C.S. Lewis and Sola Scriptura?

[Roman_Catholic_1]

I have been reading quite a bit of C.S. Lewis lately and I was wondering if anyone had any idea where he stood on Sola Scriptura. I can make a pretty good guess since he was Anglican, but did he ever come out and make a statement in regards to SS?

God bless

 

[dmelosi]

I have been reading quite a bit of C.S. Lewis lately and I was wondering if anyone had any idea where he stood on Sola Scriptura. I can make a pretty good guess since he was Anglican, but did he ever come out and make a statement in regards to SS?

God bless

ignatius.com/ViewProduct.aspx?SID=1&Product_ID=1995&AFID=12&

Take a look at link.

socrates58.blogspot.com/2006/04/cs-lewis-20th-century-christian-knight.html

also another link I found. Not sure if your specific answer is there though.

 

[Contarini]

I have been reading quite a bit of C.S. Lewis lately and I was wondering if anyone had any idea where he stood on Sola Scriptura. I can make a pretty good guess since he was Anglican, but did he ever come out and make a statement in regards to SS?

God bless

Yes, I think Lewis held to the standard Anglican (non-Anglo-Catholic) “Tradition I” view–the Church haas the authority to interpret Scripture, but Scripture remains the final authority and all necessary doctrine should be based on it.

Edwin

 

[GKC]

Yes, I think Lewis held to the standard Anglican (non-Anglo-Catholic) “Tradition I” view–the Church haas the authority to interpret Scripture, but Scripture remains the final authority and all necessary doctrine should be based on it.

Edwin

His view was pretty nuanced, as a literary expert, but, yeah, that’s how I read it too.

GKC

 

[MarcoPolo]

Edwin - would you say his view of sola scriptura was that of the Reformers?

GKC - how was it nuanced?

 

[Chancellare]

I have been reading quite a bit of C.S. Lewis lately and I was wondering if anyone had any idea where he stood on Sola Scriptura. I can make a pretty good guess since he was Anglican, but did he ever come out and make a statement in regards to SS?

God bless

After reading an article by David Cloud, Fundamental Baptist Information Service, it is clear that C S Lewis did not believe in Bible inerrancy, let alone Sola Scriptura. In fact, he was more Catholic than most thought: believing in prayers for the dead, Purgatory, etc.

 

[Contarini]

Edwin - would you say his view of sola scriptura was that of the Reformers?

Depends on which Reformers and in which context. I think it’s a mistake to say that “the Reformers” had a unified doctrine of “sola scriptura” which was at the core of their theology. Early on, they took the primacy and sufficiency of Scripture for granted rather than arguing for it.

But I would say that the view found in the 39 Articles, which I would also attribute to Lewis, is the basic minimum claim that you find common to the Reformers. (The framers of the Articles were, after all, Reformers!) You also sometimes find them going beyond this in various ways. But I wouldn’t ascribe to the Continental “Reformers” a unified doctrine of “sola scriptura” that differs from the view found in the Articles.

Edwin

 

[MarcoPolo]

Depends on which Reformers and in which context. I think it’s a mistake to say that “the Reformers” had a unified doctrine of “sola scriptura” which was at the core of their theology. Early on, they took the primacy and sufficiency of Scripture for granted rather than arguing for it.

But I would say that the view found in the 39 Articles, which I would also attribute to Lewis, is the basic minimum claim that you find common to the Reformers. (The framers of the Articles were, after all, Reformers!) You also sometimes find them going beyond this in various ways. But I wouldn’t ascribe to the Continental “Reformers” a unified doctrine of “sola scriptura” that differs from the view found in the Articles.

Edwin

I asked because I’m doing a paper on C.S. Lewis on Scripture by Michael Christensen (Drew University) and in his book of the same title on p. 84, he states, unqualified, “Lewis stands firmly in the Reformation tradition.” That paragraph is preceded with Reformation definition of Sola Scriptura as “the supreme source of revelation” and Scripture by itself brings man into “full knowledge of the redeeming love of God in Christ.”

In a brief paragraph on the medieval Church on the prior page, Christensen asserted that the Church affirmed “the authority of Scripture through the Church.”

I was certainly hesitant to embrace the claim that Lewis and the Reformers, as Christensen defined it, had the same view of sola scriptura. Lewis embraced the grace effected in sacramental life did he not?

 

[reteeks21]

After reading an article by David Cloud, Fundamental Baptist Information Service, it is clear that C S Lewis did not believe in Bible inerrancy, let alone Sola Scriptura. In fact, he was more Catholic than most thought: believing in prayers for the dead, Purgatory, etc.

I know he had many views that would be considered “Catholic” (and that has him being condmened by some outrageous Protestants), but aren’t High Anglican beliefs pretty much the same as rc, at least when it concerns issues like the ones mentioned thus far?

 

[ralphinal]

I know he had many views that would be considered “Catholic” (and that has him being condmened by some outrageous Protestants), but aren’t High Anglican beliefs pretty much the same as rc, at least when it concerns issues like the ones mentioned thus far?

Good insight.

Others are better qualified to discuss Lewis than I am, but from what I know of him, I think he was more Catholic than Fundamentalist/Evangelical on Sola Scriptura.

 

[reteeks21]

Good insight.

Others are better qualified to discuss Lewis than I am, but from what I know of him, I think he was more Catholic than Fundamentalist/Evangelical on Sola Scriptura.

It’s funny but one of the reasons I like Lewis is because some of his writings are very catholic!

 

[GKC]

Edwin - would you say his view of sola scriptura was that of the Reformers?

GKC - how was it nuanced?

I’ll try to get back on this.

And his attitude toward Anglo-Catholicism needs to be nuanced, too.

Off for the night.

GKC

 

[GKC]

I asked because I’m doing a paper on C.S. Lewis on Scripture by Michael Christensen (Drew University) and in his book of the same title on p. 84, he states, unqualified, “Lewis stands firmly in the Reformation tradition.” That paragraph is preceded with Reformation definition of Sola Scriptura as “the supreme source of revelation” and Scripture by itself brings man into “full knowledge of the redeeming love of God in Christ.”

In a brief paragraph on the medieval Church on the prior page, Christensen asserted that the Church affirmed “the authority of Scripture through the Church.”

I was certainly hesitant to embrace the claim that Lewis and the Reformers, as Christensen defined it, had the same view of sola scriptura. Lewis embraced the grace effected in sacramental life did he not?

Yes.

GKC

 

[Chancellare]

I know he had many views that would be considered “Catholic” (and that has him being condmened by some outrageous Protestants), but aren’t High Anglican beliefs pretty much the same as rc, at least when it concerns issues like the ones mentioned thus far?

You’re right.
In fact, one of his closest colleagues, JRR Tolkien ( an RC) and his priest confessor considered him a virtual catholic. Eventually he converted before he died.

To me, Anglicans were actually Catholics who were told by Henry VIII to separate from Rome on account of a botched annulment.

 

[VARC]

You’re right.
In fact, one of his closest colleagues, JRR Tolkien ( an RC) and his priest confessor considered him a virtual catholic. Eventually he converted before he died.

To me, Anglicans were actually Catholics who were told by Henry VIII to separate from Rome on account of a botched annulment.

C.S. lewis never converted to Roman Catholicism.

This is an excerpt from an article I just read…

"There are many Protestants and Catholics who have been deeply affected and spirituality changed by the writings of C.S. Lewis, including many converts to Catholicism who credit C.S. Lewis for playing a significant role in their conversion. But the ironic and perplexing fact is that Lewis himself, while ‘Catholic’ in may aspects of his faith and devotion, never became a Roman Catholic. Many have wondered why.

The presumption that underlies this alleged mystery reveals a heavy dose of ignorance. The presumption is simply that having Catholic beliefs ought to lead every serious thinker to Rome. But, the question is not ironic or perplexing at all. Traditional Anglicans who are of a serious Catholic mind see no mystery here, much less “an ironic and perplexing” one. C.S. Lewis did not become Catholic because, as an Anglican, he already was Catholic."
.

 

[SIA]

You’re right.
In fact, one of his closest colleagues, JRR Tolkien ( an RC) and his priest confessor considered him a virtual catholic. Eventually he converted before he died.

To me, Anglicans were actually Catholics who were told by Henry VIII to separate from Rome on account of a botched annulment.

No he did not. C.S. Lewis was Anglican his entire life. He adhered to the beliefs and doctrines of the Anglican church. He was never a Roman Catholic at any time in his life.

Your comment on Anglicans being Catholics commanded by King Henry III is totally false as well. I am a devout Anglican who knows that Henry III and the English Reformers had much more to be concerned about than his annulment denial and all of the politics of the RCC.

 

[MarcoPolo]

I’ll try to get back on this.

And his attitude toward Anglo-Catholicism needs to be nuanced, too.

Off for the night.

GKC

Looking forward to it.

 

[MarcoPolo]

Yes.

GKC

How did he stand on justification? Was it the Luther “covering” or the Catholic “sanctification”? If the latter, then my review of Christensen’s book is going to take a turn around p. 84.

 

[Chancellare]

No he did not. C.S. Lewis was Anglican his entire life. He adhered to the beliefs and doctrines of the Anglican church. He was never a Roman Catholic at any time in his life.

Your comment on Anglicans being Catholics commanded by King Henry III is totally false as well. I am a devout Anglican who knows that Henry III and the English Reformers had much more to be concerned about than his annulment denial and all of the politics of the RCC.

My reference on CS Lewis’ conversion is available in the web. Unless you have reference to prove they are all false, I welcome them.

I’m sorry if my views disparage you in any way. Thanks for correcting me. I was trying to refer to Henry VIII’s role in the separation of Church of England from Rome.

 

[Chancellare]

C.S. lewis never converted to Roman Catholicism.

This is an excerpt from an article I just read…

"There are many Protestants and Catholics who have been deeply affected and spirituality changed by the writings of C.S. Lewis, including many converts to Catholicism who credit C.S. Lewis for playing a significant role in their conversion. But the ironic and perplexing fact is that Lewis himself, while ‘Catholic’ in may aspects of his faith and devotion, never became a Roman Catholic. Many have wondered why.

The presumption that underlies this alleged mystery reveals a heavy dose of ignorance. The presumption is simply that having Catholic beliefs ought to lead every serious thinker to Rome. But, the question is not ironic or perplexing at all. Traditional Anglicans who are of a serious Catholic mind see no mystery here, much less “an ironic and perplexing” one. C.S. Lewis did not become Catholic because, as an Anglican, he already was Catholic."
.

Thanks for the correction. CS Lewis did not convert because he was already a Catholic as you concluded.