and start Matthew in two weeks.

Secondly. Onelight,

The Holy Spirit dwells in the Church as the source of its life and sanctifies souls through the gift of grace.

Although the sanctification of mankind, like all other outward works of God, is performed by all three Persons of the Blessed Trinity, it is attributed to the Holy Spirit, the third Person. The sanctification of mankind is attributed to the Holy Ghost because He is the love of the Father and the Son and because the sanctification of man by grace shows forth God's boundless love.

[DaveFromMichigan]

Hi Judas,

 

Maybe you are still forming your theology, so the use of terms are not the ones commonly used, but in reality you might be believing in Sola Scripture.

 

<< I believe that the Church carries authority as well. >>  

 

The Church carries some weight in Bible interpretation, for sure. Augustine believed that our interpretation must be checked against commonly held faith too, but....

 

<< NOT more authority but does carry authority. The Church can not contradict scripture. >>

 

If the Church cannot contradict Scripture, what you are saying is that the Scripture has the highest authority. Under normal circumstances, they don't contradict each other, but in rare cases (although usually important cases), if it can be clearly demonstrated that they contradict, by what you said above, Scripture should have higher authority, right?

 

If you say that when they don't contradict, they have equal authority; but if they do contradict, Scripture has higher authority, then aren't you simply saying Sola Scriptura?

 

On another post, you mentioned about pastors. Of course God uses pastors to help believers in understanding Scripture too, but in case there is a pastor who explains the Scripture wrong and contradict the Scripture, shouldn't the Scripture have higher authority? Then we again go back to the authority of the Scripture.

 

 

 

[Guest Judas Machabeus]

Dave there are things that are held as truth that are not found in the bible such as the canon of scripture. So under who's authority is the canon closed on. Can we add more books??

[DaveFromMichigan]

Yes, canon is a more difficult subject. The way I looked at it though, is that the 27 books that are in the canon, has been gradually accepted even before the Council of Carthage. Some of them were accepted quite early as quotation from early Church Fathers show. So although the canon was closed later, we know at least that these books have been accepted quite early.

 

So the question is can we add more books? If we are adding a book that has no difference in theology and practical matters from those that are already accepted, then we are not really adding anything new. If we are adding a book that has differences in theology or practice from those in the canon, well, the canon has to take priority because the books in the canon have been accepted very early in the process.

 

But that means that practically we cannot add anything that differs in theology and practical matters from the teaching of the books in the canon.

 

So even for the practical purposes, the canon is closed as we are no longer in the 3rd or 4th century. We might be able to think of some hypothetical situation where we found a book which disagreed with 1 book in the canon but agrees with 26 others. While that might mind boggling to think about how we would solve such a problem, in reality I don't think we have encounter problem like this.

 

Just my thoughts though.... 

[DaveFromMichigan]

I am new to the forum, and I just read about this particular forum, and LOL, I am not trying to compete for best answer. I thought something was bothering you about the Scripture being the sole authority. If not, that is cool.  :-)

[Guest Judas Machabeus]

Dave you presented a very valid argument to the question that was presented to me regarding how can I believe the bible is the infallible word of God and not adhere to sola scriptura. That's an honest question and you made a good point.

My question about adding new books was asked more tongue in cheek to demonstrate not everything is in the bible. Something's have to be determined by the Church and therefore the Church has to have the authority to make those decisions.

I get this from the passage in Matthew when Jesus talks to Peter about what you bound on earth you bound in heaven, which you loose on earth you loose in heaven.

Jesus didn't leave us a canon of scripture therefore the Church using it's authority made a determination guided by the Holy Spirit and closed the canon.

This is why I feel we need both and not scripture alone.

As I was re-reading this post, something popped into my head. The Jews had three levels of authority. They had scripture, oral tradition and the seat of Moses. Jesus says at one point do as the phrases SAY and not as they do for they sit on the seat of Moses.

[OneLight]

Onelight,

The Holy Spirit dwells in the Church as the source of its life and sanctifies souls through the gift of grace.

Although the sanctification of mankind, like all other outward works of God, is performed by all three Persons of the Blessed Trinity, it is attributed to the Holy Spirit, the third Person. The sanctification of mankind is attributed to the Holy Ghost because He is the love of the Father and the Son and because the sanctification of man by grace shows forth God's boundless love.

The church are those who make up His Body, not a building or a denomination. The Holy Spirit works in each of us, personally, the very reason why we have a personal relationship with God and not a religion. He does not work in what the world knows as the Church, but in the individuals that make up His Body ... that is the true church.

[gdemoss]

Even if everyone agreed with the doctrine solo scriptura the problem still remains in authority to interpret what is written. Unless one can claim perfect understanding due to internal illumination from the Holy Spirit then we are left to the best opinion one can form based upon personal study. I for one have no such authority.

[OneLight]

Even if everyone agreed with the doctrine solo scriptura the problem still remains in authority to interpret what is written. Unless one can claim perfect understanding due to internal illumination from the Holy Spirit then we are left to the best opinion one can form based upon personal study. I for one have no such authority.

The authority is not yours to begin with. It comes from God, through the Holy Spirit. Many places in scripture we find how to become mature in Him and walk close enough to know His voice. We also see that He gives gifts to those whom He chooses. He will also bear witness with our spirit as to what is true and what is not. The point is, we have to follow Him as close as can be in order to know His will. Nothing we can do, nothing that is ever spoken, will ever supersede scripture.