cont’d
Let’s look at your proof text in detail.
**II Timothy 3:15-17
"And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. **
Notice that he says, “from a child”. Unless St. Timothy was a prodigy, it is unlikely that he learned from the Scriptures alone, but was actually taught about the Scriptures by either St. Paul or by his parents. Let us see if we can find out from whom he learned the contents of the Scriptures:
2 Tim 1:
5 When I call to remembrance the unfeigned faith that is in thee, which dwelt first in thy grandmother Lois, and thy mother Eunice; and I am persuaded that in thee also.
Ah, yes, he learned from Lois and Eunice, his grandmother and mother respectively.
So, he did not learn from the Scriptures alone.
Notice also that he did not say, “thou hast knows the holy scriptures which ALONE are able to make thee wise unto salvation”.
This is important because the context of the verse and of the entire book of 2 Timothy, is about learning, preaching, teaching and handing down Tradition by word. Not by handing out bibles.
Then it says:
All scripture is given by inspiration of God,
Not “Scripture alone”. Nor “only Scripture”. But “all” Scripture. This is Catholic Doctrine. We believe that God inspired men to write the Scriptures.
**
and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: **
Several things here.
1st. It does not say, sufficient, all sufficient, nor necessary, nor required.
2nd. It does say, “profitable”, which means that it is suggested.
But what is it suggested for? Is it suggested for good reading? That one may hand it off and say, “hey, read it by yourself and learn from it. It is all you will ever need.”
No. He says, “use it as a resource for TEACHING. For handing down of Doctrine, for correcting errors and for teaching the way of righteousness.” St. Paul’s ASSUMPTION is that the contents of the Scripture will be explained. Not that the Scripture alone is the only thing necessary for the edification of the man of God.
That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.”
That is simply the conclusion of the verse and says nothing about Sola Scriptura either.
Now, it is your task to explain why, the entire book of 2 Tim is about teaching. And the Scriptures are mentioned only once or twice and yet you have turned it upside down and based upon your false understanding have read into it this idea of Scripture alone.
It is this sufficiency of Scripture (not merely its authority) which determines that questions regarding our faith and salvation can be resolved by its authority alone.
There is no mention of the sufficiency of Scripture Alone. Nor of the authority of Scripture ALONE. You have read that into the text.
Don’t get me wrong, it does say that Scripture is sufficient. But not that Scripture ALONE is sufficient. It does say that Scripture is authoritative. But not that Scripture ALONE is authoritative.
But if it does, show us from Scripture. Because 2 Tim 3:15-17 does not.
So, you may claim that Rome’s Tradition and Magisterium are also authoritative, and I may deny that, but regardless, Scripture itself teaches that it is sufficient for this purposes of this discussion.
No, it doesn’t. You have read your tradition of men into the text. That Scripture says that Scripture is useful for teaching and correcting. The words “teaching and correcting” imply the presence of a Teacher. They deny and reject and make impossible the idea that this is a teaching about Scripture ALONE.
Scripture on its own is able to make us “wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus”, and it “is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be PERFECT, THOROUGHLY furnished unto ALL good works.”
It has this power or attribute of sufficiency precisely because it is the word of God Himself, and as Christ said, “My words are spirit and life.”
As does the rest of the book. For it is ridiculous to believe that St. Paul teaches St. Timothy the value of preaching and teaching in 4 chapters, and contradicts himself in one or two verses simply because they mention Scripture.
Considering this, we will not be speaking at cross purposes, past each other, or at an impasse, but we can really deal with the issue.
I hope so. I await your response anxiously seeing that you have completely refuted.
Sincerely,
De Maria
