Sola scriptura question

[Anima_Christi]

How should I answer these Protestant arguments to support sola scriptura?:

Christ constantly confronts the Pharisees, Saducees, and Scribes for placing the rules/doctrines/traditions of men above the word of God. He always asks them “Do you not know the Scriptures?” Christ never once asks, “have you not heard the traditions of men?” He always asks them if they have read God’s word.

Thanks!

 

[Will_Pick]

Have you read 2Thess 2:15 or 2Thess 3:6

 

[john_ennis]

If Jesus was implying that those Scriptures, and nothing else, are necessary to our faith, then this is not an argument for sola Scriptura, but for Sola Old Testament.

And really, by His quoting Scripture, we can say certainly that Jesus is showing that Scripture is true and profitable. We can say with no certainty that he is showing us that only Scripture is true and profitable.

Seems He would have spent a lot less time and effort building a teaching Church, and a lot more directing his boys to write NT Scripture.

Peace
John

 

[kp1]

Ask them, “Could you please show me where in the bible it supports Solas Scriptura?”

It does not but they will refer to a passage that says it will be “profitable” to use scripture in defense. It does not say only! It says profitable.

Question #2 “before the bible was written, 354 (? exact date), what did the Christians use? If we were suppose to follow the bible alone, why did God have to come to earth, why not just hand us a bible?” Ok that is getting sarcastic, but it is true.

Now, my current favorite passage in scripture, 2Peter 3: 14-18.

"So, beloved, while waitting for this, make every effort to be found without stain or defilement, and at peace in his sight. Consider that our Lord’s patience is directed toward salvation. Paul, our beloved brother, wrote you this in the spirit of wisdom that is his, dealing with these matters as he does in all his letters. There are certain passages in them hard to understand. THE IGNORANT AND THE UNSTABLE DISTORT THEM TO THIER OWN RUIN.

You are forewarned, beloved brothers. Be on guard least you be led astray by the error of the wicked, and forfiet the security you enjoy. Grow rather in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Glory be to him now and to the day of eternity! Amen."

The caps were added by me and that is from the NAB bible.

You could also ask them where they got their bible from. Are they sure it is authentic? Do they hold the Catholic Church capable of producing a divinely inspired book? Because they got their book from us and then changed things!

You have the church and history in your side, you do not need to be afraid!

Good Luck and eventually agree to disagree! Then pray for them!!!

 

[Anima_Christi]

Thanks for the replies. Do you know of any instances in the gospels where Jesus appealed to something other than scripture in his arguments with the Pharisees (like tradition)? They are making the argument that Jesus appealed ONLY to scripture.

 

[alexaustralia]

I recommend anyone to read

NOT BY SCRIPTURE ALONE
A Catholic Critique of the Protestant Doctrine of Sola Scriptura
by Robert A. Sungenis

Contributors

Philip Blosser, Ph.D.
Robert Fastiggi, Ph.D.
Joseph A. Gallegos
Patrick Madrid
Rev. Mitchell Pacwa, S.J., Ph.D.
Mark P.Shea
Very Rev. Peter M. J. Stravinskas Ph.D., S.T.L.
Robert A. Sungenis M.A.

Read
Mat 23 1:3 Jesus commands the Disciples to follow the Pharasees’ teachings
1Cor 11:2
1 Thes 2:13
1 Thes 2:15
2 Tim 2:2
2 John 12 not every thing the Apostles teach is written - tradition
3 John 13 similar to above

 

[banjo]

Anima Christi:

How should I answer these Protestant arguments to support sola scriptura?:
Thanks!

You might ask them why Christ established a hierarchial, teaching Chruch, (as evidenced in the Gospels and Acts) and comissioned them to “make desciples of all the nations…Teach them to carry out everything I have commanded you.” Mt 28:19-20
You could remind them that the New Testament came out of the Church, not vice versa.

 

[VociMike]

I agree, we should not accord traditions of men the same authority that we accord Scripture. Neither should we accord traditions of men the same authority that we accord Sacred Tradition.

As relates to the Old Testament, I don’t believe the Jews had inerrant Sacred Tradition, did they? So of course Jesus would not have referred to it. But Scripture (not to mention the constant witness of the Church) does speak of traditions which have their source in Jesus’ ministry (thus making them traditions of God, not traditions of men).

 

[PraRFLEsEkHm]

Peace

You may want to point out that whenever Christ is confronting the Pharisees, Sadducees, etc. concerning their actions and referring to O.T. scriptures to do it, what He is actually doing is correcting their interpretation of the scriptures. Obviously they know the scriptures, it is not an appeal to read the scriptures, it is an appeal to understand them within the context that they were written.

They needed the Holy Spirit to guide them, as we do. Nothing has changed there.

Pax et Veritas

John

 

[DeFide]

Anima Christi:

Thanks for the replies. Do you know of any instances in the gospels where Jesus appealed to something other than scripture in his arguments with the Pharisees (like tradition)? They are making the argument that Jesus appealed ONLY to scripture.

“In fact, Jesus refers to an oral tradition in Matthew 23:2-3: ‘The scribes and the Pharisees sit on Moses’ seat; so practice and observe whatever they tell you, but not what they do; for they preach, but do not practice.’ Jesus both refers to this oral tradition about ‘the chair of Moses’ Himself, and commands the apostles to believe and obey it.”

source: geocities.com/thecatholicconvert/staplessolascriptura.html

another resource:
geocities.com/thecatholicconvert/solascriptura21.html

 

[havemercy]

If that is the case then the Bible is the tradition of man.

Le fin.

 

[kleary]

Anima Christi:

Thanks for the replies. Do you know of any instances in the gospels where Jesus appealed to something other than scripture in his arguments with the Pharisees (like tradition)? They are making the argument that Jesus appealed ONLY to scripture.

Again they are looking for you to disprove Sola Scriptura via an argument that has to be proven by Scripture alone and limiting it to the Gospels.

You can argue to them that Jesus did many other things that are not recorded in the Gospels (John 21:25).

Anyway even if Jesus did not give recourse to something other than Tradition things are much different with the New Testament Church because of the Descent of the Holy Spirit on Pentecost. The epistles in Scripture command us to heed Tradition along with Scripture also.

Ken

 

[DeFide]

“In fact, Jesus refers to an oral tradition in Matthew 23:2-3: ‘The scribes and the Pharisees sit on Moses’ seat; so practice and observe whatever they tell you, but not what they do; for they preach, but do not practice.’ Jesus both refers to this oral tradition about ‘the chair of Moses’ Himself, and commands the apostles to believe and obey it.”

source: geocities.com/thecatholicconvert/staplessolascriptura.html

another resource:
geocities.com/thecatholicconvert/solascriptura21.html

Another link:
catholic.com/thisrock/1995/9505fea1.asp

 

[SemperJase]

Anima Christi:

Thanks for the replies. Do you know of any instances in the gospels where Jesus appealed to something other than scripture in his arguments with the Pharisees (like tradition)? They are making the argument that Jesus appealed ONLY to scripture.

The golden rule:
Mark 12:30-31
AND YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, AND WITH ALL YOUR SOUL, AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND, AND WITH ALL YOUR STRENGTH.’"
The second is this, `YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.’ There is no other commandment greater than these."

The Pharisees were questioning him on scripture and Jesus gave us two new commandments.

The Pharisees also tried to use the scripture to get Jesus to order a woman to be stoned after being caught in adultery.
John 8:5 “Now in the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women; what then do You say?”

Again Jesus did not appeal to scripture:
John 8:7 But when they persisted in asking Him, He straightened up, and said to them, “He who is without sin among you, let him be the first to throw a stone at her.”

So Jesus did not always appeal to scripture either. These are also examples of why it can be dangerous to only go by scripture. Look at what it led to for the Pharisees.

 

[rciadan]

Anima Christi:

Thanks for the replies. Do you know of any instances in the gospels where Jesus appealed to something other than scripture in his arguments with the Pharisees (like tradition)? They are making the argument that Jesus appealed ONLY to scripture.

Matt 23:2 Jesus pointed to the institution of the Jewish hiarchy and told people to do what they say, not what they do. This is a direct order to obey men. Later Jesus replaced the Jewish hiarchy with His Church and gave it supreme authority on earth. (Matt 16:19)