The statement means the word of God, in whatever form is always infallible and the highest authority. During the times of Jesus, the Prophets, and the Apostles we had the word of God being spoken and written. However, it was always the same principle that the word of God alone is infallible and the highest authority. For today’s church the only verifiable word of God we have are the Scriptures. Therefore, it is sola Scriptura, the sole infallible and highest authority.
I’ve been asking this simple question for weeks now and I have never received a adequate answer. Do Catholics have any evidence from Scripture or early patristics of any teaching outside of Scripture that was considered equal with God’s word?
Perhaps the answers have been adequate but not to your liking? And you want evidence from Scripture of a teaching outside of Scripture???
Let’s take a different approach.
At the time that Jesus walked the earth, the scriptures of the OT would have been the written Word of God while Jesus Himself was the Word Made Flesh. The OT did not cease being the WoG during the time of the Incarnation. Jesus refers to the “authority” of the OT when He stated, “It is written”, yet, he also refers to the authority of His Father in heaven who has given “all authority in heaven and on earth” to the Son. Thus, there were multiple and equal “authorities” in existence simultaneously
Today, we have the written Word of God and the Magisterium of the Catholic Church. This will be unacceptable to you under any circumstances. However, I will provide a few basic ideas and you may do with them what you will.
The Church’s authority is unique in that it is derived from the authority of the Apostles themselves. Apostolic Authority flows from the Authority of Jesus and the Father.
“All authority” comes from God. This authority was given by God the Father to Jesus who, in turn, gave it to His disciples. He gave them “all authority” to “make disciples of all nations”. We also see another example of the authority given to the Apostles in the Gospel of John:
“Again Jesus said, ‘Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.’ And with that he breathed on them and said, ‘Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive anyone his sins, they are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven.’ " (John 20:21-23)
From this passage, we see again that Jesus said, “as the Father has sent me (with all authority in heaven and on earth), so “I am sending you” with all of that exact same authority. Note further that Jesus has given the Apostles the authority to forgive men’s sins. Yet, as the Jews asked on another occasion:
“Who can forgive sins but God alone?” (Mark 5:5)
But Jesus knew their thoughts and asked:
“Why do you entertain evil thoughts in your hearts? Which is easier: to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up and walk’? But so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins…” Then he said to the paralytic, “Get up, take your mat and go home.” And the man got up and went home. When the crowd saw this, they were filled with awe; and they praised God, who had given such authority to men.” (Matthew 9:4-8)
Notice that the Jews did not praise God who had “given such authority to a man” – a single man named Jesus. Instead, they praised God because the authority to forgive sins has now been passed into the hands of mankind. Moreover, with this kind of authority firmly conveyed to them, the Apostles spoke with the authority of Jesus Christ Himself.
(cont.)
(3) I wouldnt consider them Christians in the sense of a true follower of Christ.