A Quick Ten-Step Refutation of Sola Scriptura

Catholic Fidelity.Com ^ | Dave Armstrong

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ST. IRENAEUS OF LYONS (130-202) 

We have known the method of our salvation by no other means than those by whom the gospel came to us; which gospel the y truly preached; but afterward, by the will of God, they delivered to us in the Scriptures, to be for the future the foundation and pillar of our faith. (Adv. H. 3:1) 

Read more diligently that gospel which is given to us by the apostles; and read more diligently the prophets, and you will find every action and the whole doctrine of our Lord preached in them. (Adv. H. 4:66)

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CLEMENT OF ALEXANDRIA (150?-213?) 

They that are ready to spend their time in the best things will not give over seeking for truth until they have found the demonstration from the Scriptures themselves. (Stromata 7:16:3) 

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ORIGEN (185?-252) 

In which (the two Testaments) every word that appertains to God may be required and discussed; and all knowledge may be understood out of them. But if anything remain which the Holy Scripture does not determine, no other third Scripture ought to be received for authorizing any knowledge or doctrine; but that which remains we must commit to the fire, that is, we will reserve it for God. For in this present world God would not have us to know all things. (Orig. in Lev., hom. 5, 9:6) 

We know Jesus Christ is God, and we seek to expound the words which are spoken, according to the dignity of the person. Wherefore it is necessary for us to call the Scriptures into testimony; for our meanings and enarrations, without these witnesses, have no credibility. (Tractatus 5 in Matt.) 

No man ought, for the confirmation of doctrines, to use books which are not canonized Scriptures. (Tract. 26 in Matt.) 

As all gold, whatsoever it be, that is without the temple, is not holy; even so every notion which is without the divine Scripture, however admirable it may appear to some, is not holy, because it is foreign to Scripture. (Hom. 25 in Matt.) 

Consider how imminent their danger is who neglect to study the Scriptures, in which alone the discernment of this can be ascertained. (in Rom. 10:16) 

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ST. CYPRIAN OF CARTHAGE (200?-258) 

Whence comes this tradition? Does it descend from the Lord’s authority, or from the commands and epistles of the apostles? For those things are to be done which are there written. ... If it be commanded in the gospels or the epistles and Acts of the Apostles, then let this holy tradition be observed. (Ep. 74 ad Pompeium) 

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HIPPOLYTUS ( -230?) 

There is one God, whom we do not otherwise acknowledge, brethren, but out of the Holy Scriptures. For as he that would possess the wisdom of this world cannot otherwise obtain it than to read the doctrines of the philosophers; so whosoever of us will exercise piety toward God cannot learn this elsewhere but out of the Holy Scriptures. Whatsoever, therefore, the Holy Scriptures do preach, that let us know, and whatsoever they teach, that let us understand. (Hip. tom. 3, Bibliotheque Patrium, ed. 

Colonna) ************************************************************************

ST. ATHANASIUS OF ALEXANDRIA* (300?-375) 

The Holy Scriptures, given by inspiration of God, are of themselves sufficient toward the discovery of truth. (Orat. adv. Gent., ad cap.) 

The Catholic Christians will neither speak nor endure to hear any thing in religion that is a stranger to Scripture; it being an evil heart of immodesty to speak those things which are not written. (Exhort. ad Monachas) 

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ST. AMBROSE OF MILAN* (340?-396) 

How can we use those things which we do not find in the Holy Scriptures? (Ambr. Offic., 1:23) 

I read that he is the first, I read that he is not the second; they who say he is the second, let them show it by reading. (Ambr. Offic., in Virginis Instit. 11) 

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ST. HILARY OF POITIERS (315-367) 

O emperor! I admire your faith, which desires only according to those things that were written. ... You seek the faith, O emperor. Hear it then, not from new writings, but from the books of God. Remember that it is not a question of philosophy, but a doctrine of the gospel. (Ad Constant. Augus. 2:8:2) 

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ST. GREGORY OF NYSSA (330?-395) 

Let a man be persuaded of the truth of that alone which has the seal of the written testimony. (De Anima et Resurrectione, 1) 

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ST. CYRIL OF JERUSALEM (315?-386) 

Not even the least of the divine and holy mysteries of the faith ought to be handed down without the divine Scriptures. Do not simply give faith to me speaking these things to you except you have the proof of what I say from the divine Scriptures. For the security and preservation of our faith are not supported by ingenuity of speech, but by the proofs of the divine Scriptures. (Cat. 4) 

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ST. JOHN CHRYSOSTOM OF ANTIOCH AND BYZANTIUM* (347-407) 

[The Scripture], like a safe door, denies an entrance to heretics, guarding us in safety in all things we desire, and not permitting us to be deceived. ...Whoever uses not the Scriptures, but comes in otherwise, that is, cuts out for himself a different and unlawful way, the same is a thief. (Homily 59, in Joh. 2:8) 

Formerly it might have been ascertained by various means which was the true church, but at present there is no other method left for those who are willing to discover the true church of Christ but by the Scriptures alone. And why? Because heresy has all outward observances in common with her. If a man, therefore, be desirous of knowing the true church, how will he be able to do it amid so great resemblance, but by the Scriptures alone? Wherefore our Lord, foreseeing that such a great confusion of things would take place in the latter days, ordered the Christians to have recourse to nothing but the Scriptures. 

The man of God could not be perfect without the Scriptures. [Paul says to Timothy:] “You have the Scriptures: if you desire to learn anything, you may learn it from them.” But if he writes these things to Timothy, who was filled with the Holy Spirit, how much more must we think these things spoken to us. (Hom. 9 in 2 Tim. 1:9) 

It is absurd, while we will not trust other people in pecuniary affairs, but choose to reckon and calculate for ourselves, that in matters of far higher consequence we should implicitly follow the opinions of others, especially as we possess the most exact and perfect rule and standard by which to regulate our several inquiries: I mean the regulation of the divine laws. I, therefore, could wish that all of you would reject what this or that man says, and that you would investigate all these things in the Scriptures. (Hom. 13, 4:10 ad fin. in 2 Cor.) 

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THEOPHILUS OF ALEXANDRIA ( -412) 

It is the part of a devilish spirit to think any thing to be divine that is not in the authority of the Holy Scriptures. (Ep. Pasch. 2) 

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ST. JEROME* (342?-420) 

The church of Christ, possessing churches in all the world, is united by the unity of the Spirit, and has the cities of the law, the prophets, the gospels, and the apostles. She has not gone forth from her boundaries, that is, from the Holy Scriptures. (Comm. in Micha. 1:1) 

Those things which they make and find, as it were, by apostolical tradition, without the authority and testimony of Scripture, the word of God smites. (ad Aggai 1) 

As we deny not those things that are written, so we refuse those things that are not written. That God was born of a virgin we believe, because we read it; that Mary did marry after she was delivered we believe not, because we do not read it. (Adv. Helvidium) 

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ST. AUGUSTINE OF HIPPO* (354-430) 

In those things which are clearly laid down in Scripture, all those things are found which pertain to faith and morals. (De Doct. Chr. 2:9) 

Whatever you hear from them [the Scriptures], let that be well received by you. Whatever is without them refuse, lest you wander in a cloud. (De Pastore, 11) 

All those things which in times past our ancestors have mentioned to be done toward mankind and have delivered unto us: all those things also which we see and deliver to our posterity, so far as they pertain to the seeking and maintaining true religion, the Holy Scripture has not passed over in silence. (Ep. 42) 

Whatever our Saviour would have us read of his actions and sayings he commanded his apostles and disciples, as his hands, to write. (De Consensu Evang. 1:ult.) 

Let them [the Donatists] demonstrate their church if they can, not by the talk and rumor of the Africans; not by the councils of their own bishops; not by the books of their disputers; not by deceitful miracles, against which we are cautioned by the word of God, but in the prescript of the law, in the predictions of the prophets, in the verses of the Psalms, in the voice of the Shepherd himself, in the preaching and works of the evangelists; that is, in all canonical authorities of the sacred Scriptures. (De Unit. Eccl. 16) 

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ST. CYRIL OF ALEXANDRIA (380?-444) 

That which the Holy Scriptures have not said, by what means should we receive and account it among those things that are true? (Glaphyrarum in Gen. 2) 

 ************************************&******************************* THEODORET OF CYRRHUS (393?-458?) 

By the Holy Scriptures alone am I persuaded. (Dial. 1, Atrept.) I am not so bold as to affirm anything which the sacred Scripture passes in silence. (Dial. 2, Asynchyt.) 

We ought not to seek those things that are passed in silence, but rest in the things which are written. (in Gen. Q. 45) 

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ST. JOHN OF DAMASCUS (675?-749?) 

We receive and acknowledge and reverence all things which are delivered in the law, the prophets, the apostles and evangelists, and we seek after nothing beyond these. (de Fid. Ortho. 1:1:1) 



[Iscool]

Here is the problem with accepting Sola Scriptura. You have just opened the door to private interpretation and its product is over 30.00 diffuse Protestant denominations in the USA. Sola Scripture allows for any prideful interpretation and the history of Sola Scriptura has sanctioned just that type of behavior.

And maybe one of them is right...The fact is, the bible is correct and contains all we need to be Christians...The bible doesn't allow for different intpretations...

The problem is with the Christians who don't like what the bible says, or they don't believe what the bible says...

But the Protestants are very close to each other especially on the doctrinal issues...

The advantage of everyone reading the scriptures and coming up with a personal opinion is that we can see that millions upon millions of individual Christians pretty much all agree as to what God says...That's pretty radical...That proves we are definitely on the right track...God has spoken to each of us in the scriptures and we understand and believe what God is saying...

Your religion on the other hand is so far out there that there is no way the Holy Spirit could be leading anyone...

There are 86,000 Protestant denominations out there and we agree...There is 1 of you and we're so far apart we can't even have a conversation about the bible...And those of you who do chose to study the scriptures, leave your religion...

I'm going to stick with the majority...

[GonzoII]

"A basic tenet of my denomination is that Scripture speaks for itself"

Excuse the unintended harshness of this statement but if the Scriptures speak always clearly for themselves than 30,000 denominations attest them as din.

[Psalm 73]

We have been dancing round about many things on this thread, but is there not ONE thing that is of the utmost import?

How is man saved?
By baptism shortly after birth?
or as Jesus told us in John 3:16?

[dangerdoc]

What about traditions that have been left behind over the year?

[sayuncledave]

Thank you GonzoII, for that post. Though I fear folks are missing the point. I guess that’s to be expected.

[Cvengr]

IOW, Condensed version:

1. Sola Scriptura Is Not Taught in the Bible.

God's Word is insufficient. He has to be helped out by a group of people who have taken worldly power over an institution He established and His efforts, no matter how independent of man are insufficient for salvation without the help of the Roman Catholic Church (RCC).

2. The "Word of God" Refers to Oral Teaching Also

His Word alone is insufficient, unless the RCC adds their 2 cents, then it's OK.

3. Tradition Is Not a Dirty Word

Without tradition, God is impotent to provide salvation. He is dependent upon the attitudes and customary habits of man in order for Him to provide salvation.

4. Jesus and Paul Accepted Non-Biblical Oral and Written Traditions

Since His Word references historical events, they must be embellished with man made RCC tradition.

5. The Apostles Exercised Authority at the Council of Jerusalem

As in Acts 15, God the Father required nothing more than faith in Christ of the Gentiles to receive salvation and God the Holy Spirit in them. The tradition of the RCC mandates other burdens including the ordinances of the RCC be followed in order to receive salvation just to help God out so His salvation mechanism might be more perfect.

6. Pharisees, Sadducees, and Oral, Extrabiblical Tradition

Why stop with a good thing, lets add even more tradition.

7. Old Testament Jews Did Not Believe in Sola Scriptura

Even though the priests taught from Scripture, their teaching is now used as a substitute for His Word and considered independent of His Word by the RCC, so they also can add whatever they want and it has as much authority in the RCC as His Word.

9. Paul Casually Assumes That His Passed-Down Tradition Is Infallible and Binding

The RCC believes Paul is writing about tradition, not by inspiration of God the Holy Spirit. So too the RCC can appeal the same object of their worship, in tradition, without respecting God the Holy Spirit, and they are still justified in their belief system.

10. Sola Scriptura Is a Circular Position

The only conclusion the RCC can reach from the Bible is what we call the "three-legged stool": Bible, Church, and Tradition are all necessary to arrive at truth. Christ, the Word of God, is only stable if the RCC helps Him out. His communication needs the approval of the Church, and confirmation by its Tradition, before the RCC will allow Him to communicate with man veritably.

In a nutshell, Christ, the Word of God, is insufficient without the RCC, so everybody better start worshiping the RCC, in order to have a chance to get to Christ. Of course, as soon as anything is placed before Christ, our faith isn't in Him, but in that 'other' mediator. /s

[NEWwoman]

I have found a few such things like Jannes and Jambres.

St. Peter comments in I Peter 2:6-8 - how “just Lot” was a righteous man, vexed in Sodom and Gommorah - distressed by the depraved conduct of the lawless ... I never would have known that by just reading Genesis, until St. Peter told us that.

[GonzoII]

"what "oral" traditions Paul was talking about in 2 Thes 2:15 is the Catechism???"

No, contained therein along with the expostion of the written Traditions as well.

[Iscool]

Amen...

[bronx2]

As any secular history will reveal to you the process of the Church's interpretation of scripture is evidenced by centuries of debate and discussions not some instantaneous thought that merely serves to to satisfy the ego of a frustrated dissenter. What happened for 1500 years until we were blessed or cursed with the protesting crowd? Did Jesus take a vacation for 1500 years or 1800 years if you happen to be Mormon?

It was the Church who complied the Bible and the same Church existed 400 years before this same Church gave official approbation for the individual works to be deemed to be part of the canon. I don't believe "Any Good Protestants" participated in the compilation process which they now use to invent prideful interpretations.

[BenKenobi]

“Where does the Bible teach there will always be
Apostles living on the earth?”

This is a very good question.

Matthew 16:19, among other things, Christ gives to Peter the ‘Keys to the kingdom of heaven’.

Now, what does he mean here? When someone is given an office they are given the trappings of the office. In this case, part of the trappings of Peter’s office are the keys to the kingdom of heaven.

In most cases, when the current officeholder dies, the keys return to their owner, and are passed onto another officeholder.

You are very right to ask, how do we know that the idea of the keys were meant to be passed on?

If you look at Isaiah 22:19-24

I will depose you from your office,
and you will be ousted from your position.

“In that day I will summon my servant, Eliakim son of Hilkiah. I will clothe him with your robe and fasten your sash around him and hand your authority over to him. He will be a father to those who live in Jerusalem and to the people of Judah.

I will place on his shoulder the key to the house of David; what he opens no one can shut, and what he shuts no one can open.

I will drive him like a peg into a firm place; he will become a seat of honor for the house of his father.

All the glory of his family will hang on him: its offspring and offshoots—all its lesser vessels, from the bowls to all the jars.”

And there you have it. The Key to the House of David is heritary. It is intended to be passed down from father to son, and so on.

Now, we look at what Christ says about the Key to the kingdom of Heaven, there’s some parallelism there isn’t there?

“what he opens no one can shut, and what he shuts no one can open.”

“whatsoever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven and whatsover you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.”

He also says:

“I will build my Church and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it.”

So we can take this as evidence that his office persists even to this day.

[Mrs. Don-o]

Jesus is the Word of God and Jesus IS God. Scripture is the Word of God. But Scripture is not "God" --- because these are nor univocal equivalences. Scripture, for instance, is not the Creator of Heaven and Earth. God is.

For another example, the Father is God, Jesus is God and the Holy SPirit is God; but Jesus is not the Holy Spirit and Jesus is not the Father. And while Jesus is a Person, Scripture is a Book: but Jesus is not a Book.

Neither Jesus nor Scripture teach "Scripture alone."

It's the "alone" part that gets you into trouble. If what we needed is Scripture "alone," then the Son might just as well have stayed in Heaven, and John might just as well have said,

"For God so loved the world, that He sent a Book."

And people who had no Book --- illiterates, for instance --- could not be saved. Which is nonsense: it is not what any of us believe.

[BenKenobi]

You don’t count Arius?

[Iscool]

Scripture even says that not all that Christ taught and did is in there.

No it does not...You're making that up...Scripture does NOT say that all that Jesus taught is not in the scripture...

[Mr. Lucky]

You assume that all of the Protestants disagree on the Authority of Scripture. Most disagreements are on polity or practice.

[sr4402]

Why don't we call this Thread: A Quick Ten-Step Refutation of Scripture"

[GonzoII]

"Thank you"

You're welcome.

[Iscool]

Where exactly does the bible teach this?

Act 1:22 Beginning from the baptism of John, unto that same day that he was taken up from us, must one be ordained to be a witness with us of his resurrection.

That's the requirement for an Apostle...Therefore, no apostolic succession...

[Iscool]

"But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth. (KJV)