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Sola Scriptura is overrated, the first christians didn't need it so neither do we.

thecolorsblend

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So like with the oxford english dictionary, the applied definition is what that matters.
That's an interesting theory. Maybe you should put it to a test. Define Sola Scriptura according to what you think the applied definition is. Then share it on a forum famous for its adherence to Sola Scriptura and see how many people agree.
 
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Gregory Thompson

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That's an interesting theory. Maybe you should put it to a test. Define Sola Scriptura according to what you think the applied definition is. Then share it on a forum famous for its adherence to Sola Scriptura and see how many people agree.

I guess I could start an account on the Fighting Fundamentalist Forum and watch how they apply it and post a thread, but then I'd probably get banned. *sigh* oh well it was fun thinking about it.
 
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thecolorsblend

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I guess I could start an account on the Fighting Fundamentalist Forum and watch how they apply it and post a thread, but then I'd probably get banned. *sigh* oh well it was fun thinking about it.
Indeed, sir. Sola Scriptura is an elastic term. It gets stretched to mean whatever it needs to mean. Every time I see someone define Sola Scriptura according to their own understanding, several someones come along and tell him he's wrong and then they give their own meaning for this elastic term. Their answers never match up with his or even with each other's. Someone posts a dictionary definition which resembles nobody's usage. The whole thing breaks down in a cacophony of noise, insults and threats of toilet papering someone's house.

It's sad.
 
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Razare

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Sola Scriptura is overrated, the first christians didn't need it so neither do we.

I agree concerning the new testament epistles and Revelation. The early Christians had the old testament, and we see Jesus, Peter, and Paul referencing the old testament prophets and Torah regularly. The old testament plus their recent direct experience with Jesus Christ, plus the Holy Spirit was all that was needed to live Christian lives.

The Bible is God's word, but God's word is never written in a vacuum. Revelation references many things from the old testament.

The gospels referenced the Torah heavily.

If a Christian comes up with a teaching, that you can't teach from the old testament, then really, it's not a teaching from God, but just a deception. Avoid such teaching.

The NT is great because it makes post-atonement instruction for Christians much simpler to understand, with the full revelation of the OT revealed to us more plainly... but that it is more plain does not mean it is any different than what was already written.
 
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Albion

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In my defense, nobody seems to know what it means. Or, at least, nobody seems to agree on what it means.
I don't think we can say that, "colors." If you check back through the several threads dealing with Sola Scriptura, I know that you will find a number of posters who are opposed to SS and persistently mention objections that frustrate the number of supporters of SS who say that they've already explained, over and over again, what it is and is not. To say or think that those who misrepresent or misunderstand it are in the same boat as those who are believers in it and have spent a lot of time trying to get through to their opposite number is to make a mistake IMHO.

The word can mean almost anything considering the number of different definitions I've heard.
Well, here's an idea. Everyone seems to agree that SS is a concept that was given prominence by Martin Luther. What it means, therefore, is not just something that's all things to all people. It's a particular term, incorporated into the official beliefs of a more than a few denominations, and treated in a jillion history books. Anyone can find out what it means with very little effort, using a search engine on the internet.

IMHO, the main problem here seems to be that the opponents are mainly going by what they heard someone in their (non Sola Scriptura) church say about it or else they're going by what they themselves suppose that it must mean, judging only by looking at the term.
 
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thecolorsblend

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IMHO, the main problem here seems to be that the opponents are mainly going by what they heard someone in their (non Sola Scriptura) church say about it or else they're going by what they themselves suppose that it must mean, judging only by looking at the term.
Ah. We who reject Sola Scriptura should pay no attention to the people who actually espouse Sola Scriptura. Let them use whatever definition they want for that elastic term without being troubled over just what the heck they mean. Got it, thanks!
 
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Albion

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Ah. We who reject Sola Scriptura should pay no attention to the people who actually espouse Sola Scriptura.
If you wish.

Let them use whatever definition they want for that elastic term without being troubled over just what the heck they mean. Got it, thanks!
Not got it, from what I see in that paragraph. :doh:

For one thing, you editorialized that the term is "elastic," and it's no such thing.

For another, it's been explained here until the advocates are 'blue in the face' trying to get through to people who seem to enjoy attacking it and know that they would probably have to stop doing that once they let on that they know what the object of their complaining actually is all about.

This is not the fault of the concept of Sola Scriptura or of the people who do understand what it means.
 
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2PhiloVoid

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Sola Scriptura is overrated, the first christians didn't need it so neither do we.

I think it's fine to jettison the term "Sola Scriptura" itself and possibly reformulate our articulations about the Bible's place in the Church as long as this doesn't mean also throwing away our recognition that the writings in the Bible were intended to hold a high level of Authority within the overall Christian faith.

At some level, we have to ask ourselves, why did Jesus refer to Scripture as a source of spiritual Authority? ("It is written ... !!") o_O

2PhiloVoid
 
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Gregory Thompson

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So, what should we be seeing as the place and nature of the Bible in the Christian Life?


I think it's fine to jettison the term "Sola Scriptura" itself and possibly reformulate our articulations about its place in the Church as long as this doesn't mean also throwing away our recognition that the writings in the Bible were intended to hold a high level of Authority within the overall Christian faith.

At some level, we have to ask ourselves, why did Jesus refer to Scripture as a source of spiritual Authority? ("It is written ...") o_O

2PhiloVoid

Yeah, I'm just talking about removing Sola, not Scriptura. Thanks for clarifying.
 
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Albion

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I think it's fine to jettison the term "Sola Scriptura" itself and possibly reformulate our articulations about the Bible's place in the Church as long as this doesn't mean also throwing away our recognition that the writings in the Bible were intended to hold a high level of Authority within the overall Christian faith.
...which seems to amount to saying to renounce both the term and the concept. o_O

Did I misunderstand?
 
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W2L

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Ah. We who reject Sola Scriptura should pay no attention to the people who actually espouse Sola Scriptura. Let them use whatever definition they want for that elastic term without being troubled over just what the heck they mean. Got it, thanks!

Just go with Christ sola, works for me
 
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Gregory Thompson

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Why don't we just call that proposal what it really is--antinomianism?
Hmmmm well, when Love is the standard, you cannot be lawless. The basis of all the laws is to not cause harm. It becomes lawless when there is no sense of respect for each other, with or without a law or written code.
 
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Albion

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Hmmmm well, when Love is the standard, you cannot be lawless.
Of course you can. But maybe the word antinomian isn't the best one after all. What else says "Believe Jesus is your guy and all other doctrines or beliefs or behavior are just whatever you want to make them be?"
 
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