Introduction: 100 Biblical Arguments Against Sola Scriptura

[Michie]

Catholicism and Protestantism differ fundamentally with regard to authority — the “rule of faith,” the basis or standard Christians use to determine true (and false) doctrine and practice. Protestantism tends to see a divide between the “pure Word of God” in the Bible and what the Catholic Church calls sacred tradition – something Protestantism considers to be corrupted by “traditions of men” (Matt 15:3 6; Mk 7:8-13). For Protestants, Scripture alone is the source and rule of the Christian faith. It is the only infallible authority, sufficient in and of itself for a full exposition of Christianity and for the attainment of salvation. This is what sola scriptura means. In Catholicism, by contrast, Scripture andtradition — revealed Christian truths passed on outside of Scripture — are two fonts of the one spring of divine revelation. Without one or the other, revelation is incomplete.


Scripture frequently refers to the notion of tradition: a body of knowledge or doctrine that existed prior to and is larger than Scripture itself. For example:

Acts 17:11, 13 (RSV)Now these Jews were more noble than those in Thessalonica, for they received the word with all eagerness, examining the scriptures daily to see if these things were so. . . . But when the Jews of Thessalonica learned that the word of God was proclaimed by Paul at Beroea also, they came there too, stirring up and inciting the crowds.

The “word” or “word of God” in this context is clearly not Scripture, because Scripture is compared with it): it is, rather, apostolic preaching, which is synonymous with sacred tradition. All true tradition, like the preaching that is examined in the above passage, is harmonious with Scripture. This is the biblical and Catholic teaching.

Continued below.

Introduction: 100 Biblical Arguments Against Sola Scriptura

Introduction to my book, "100 Biblical Arguments Against Sola Scriptura": published by Catholic Answers Press in May 2012; 2nd edition from Bridge Builders Press, August 2025.

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