The "Bible Alone" is Not Enough

Catholic Family News ^ | July 1995

[Life is Sacred]

"Theophilus, that you may have certainty concerning the things you have been taught."

How was he previously "taught"? Luke was writing an epistle to clarify what was taught by others. Obviously, the message had been conveyed to Theo another way and Luke wanted him to have a more permanent record of the teachings. I have no problem with that.

[PetroniusMaximus]

Point was...

***Did Our Lord write any part of the New Testament or command His Apostles to do so***

Completely refuted by the verse...

"...Write, therefore...",

[PetroniusMaximus]

***seeing as how there was no Bible to refer to.***


What do you think the Old Testament is if it isn't scripture?

[Gamecock]

My faith is fine. Thanks for your brotherly concern.

As far as adressing the article, the thought about pearls/swine comes to mind.

[narses]

Reading comprehension is critical:

[1] The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to make known to his servants the things which must shortly come to pass: and signified, sending by his angel to his servant John,...
[10] I was in the spirit on the Lord's day, and heard behind me a great voice, as of a trumpet,
[11] Saying: What thou seest, write in a book, and send to the seven churches which are in Asia, to Ephesus, and to Smyrna, and to Pergamus, and to Thyatira, and to Sardis, and to Philadelphia, and to Laodicea.
[12] And I turned to see the voice that spoke with me. And being turned, I saw seven golden candlesticks:
[13] And in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks, one like to the Son of man, clothed with a garment down to the feet, and girt about the paps with a golden girdle.
[14] And his head and his hairs were white, as white wool, and as snow, and his eyes were as a flame of fire,
[15] And his feet like unto fine brass, as in a burning furnace. And his voice as the sound of many waters.
[16] And he had in his right hand seven stars. And from his mouth came out a sharp two edged sword: and his face was as the sun shineth in his power.
[17] And when I had seen him, I fell at his feet as dead. And he laid his right hand upon me, saying: Fear not. I am the First and the Last,
[18] And alive, and was dead, and behold I am living for ever and ever, and have the keys of death and of hell.
[19] Write therefore the things which thou hast seen, and which are, and which must be done hereafter.

This was a vision well after the crucifiction, not Jesus in His Living Ministry on earth.

[narses]

So having called me a troll, now you call me swine. Your charity shines through.

[PetroniusMaximus]

***Luke wanted him to have a more permanent record of the teachings. I have no problem with that.***

Can you be "certain" of your faith through reading the book of Luke?

[Gamecock]

speck/plank

[Between the Lines]

And calling me a troll was charity?

Actually, yes it was. Would you have preferred a brood of vipers?

-TONIGHT'S-
-SMACKDOWN-
The SWARM -VS- The MASS

[narses]

No doubt the lint is piling up. Good luck with your cleaning. If your faith reaches the strength necessary to do more than name call, feel free to respond.

[narses]

Well there is that. I suppose there are degrees of namecalling, as there are in so many parts of life.

[Life is Sacred]

Unfortunately, non-Catholic Christians have to jettison 1500 years of history to defend their position(s). I believe with all my heart that the Protestant Reformation was the greatest act of deception Satan's ever foisted upon humanity. Just look at the chaos and division today.

[Gamecock]

I don't do luck. I do faith.

[kosta50]

If Sola Scriptura is enough, then why don't Protestants simply hand out the Bibles and be done with preaching and explaining, and interpreting and writing all those books they write about the faith.

The Tubergen Lutheran Scholars made it very clear that the Scripture is clear enough that eanyone could understand it by simply reading the Bible (letter sent to the Patriarch of Constantinople Jeremias II). What are all the authors and preachers doing then?

One has to be truly naive to believe that everything our Lord Jesus Christ said was actually written down! The Apostles absorebd as much as humanly possible of His teachings, but their knowledge, passed on to the succeeding bishops, is what made creating the Christian Bible possible more than 350 years after the Penetecost!

Without the Holy Tradition, no one would have been able to argue what is inspired and what is not inspired Word, and that in itself would have made a Bible as we know it, impossible!

More importantly, the theological concepts of the Holy Trinity, and the Duality of Nature of Lord Jesus Christ, were defined in the first two Ecumenical Councils before the Bible was finalized and canonized!.

Surely, our Protestant brethren realize that the concept of Trinity to which they subscribe fully, and the duality of Christ's Nature, two most important pillars of our faith, are not spelled our or obvious by just reading the Scriptures!

Therefore, the foundation of Christianity, was stablished from the Truth of the Fathers from the Apostles, before the Chrsitian Bible.

Finally, one must ask our Protestant friends, where does it say in the Bible that the Bible is the sole authority for the faithful.

[Gamecock]

I believe with all my heart that the Protestant Reformation was the greatest act of deception Satan's ever foisted upon humanity. Just look at the chaos and division today.

Cut the hyperbole or I'll have to pull out the priest child molestation card.

[narses]

"Cut the hyperbole or I'll have to pull out the priest child molestation card"

Your charity is boundless. The fact that protestant clergy abuse children at about the same rate, somtimes higher, than their Catholic brethern might be of interest to you. If facts mattered, that is. The lint all gone?

[narses]

I agree. Ask gamecock (if he's done cleaning his navel) what he has to say though. BTW, thanks for your educated, logical, charitable defense of our common faith.

[PetroniusMaximus]

Jesus is, on occasion, refered to as the "Angel of the Lord" in the OT.

Now no angel will claim,

"I am the First and the Last,
And alive, and was dead, and behold I am living for ever and ever"

This is the glorified, risen, Christ.The one who "rose from the dead".

***This was a vision well after the crucifiction, not Jesus in His Living Ministry on earth.***

You can't change the argument midstream my friend.

[DouglasKC]

Thanks for the ping. For salvation certainly the bible alone isn't useful. One needs to receive the gift of the holy spirit through baptism and laying on of hands. I also don't think there is anything wrong with teachers, or tradition. But when that tradition contradicts the bible then scripture has to win out otherwise we're stuck with the opinions of a bunch of men who may or may not have the guidance of the holy spirit.

[Life is Sacred]

I'm dead serious. But if talking about molestation somehow helps you in the defense of your doctrinal position, then go for it. Maybe you should bring up the inquisition, it might be more relevant to the period of history we're dealing with.

Cheers!