Sola Scriptura

[Colabomb]

I am becoming more protestant in my beliefs, and beginning to put a higher emphasis on Scripture over Tradition.

Could someone explain the original view of Sola Scriptura to me please?

I understand it is different than what the fundementalists believe.

Thank you dear Bretheren.

IN Christ the Living King!
John ><>

 

[rmwilliamsll]

there is a nice links list at:
http://www.monergism.com/thethreshold/articles/topic/fivesolas.html

start with:
http://www.the-highway.com/Sola_Scriptura_Godfrey.html
http://homepage.mac.com/shanerosenthal/reformationink/aahsolascrp.htm
http://reformedperspectives.org/fil...ctical_theology/PT.Frame.Traditionalism.1.pdf

it's a big topic, with lots of errors being taught about it, the best thing to do is get right into the literature.


...

 

[cygnusx1]

Hi there Colabomb , and happy birthday to YOU!!!




just a little aside .......... Reformed Christians don't deny all tradition , or good books , or Catecisms etc , they see these as helpful but NOT binding .

Only scripture has the place of Absolute Authority over the Christian mind and conscience ....

God Bless you in your search .

Cygnus

 

[Paleoconservatarian]

You're right, it's not like the fundamentalist's view. Sola scriptura holds that the Bible is the only ultimate and infallible authority. It does not deny that the church has genuine authority... it was the church that gave us the canon of scripture. The fundamentalist has trouble explaining why he carries the Bible he does, with the books contained within.

 

[Jon_]

Sola Scriptura is the evangelical doctrine. What I mean by that is the original evangelicals, the Reformers of the 16th and 17th centuries viewed Sola Scriptura as the doctrine upon which their movement rose and fell. Quite simply, if Sola Scriptura is true, then Protestantism is the proper form of Christian understanding.

What Sola Scriptura advocates is that the Bible is the first and last rule of faith. It says the Scriptures are the highest authority on all things pertaining to the Christian religion. If tradition contradicts with Scripture, then tradition should be changed to coincide with the Word of God. Quite clearly, we see the distiction between institutions such as Catholicism and Protestantism. For Catholics, extra-Biblical (things that aren't in the Bible) traditions are Biblical because they believe the Church has been given the right and responsibility to perform their services as they do. For Protestants (true Protestants), traditions are always submissive to the Scriptures. We look to the Word to see what traditions we should follow, instead of binding the Word to the traditions that we create.

What Sola Scriptura does not teach is that the Bible is the first and last word on everything. You won't learn how to solve systems of linear inequalities from the Bible. In fact, you won't learn any math from it. This is a common misconception of the doctrine. Many people from tradition-oriented churches (Catholic, Easthern Orthodox, etc.) seem to think that Protestants believe the Bible is sufficient for all things, but that is inconsistent with what we believe. Instead, we believe that the Bible is the highest authority for every aspect or issue that it addresses. To put it in a rougher vernacular, the Bible is the rulebook for Christianity. More than that, it is a special kind of rulebook because instead of just given a list of rules that must be followed, it is a guideline for the very spirit of the game. Breaking with the spirit is breaking the rules.

That being said, there is ample room for tradition to coincide with the Word. The very way we worship is a tradition. Historically, the figures in the Bible worshiped with the instruments that were common to their groups. That is true to how we worship now. Instead of harps, lyres, and goatskin drums, we use keyboards, electric guitars, and plastic skinned drums. The method of worship is largely traditional, but the spirit of worship is formed within the Word, and it is to this spirit that we are subservient. Also among the traditions of the Reformed church are confession and creeds, which are doctrinal guidelines for what the Bible teaches. If you want to understand the Reformed view, read the Westminster Confession of Faith and Catechisms.

Here is a page that has the Confession with Scripture proofs:
http://www.reformed.org/documents/wcf_with_proofs/

Here are the Catechisms (the Larger contains all of the Shorter and more):
http://www.freechurch.org/muir/lc.html (Larger)
http://www.freechurch.org/muir/sc.html (Shorter)

So, essentially, Sola Scriptura is this: The Bible is the highest authority of the Christian religion. It does not bar tradition, but instead would establish it according to the Word. If tradition should speak differently of the Word, or if a man should preach contradictory to the Word, then they are to be silenced, and the Scriptures are to be sought for the truth.

Soli Deo Gloria

Jon

 

[Reformationist]

I am sure that I have never seen a better explanation of sola Scriptura on this MB. Thank you Jon. I am sure that many besides Colabomb are richer for the knowledge you have shared, myself included.

Thank you and God bless,
Don

 

[ps139]

I am sure that I have never seen a better explanation of sola Scriptura on this MB. Thank you Jon. I am sure that many besides Colabomb are richer for the knowledge you have shared, myself included.

Me too, Don.
Jon, that was a fantastic post.

 

[Ozbeliever]

I agree! Thankyou for sharing that with us Jon.

In Christ,
Emele

 

[Proeliator]

WOW!! That was an absolutely eloquent, yet easy to understand post.

Would it be possible of you to break down the other 4 Solas as well?

 

[Colabomb]

Sola Scriptura is the evangelical doctrine. What I mean by that is the original evangelicals, the Reformers of the 16th and 17th centuries viewed Sola Scriptura as the doctrine upon which their movement rose and fell. Quite simply, if Sola Scriptura is true, then Protestantism is the proper form of Christian understanding.

What Sola Scriptura advocates is that the Bible is the first and last rule of faith. It says the Scriptures are the highest authority on all things pertaining to the Christian religion. If tradition contradicts with Scripture, then tradition should be changed to coincide with the Word of God. Quite clearly, we see the distiction between institutions such as Catholicism and Protestantism. For Catholics, extra-Biblical (things that aren't in the Bible) traditions are Biblical because they believe the Church has been given the right and responsibility to perform their services as they do. For Protestants (true Protestants), traditions are always submissive to the Scriptures. We look to the Word to see what traditions we should follow, instead of binding the Word to the traditions that we create.

What Sola Scriptura does not teach is that the Bible is the first and last word on everything. You won't learn how to solve systems of linear inequalities from the Bible. In fact, you won't learn any math from it. This is a common misconception of the doctrine. Many people from tradition-oriented churches (Catholic, Easthern Orthodox, etc.) seem to think that Protestants believe the Bible is sufficient for all things, but that is inconsistent with what we believe. Instead, we believe that the Bible is the highest authority for every aspect or issue that it addresses. To put it in a rougher vernacular, the Bible is the rulebook for Christianity. More than that, it is a special kind of rulebook because instead of just given a list of rules that must be followed, it is a guideline for the very spirit of the game. Breaking with the spirit is breaking the rules.

That being said, there is ample room for tradition to coincide with the Word. The very way we worship is a tradition. Historically, the figures in the Bible worshiped with the instruments that were common to their groups. That is true to how we worship now. Instead of harps, lyres, and goatskin drums, we use keyboards, electric guitars, and plastic skinned drums. The method of worship is largely traditional, but the spirit of worship is formed within the Word, and it is to this spirit that we are subservient. Also among the traditions of the Reformed church are confession and creeds, which are doctrinal guidelines for what the Bible teaches. If you want to understand the Reformed view, read the Westminster Confession of Faith and Catechisms.

Here is a page that has the Confession with Scripture proofs:
http://www.reformed.org/documents/wcf_with_proofs/

Here are the Catechisms (the Larger contains all of the Shorter and more):
http://www.freechurch.org/muir/lc.html (Larger)
http://www.freechurch.org/muir/sc.html (Shorter)

So, essentially, Sola Scriptura is this: The Bible is the highest authority of the Christian religion. It does not bar tradition, but instead would establish it according to the Word. If tradition should speak differently of the Word, or if a man should preach contradictory to the Word, then they are to be silenced, and the Scriptures are to be sought for the truth.

Soli Deo Gloria

Jon

Makes Sense!