Question to Protestants regarding the Bible

[guanophore]

yes! the bible is its own dictionary, and its own translator.

Did you find this fact in the bible somewhere? What verse says this?

The bible is where we go to find the word of God. The word of God is only found in the bible. Everything else is considered the word of Man is it not? Sense the word of God is only in the bible, it must be safe to assume that everything that is not the bible, is not the word of God.

Wow. I wonder if Jesus knows He has been confined within it’s pages?

If you seek spiritual salvation, then only by reading the bible will you find the word of God. You can read anything you like, just don’t trust it as authority or as something more than of this world. Unless what you are reading is a bible tract, or something quoting from the word of God, it is an untrustworthy source and will get you killed[spiritual death is being under the wrath of God] if you trust in it.-

Too bad nobody clued Jesus in on this. He might have spent his short years on the earth writing, instead of building a church!

In order to study the bible and bible alone, you must follow the rules of the bible that the bible puts forth. Everything you need is contained in the bible.

I hope you will be able to provide the verse that states this.

This is Gods guarantee that all we need is His word.

Wow. Maybe Jesus did not need to come at all! Maybe all He had to do was allow the Bible to fall from the sky!

 

[stag15]

Jonathon,

Where specifically does the Bible say its the sole rule of faith? Please be very specific. No offense, not interested in your opinion (which violates Sola Scriptura) I am interested ONLY in Scripture references that clearly say that the Bible is ALL (EVERYTHING) that one needs in terms of the Christian Faith.

• Michael

2 TIMOTHY 3:16 NKJ
16 All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness,

“You shall not add to the word which I am commanding you, nor take away from it, that you may keep the commandments of the Lord your God which I command you” (Deuteronomy 4:2)

“Do not add to His words lest He reprove you, and you be proved a liar” (Proverbs 30:6)

 

[Jason_1977]

Hmm…I bet the fundamentalists were throwing keg parties when the PRINTING PRESS was invented in the 1500’s, LOL!!! Boy, Solo Scriptura was a tough and inconvenient way of living back then, must’ve been rough! ok, I’m done. lol

 

[teak421]

2 TIMOTHY 3:16 NKJ
16 All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness,

“You shall not add to the word which I am commanding you, nor take away from it, that you may keep the commandments of the Lord your God which I command you” (Deuteronomy 4:2)

“Do not add to His words lest He reprove you, and you be proved a liar” (Proverbs 30:6)

Read two verses up.

Paul was referring to the Old Testament as there was no New Testament compiled and in some cases not even written yet. The Old Testament was the only Canonized Scripture that was in Paul’s day.

That verse does NOT say ONLY the Bible. It certainly is profitable, but not only.

The quote from Deuteronomy would say that it would NOT be wise to add any scripture to the existing Old Testament Canon. Basically, if we followed that to the T, adding Scripture (ie. New Testament) would violate that verse. Sure you want to use that verse?

Nite…

• Michael

 

[teak421]

Hmm…I bet the fundamentalists were throwing keg parties when the PRINTING PRESS was invented in the 1500’s, LOL!!! Boy, Solo Scriptura was a tough and inconvenient way of living back then, must’ve been rough! ok, I’m done. lol

Jason, that is a wonderful point! What did 99.9123913 percent of the world’s population do before the Printing Press? If our Lord wanted to deliver his message and put everything concerning his faith, would a book be the best means? Or, would the Church?

I vote for Church.

PS: I know people know this, but the Bible rocks! Its awesome… Its central… but, its not ONLY.

• Michael

 

[mathematician]

These questions are mainly for Protestants, I want to try to get a feel for where the different denominations stand in these two questions. I know the positions of a few but not all. Therefore, my questions are:

Is the Bible is the only rule of faith? Meaning that it contains all of the material one needs for theology

 

[teak421]

wmscott;5706458:

Yes.

Where in Scripture does it say that the WHOLE of Christian faith is ONLY found in the Bible?

If you can not answer this question, you are violating your own rules of Sola Scriptura.

• Michael

 

[Jason_1977]

mathematician;5723328:

Where in Scripture does it say that the WHOLE of Christian faith is ONLY found in the Bible?

If you can not answer this question, you are violating your own rules of Sola Scriptura.

• Michael

Game, Set, Match…I was going to say the same thing.

 

[Jason_1977]

Ever wonder if we took the opposite direction & followed the church but not a lick of scripture? Like switching extremes, going from sola scriptura to sola churchum? lol Imagine that for a minute. It sounds ridculous…

 

[teak421]

Ever wonder if we took the opposite direction & followed the church but not a lick of scripture? Like switching extremes, going from sola scriptura to sola churchum? lol Imagine that for a minute. It sounds ridculous…

That would be odd…

I’m glad actually that we’ve got a far more complete picture, Scripture, Tradition and Magisterium…

• Michael

 

[Jason_1977]

absolutely. I couldn’t imagine what it would be like to have such blinders on. I thought WE were strict, i sometimes seems it’s the opposite. We do have a broader spectrum & a bigger picture. My understanding is exponentially more clear than it ever has been & I’ve been a confirmed catholic since easter of '08. I have learned more in being catholic for a year & a half than I ever did being episcopalian for 30 years, lol.

 

[teak421]

absolutely. I couldn’t imagine what it would be like to have such blinders on. I thought WE were strict, i sometimes seems it’s the opposite. We do have a broader spectrum & a bigger picture. My understanding is exponentially more clear than it ever has been & I’ve been a confirmed catholic since easter of '08. I have learned more in being catholic for a year & a half than I ever did being episcopalian for 30 years, lol.

I just converted this past Easter! cool huh!

• Michael

 

[jblake]

teak421;:

If you can not answer this question, you are violating your own rules of Sola Scriptura.

“Sola Scriptura” is one of the most misunderstood concepts in Protestant Christian Theology.

Oddly enough, once Catholics understand what it embraces, they discover that not only it is not in conflict with Traditional Catholicism, but is in perfect harmony with Traditional Catholicism.

jonathon

 

[teak421]

“Sola Scriptura” is one of the most misunderstood concepts in Protestant Christian Theology.

Oddly enough, once Catholics understand what it embraces, they discover that not only it is not in conflict with Traditional Catholicism, but is in perfect harmony with Traditional Catholicism.

jonathon

There is nothing your message above that helps me to understand. Can you please provide some insight? Can you explain how its mis-understood? Can you define Sola Scriptura?

Thanks!

• Michael

 

[mathematician]

mathematician;5723328:

Where in Scripture does it say that the WHOLE of Christian faith is ONLY found in the Bible?

If you can not answer this question, you are violating your own rules of Sola Scriptura.

• Michael

I will tell you why a Church which manufactures new doctrines to order isn’t trusted. Take the Assumption of Mary for example. Not a peep was heard about it until the late fourth century, when suddenly it appears out of nowhere. So that it has any historical basis seems dubious to say the least. But then in 1950 the Pope decided it was his favourite doctrine, so now every catholic is supposed to believe it, and without a scrap of historical evidence.

And you wonder why the reformers went for sola scriptura?

 

[teak421]

teak421;5723801:

I will tell you why a Church which manufactures new doctrines to order. Take the Assumption of Mary for example. Not a peep was heard about it until the late fourth century, when suddenly it appears out of nowhere. So that it has any historical basis seems dubious to say the least. But the in 1950 the Pope decided it was his favourite doctrine, so now every catholic is supposed to believe it, without a scrap of historical evidence.

And you wonder why the reformers went for sola scriptura?

I appreciate your view on the doctrine of the Assumption of Mary; however, what does that have to do with answering my question? Can you please answer my question? I’ve reprinted it below:

Where in Scripture does it say that the WHOLE of Christian faith is ONLY found in the Bible? If you can not answer this question, you are violating your own rules of Sola Scriptura.

Take care…

• Michael

 

[Zooey]

In Methodism, we have what is called the Wesley Quadrilateral. (I can draw a fair picture of this, but NOT with a computer keyboard, as some other longterm members here can attest).
The four parts are:
1.Scripture
2.Tradition
3.Experience
4.Reason

Any of these may be the beginning point for working through an issue theologically, but we are never to discard or to contradict any of the four, because they are all of great importance.
Scripture & Tradition are pretty clear as to what they are. “Experience” refers to the fact that Christians throughout Church History have spoken about, written about, etc, most any subject, and their experience is a valid & important factor in understanding theology. (Just as, for example, Catholics read the writings of Catholic saints with an eye to learning from them, so too, Methodists look to the wisdom of our forerunners in faith–and not just other Methodists!!).
And Reason…Well: My grandmother had a friend who often said that “The trouble with common sense is that it’s very uncommon”. So many people run after “feeling good” or some kind of vague “spiritual high”. (Sometimes they do this after deciding that the Bible obviously can’t mean what it says because that is inconvenient for them–You know the kind??).

Hmm…I bet the fundamentalists were throwing keg parties when the PRINTING PRESS was invented in the 1500’s, LOL!!! Boy, Solo Scriptura was a tough and inconvenient way of living back then, must’ve been rough! ok, I’m done. lol

 

[mathematician]

mathematician;5725893:

Where in Scripture does it say that the WHOLE of Christian faith is ONLY found in the Bible? If you can not answer this question, you are violating your own rules of Sola Scriptura.

Take care…

• Michael

Well since I am an Anglican, I can appeal to the thirty nine articles. Now you can call that tradition if you want to, but that doesn’t prevent those same 39 articles saying:

"Holy Scripture containeth all things necessary to salvation: so that whatsoever is not read therein, nor may be proved thereby, is not to be required of any man, that it should be believed as an article of the Faith, or be thought requisite or necessary to salvation. In the name of the Holy Scripture we do understand those canonical Books of the Old and New Testament, of whose authority was never any doubt in the Church."

Before you say that catholics believe the same thing about the Bible, exactly how is the Assumption to be deduced from the biblical texts?

 

[teak421]

teak421;5725914:

Well since I am an Anglican, I can appeal to the thirty nine articles. Now you can call that tradition if you want to, but that doesn’t prevent those same 39 articles saying:

"Holy Scripture containeth all things necessary to salvation:

so that whatsoever is not read therein, nor may be proved thereby, is not to be required of any man, that it should be believed as an article of the Faith, or be thought requisite or necessary to salvation. In the name of the Holy Scripture we do understand those canonical Books of the Old and New Testament, of whose authority was never any doubt in the Church."

Before you say that catholics believe the same thing about the Bible, exactly how is the Assumption to be deduced from the biblical texts?

With respect, I reject your articles, not because they are wrong or horrible, or offensive but because they are NOT in scripture. Therefore, you have stated that EVERYTHING comes from the Bible (not from your articles of faith) therefore, find me direct scripture that says the Bible is the ONLY source of our faith? If you can not, you should consider if you truly believe in Sola Scriptura…

Cya!

• Michael

 

[mathematician]

mathematician;5727523:

If you can not, you should consider if you truly believe in Sola Scriptura…

For purposes of doctrine, yes I do. And why do I? Because, as I said before, I do not trust highly centralised organisations, which seem to be able to pull new doctrines out of the hat, and that without any reference to the Bible.