what is a good definition of sola scriptura, what exactly is meant by that?
A Latin term meaning "scripture alone." It is one of several Protestant beliefs to come out of the reformation. This Protestant doctrine says that scripture alone is the primary and absolute source of authority, the final court of appeal, for all doctrine and practice. It holds that the Bible is infallible, that it is sufficient, and that it is clear. It is this last point that is disputed by the Roman Catholic Church, which holds that while the Bible contains all truth necessary for salvation, its meaning is not clear and must be interpreted by an infallible teaching authority, the magisterium of the Church.
HopeTheyDance said:sound accurate to me
Reformationist said:I agree with the proviso that, at least from a Protestant perspective, the Bible is a fallible collection of infallible books.
God bless
I can eat 50 eggs said:if the collection is fallible, then you cannot believe in sola scriptura.
I can eat 50 eggs said:First, if you agree that the collection is fallible, then there could be some other work that SHOULD have been included that's not. There could be more of God's revelation out there that wasn't included.
not to mention that if the collection is fallible, then that calls into equal question what is in the Bible itself.
the fact that it COULD be wrong destroys the argument just as much as if something was known to be wrong.
I believe the compilation of the Protestant Bible to be fallible, though inerrant.
I can eat 50 eggs said:not a leap at all.
First, if you agree that the collection is fallible, then there could be some other work that SHOULD have been included that's not. There could be more of God's revelation out there that wasn't included.
not to mention that if the collection is fallible, then that calls into equal question what is in the Bible itself.
the fact that it COULD be wrong destroys the argument just as much as if something was known to be wrong.
Bastoune said:Infallible texts are not always infallibly interpreted! They need an infallible teacher!
Reformationist said:Yes. That is a possibility to consider.
Absolutely not. To say, as the Catholics do, that the Bible is an infallible compilation of infallible books does not call into question what is in the Bible. Additionally, to say that everything that is in the Bible is infallible, which is what Protestants say, but because the Bible was compiled by fallible beings then there could be something that should have been in it that isn't included, does not call into question that which is in it.
This may help (or it may not):
Infallible - incapable of error
Inerrent - Contains no error
You see, the 66 books of the Protestant Bible are completely infallible. Of that there is no disagreement between Catholics and Protestants. The most that I could say is that I don't believe there to be an error in the compilation of the Protestant Bible. To ascribe infallibility to the compilation of that Bible is more than I feel compelled to believe.
So, to clear up (in case you are confused), there is no error to be found in the Bible, nor can there be error. The books of the Bible are infallible, and obviously, inerrant. I believe the compilation of the Protestant Bible to be fallible, though inerrant.
God bless
rnmomof7 said:I hesitate at the word infallible , I prefer inerrant . There are some transcription errors (numbers usually) and some passages that vary some in expression.
But the Scriptures are inerrant in the presentation of all we need to know about God and Salvation and on which to form doctrine .
I like your observation that they were compiled by fallible beings (thus the transcription errors) But the declaration of the books as the writing was under the guidance and protection of the Holy Spirit .
Reformationist said:Who is the infallible teacher that is supposed to teach us?
Thanks,
God bless
Bastoune said:Hmmm... could it be YOU ?
(Answer: NO)
You know what the answer ultimately has to come down to...
Bastoune said:All I am saying is to think of what Christ promised His Church:
"He who listens to you listens to me; he who rejects you rejects me; but he who rejects me rejects him who sent me." - Luke 10:16
Does that sound like what's going on in Christiandom today, with conflicting interpretations of scripture.... and no one with the authority to impose what is right?
The terms "binding" and "loosening" are rabbinical terms of ecclesiastic authority. But hey, your brother sins in Protestantism, he either moves to a church where he isn't sinning, or starts his own! I've seen it happen: the birth of "non-denominationalism"
Are you Protestants sure that confession to a priest is unscriptural? See also James 5:16)