Brethren in Christ, God give you Peace.
How do you think that Jesus would view the doctrine of sola Scriptura? I think that we can get a good clue from an examination of verses 18-47 of John 5 (I am only doing a very brief summary here to provide a basis of reflection).
Chapter 5 begins with the story of Jesus healing the man who had been ill for thirty-eight years on the Sabbath. In the synoptic Gospels, this story is a little different, with the writers focusing more on the forgiveness of sins over the healing. John does this also, only it is more subtle.
Regardless, in verse 18 we see the response of the Pharisees and their outrage at Jesus equating Himself with God. You see, the thing that upset the Pharisees in verse 18 was that if Jesus equated Himself with God, it meant there was more than One God! They (and we) know better than that!
In the verses that follow, Jesus reveals something very special and very new to them about God. He gives a glimpse of the Trinity. He agrees that there is but One God, only that He and God are One.
Jesus then (vv 31-32), using the law of Moses, goes on to show them that He is Who He says He is. Under Mosaic Law, two witnesses were required in order to substantiate an allegation about someone (see Num 35:30 and Deut 19:15). Rather than provide two witnesses, He provides four (vv 33-39): John the Baptist, His works (miracles), the witness of the Father (remember when Jesus was Baptized?) and the Scriptures (most especially the prophesies that He fulfilled).
They still dont get it. Why? Because they could not see it in the Scriptures. As Jesus says in John 5:46-47 (RSV) (46) If you believed Moses, you would believe me, for he wrote of me. (47) But if you do not believe his writings, how will you believe my words?
Like these Pharisees, if our sola Scriptura brethren cannot find it in Scripture, they cannot accept it. They seek it explicitly, when it may only be implied or even not there at all, rather given to us by the living Word. The Word made flesh. The Word Who continues living through the Church. The Pharisees ignored the living, present Word of God in favor for that which was written. Worse yet, they tried to kill that Word in favor of their writings.
More reflections:
How do we see this happening still today? How do some people try to kill the Church, relying on Scripture to justify it? What is it that they fear in accepting the Churchs Tradition? How is it that the Church survives these attacks and flourishes? What witnesses do we have to testify to the reality of the Church and Her Tradition as the continuing vessel of Jesus work here on earth?
May God bless all of His children, unifying us in His name. Granting us Peace. Amen.
God Bless,
P12
How do you think that Jesus would view the doctrine of sola Scriptura? I think that we can get a good clue from an examination of verses 18-47 of John 5 (I am only doing a very brief summary here to provide a basis of reflection).
Chapter 5 begins with the story of Jesus healing the man who had been ill for thirty-eight years on the Sabbath. In the synoptic Gospels, this story is a little different, with the writers focusing more on the forgiveness of sins over the healing. John does this also, only it is more subtle.
Regardless, in verse 18 we see the response of the Pharisees and their outrage at Jesus equating Himself with God. You see, the thing that upset the Pharisees in verse 18 was that if Jesus equated Himself with God, it meant there was more than One God! They (and we) know better than that!
In the verses that follow, Jesus reveals something very special and very new to them about God. He gives a glimpse of the Trinity. He agrees that there is but One God, only that He and God are One.
Jesus then (vv 31-32), using the law of Moses, goes on to show them that He is Who He says He is. Under Mosaic Law, two witnesses were required in order to substantiate an allegation about someone (see Num 35:30 and Deut 19:15). Rather than provide two witnesses, He provides four (vv 33-39): John the Baptist, His works (miracles), the witness of the Father (remember when Jesus was Baptized?) and the Scriptures (most especially the prophesies that He fulfilled).
They still dont get it. Why? Because they could not see it in the Scriptures. As Jesus says in John 5:46-47 (RSV) (46) If you believed Moses, you would believe me, for he wrote of me. (47) But if you do not believe his writings, how will you believe my words?
Like these Pharisees, if our sola Scriptura brethren cannot find it in Scripture, they cannot accept it. They seek it explicitly, when it may only be implied or even not there at all, rather given to us by the living Word. The Word made flesh. The Word Who continues living through the Church. The Pharisees ignored the living, present Word of God in favor for that which was written. Worse yet, they tried to kill that Word in favor of their writings.
More reflections:
How do we see this happening still today? How do some people try to kill the Church, relying on Scripture to justify it? What is it that they fear in accepting the Churchs Tradition? How is it that the Church survives these attacks and flourishes? What witnesses do we have to testify to the reality of the Church and Her Tradition as the continuing vessel of Jesus work here on earth?
May God bless all of His children, unifying us in His name. Granting us Peace. Amen.
God Bless,
P12
chris!
