IgnatiusOfAntioch said:
Greetings my brother,
We agree that Holy Scripture is good for these things. The problem is this still doesnt state or even imply that ONLY (i.e. sola) Scripture can do so. This mutual exclusivity of Sola Scriptura still has not been produced. Conspicuously absent is the statement the it is the Sole means by which we might be perfected in Christ. That is what is missing. It denies that there is any other source of religious authority or divine Revelation to humanity.
The problem is that Sola Scriptura itself is an extra-biblical, man made doctrine that did not even exist until the 16th century. I believe that if it's new it ain't True; if it's True, it ain't new. There is no evididence for it for the first sixteen centuries of Christianity. That fact alone is enough to discredit it. Another is the very fact that it is not expicitly in the bible. The idea of the Sola Scriptura Bible alone (i.e. exclusive of any other means) is, ironically, nowhere in the Bible.
A number of other issues arise from this. Since "sola scriptura" states that everything that is necessary for faith is contained within the pages of scripture, the books of the Bible must be listed within those pages or the "sola scriptura" believer cannot know that those books belong in the Bible, because it doesn't say so!
Other questions which I would have to have answered in order to dispel my doubts about Sola Scriptura are the following.
1. Where in the Bible does Jesus tell His apostles to write the Bible?
2. The Bible does indicate that it gives good guidance for perfecting our faith, but where does the Bible claim to be the sole authority of faith and morals?
3) Where it says that the number of books in the New Testament is officially 27.
4) Where does it say what books belong in the NT?
5) Where does it say what versions of the books belong in the NT? For example:
There was a version of Matthew's Gospel that had 8 chapters worth of text. Another
with 18. A third with 28. Which one is the correct one, using Scripture alone?
6) Who had the authority to determine which books belong in the New Testament?
These next two are the sina qua non for me.
7. When a doctrinal dispute arises between "sola scriptura" believers, who has the authority to resolve the dispute?
8. Where in the Bible are the words which state that the Word of GOD is restricted solely to what is written within Scripture?
If all of the above question cannot be answered from within the pages of scripture, I dont see how anyone can legitimately claim to hold to this doctrine. There is far more evidence to the contrary than there is to support sola scriptura.
Shalom aleichem
Yours in Christ.
Questions to the Catholics;
1.) On whose authority did you determine that Sacred Tradition was equal to Sacred Scripture. When the bible warns against it in Mark 7:1-13
2.) On whose authority did you determine Priest Celibacy and abstaining from meats was okay against the warnings of 1 timothy 4:1-3
3.) On whose authority do you promote reciting the rosary when scripture explicitly says;
Matthew 6:7 But when ye pray use not vain repetition.
4.) On whose authority did you determine that statues and images are okay and that it was okay to bow to popes and statues of Mary and Peter. when scripture explicitly says this,
Exodus 20:4-5
Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness [of any thing] that [is] in heaven above, or that [is] in the earth beneath, or that [is] in the water under the earth:
Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God [am] a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth [generation] of them that hate me;
Also...
Act 10:25,26 Peter forbid Cornelius to bow to him because he was a man, arent modern popes men then too. Yet they allow and expect this.
5.) On whose authority did the catholic church determine Mary as comediatrix...Catholic catechism paragraphs 968-970, 2677 Mary is the co-mediator to whom we can trust all our cares and petitions.
Whan scripture tells us this...
1st timothy 2 : 5-6 There is only one mediator that is Jesus Christ. Also Hebrew 7:25 and Ephesians. 3:12
6.) On whose authority did you determine it was okay to call priests' "father" when scripture reads this...
Matthew 23:9 expressly forbids calling any man father as a religious title, yet the word pope originally meant father catholic dictionary page 667 modern popes and priests wear the very title forbid by Christ.
7.) Whose authority determined Peter as the chief shepard when he stated it was Christ.
The Vatican teaches that peter is the churches supreme pastor (shepherd) catechism paragraph 857
But Peter himself disagrees he calls Jesus the chief shepherd (pastor) 1 peter 5:4
I dont see how anyone can legitimately claim to hold to these doctrines when they obviously contradict scripture.