Why do protestants believe in Bible only?

[7_Sorrows]

I have a co-worker who I find very intelligent and interesting to talk to. he is currently studying theology. he left the Catholic church at 17 and I know is a very strong protestant and attends a non-denominational church. I asked if he would like to read Scott Hahn’s book “Rome, Sweet Rome” and give me his opinion. he returned the book to me last week and said that as far as he is concerned the Mass is heresy and that we should take the Bible alone. of course, as a Catholic I do not agree with him. I do not believe that the Mass is heretical and I believe we had the Church before the Bible.
I am sure this question has been asked many times before, but why do protestants not see the the Church came before the Bible. and how can they ignore the words of Jesus
“do this in remembrance of me”. obviously he does not believe in the Real Presence either.
I believe he left the Catholic church at a young age and didn’t really understand the Catholic faith to its fullest and I guess I was hoping that by reading the Scott Hahn book he might begin to rethink Catholicism and want to look into it deeper. perhaps I was naïve.
he wasn’t angry with me for giving him the book to read and I guess I am taking his word that he actually read it. I just don’t understand why they believe in sola scripture when Jesus nor the apostles had access to the Bible as we know it. they had the teachings of the Torah, and spread the Gospel by word of mouth before the Bible was ever put together.

 

[GrowingFaith]

I just don’t understand why they believe in sola scripture when Jesus nor the apostles had access to the Bible as we know it. they had the teachings of the Torah, and spread the Gospel by word of mouth before the Bible was ever put together.

I apologize for responding when I can’t answer your question, but this line right here will help me with the unavoidable debates I will have with my (Baptist) family. I had to thank you. (THANK YOU!!)

And, I guess if I had a logical answer, I would be a Baptist. There is no answer that makes Biblical sense, so… Here I am!!! If Christians relied strictly on the Bible for their faith, there would be no Christians, since there was a long stretch of time between Christ’s life and the Bible. Thanks for the Church, Christ!!!

 

[dronald]

I suppose it’s because the Bible makes some pretty explicit statements that make us feel there is no need for anything extra Biblical. John 3:16 is straight forward, there is no special context to it. God loved the world that He gave His only Son so that whoever believes in Him will not perish but have everlasting life.

So how does anyone obtain Salvation and not perish? Believing in His Son.

 

[chero23]

I suppose it’s because the Bible makes some pretty explicit statements that make us feel there is no need for anything extra Biblical. John 3:16 is straight forward, there is no special context to it. God loved the world that He gave His only Son so that whoever believes in Him will not perish but have everlasting life.

So how does anyone obtain Salvation and not perish? Believing in His Son.

But Jesus said to his apostles, Go and whoever listens to you listens to me, whoever rejects you rejects him who he sends me. He did not say here is a copy of the Bible start handing them out to every corner of the world that you go to.

Plus, he did say I will establish a Church. As we see in 2 Thess. 2:15, Paul says to hold fast to the Traditions which were tought either by letter or word of mouth. No were does he say hold fast to the Bible.

Here’s one more that shows you that its not the Bible that has sole authority but the Church,

How about John 10:!6, were he tells them that, And I have other sheep, that are not of this fold; I must bring them also, and they will heed my voice. So there shall be one flock, one shepherd

Once again we hear that its the voice not a book.

Nut you gotta remember that God keeps his word. He tells the Apostles that he will be with them (Church) til the end of the world. Well last time I checked the world still exist. So either Jesus lied, or Protestants do not read the entire bible and see the whole context of what it says.

 

[Marie5890]

(I say this as a very generalized statement only. It’s a far more complex issue than the quick post I have time to make)

In part, human beings, because of broken nature, are very subject to ego, and for the past 2 millenium of the Church, predominately male ego. (Yes I know that is a stereotype)

Because of that, a great deal of personal opinion, perspective that may not really reflect spiritual realities have filtered into Catholic tradition. That is accepting human nature as it is.

May if not most human being have the ability to discern and wade thru all of that to know what is reality. Protestants know this.

There is a BOAT load of Catholic small “t” traditions that many Catholics are under the impression are Big “T” traditions.

Paring it it back to “just the Bible” does get rid of some of the misleading legends and myths that have indeed developed over 2000 years…

 

[classica87]

7 Sorrows, I wish I could give you a more “factual” answer, but the best thing I can tell you is that many Protestants like to ignore history. That, or they will pretend the early Church was much more Protestant-like, and that at some point in history (usually around Constantine’s time) the Church became “infected” with Roman pagan influence and was no longer the true church Christ founded. Doesn’t really make sense to me, but a lot of Protestantism is illogical.

Especially in the Fundamentalist groups, it is very much a “me and Jesus” sort of deal, even if church attendance is assumed required. This attitude extends into their church practice, and even when gathered as a group it is still a “me and Jesus” Bible-thumping jamboree. Liturgy is absent, ritual is frowned upon, and the most you might hear is recitation of the Creed or Our Father. This scripture-only attitude based on personal guidance and belief often leads to cherry-picking scripture. Coincidentally, not many Protestants are aware of verses in the Bible such as 1 Tim. 3:15 or 2 Peter 1:20 that directly speak out against their faith. The evident plainness of much scripture is avoided for circular explain-away arguments, such as the obvious Eucharist-centric nature of John 6.

A lot of people around where I live who are Protestant simply hate the Church so much they cannot possibly accept it, and I think this is one reason why so many are Bible-only, personal “me and Jesus” types who refuse the Church, because the history of hatred, especially in the South, is so great, the misunderstandings so ingrained, that they can’t see plain, logical Truth when it’s presented. Even when evidence for the Church and Tradition are laid out in a calm, charitable manner, they are absolutely sure the Devil is trying to trick them into apostasy. If I had a dollar every time my grandfather told me non-Baptists, and especially those Mary-worshipping Catholics, were going straight to eternal Hellfire, I’d be pretty well off right now.

Note that none of this post is meant to offend our Protestant friends. I love Protestantism because it taught me to love Jesus; however, I cannot deny Truth! Hope I helped!

 

[mskejj]

I suppose it’s because the Bible makes some pretty explicit statements that make us feel there is no need for anything extra Biblical. John 3:16 is straight forward, there is no special context to it. God loved the world that He gave His only Son so that whoever believes in Him will not perish but have everlasting life.

So how does anyone obtain Salvation and not perish? Believing in His Son.

But remember that even the devil “believes” in Jesus. “To believe” in first century Jewish eyes means “to do”…to follow Jesus and take up your cross. To love Jesus is to keep his commandments. The word “believes” is not just head knowledge …it is a way of life that will lead us to our true home with God in heaven and Jesus established His Church and gave us the sacraments and the bible to help us get there despite all the trials and temptations we encounter every day.

 

[jmcrae]

I suppose it’s because the Bible makes some pretty explicit statements that make us feel there is no need for anything extra Biblical. John 3:16 is straight forward, there is no special context to it. God loved the world that He gave His only Son so that whoever believes in Him will not perish but have everlasting life.

So how does anyone obtain Salvation and not perish? Believing in His Son.

Merely assenting that He exists is not the same thing as believing in Him, though.

We have to be members of His Church, and follow His laws - otherwise, we are only giving lip-service while continuing in our own ways.

 

[chero23]

But remember that even the devil “believes” in Jesus. “To believe” in first century Jewish eyes means “to do”…to follow Jesus and take up your cross. To love Jesus is to keep his commandments. The word “believes” is not just head knowledge …it is a way of life that will lead us to our true home with God in heaven and Jesus established His Church and gave us the sacraments and the bible to help us get there despite all the trials and temptations we encounter every day.

Greatly put.

 

[classica87]

Merely assenting that He exists is not the same thing as believing in Him, though.

We have to be members of His Church, and follow His laws - otherwise, we are only giving lip-service while continuing in our own ways.

To this I recommend the lovely, often-neglected little Book of James, that warns us not only to be hearers, but doers of what we have heard.

 

[dronald]

But Jesus said to his apostles, Go and whoever listens to you listens to me, whoever rejects you rejects him who he sends me. He did not say here is a copy of the Bible start handing them out to every corner of the world that you go to.

Can you find me this passage first of all?

Second of all, the Apostles wrote much of the Bible and we accept it.

Plus, he did say I will establish a Church. As we see in 2 Thess. 2:15, Paul says to hold fast to the Traditions which were tought either by letter or word of mouth. No were does he say hold fast to the Bible.

Jesus did establish His Church and we’re both in it if we believe in God’s Son. 2 Thess 2:15 proves that we can believe what was written by the Apostles by word of mouth or by letter. Do we still have the words that the Apostles said that weren’t wrote down?

How about John 10:!6, were he tells them that, And I have other sheep, that are not of this fold; I must bring them also, and they will heed my voice. So there shall be one flock, one shepherd

Once again we hear that its the voice not a book.

So you agree that we’re all one fold and not separate because we have heard His voice and accepted it as truth? I believe this.

Nut you gotta remember that God keeps his word. He tells the Apostles that he will be with them (Church) til the end of the world. Well last time I checked the world still exist. So either Jesus lied, or Protestants do not read the entire bible and see the whole context of what it says.

Huh? We are in His Church. You’re looking at this in a way that separates Protestant’s from Catholic’s. We’re all in His Church because we all believe in Him and shall be saved. It would be like me telling you Jesus was a liar if you don’t accept that I’ll be saved because I believe in Him.

But remember that even the devil “believes” in Jesus. “To believe” in first century Jewish eyes means “to do”…to follow Jesus and take up your cross. To love Jesus is to keep his commandments. The word “believes” is not just head knowledge …it is a way of life that will lead us to our true home with God in heaven and Jesus established His Church and gave us the sacraments and the bible to help us get there despite all the trials and temptations we encounter every day.

I won’t speak on my behalf, but my girlfriend is a sweetheart. She travels to other countries on missions, preaching the Gospel, building Churches and schools. The devil knows God is One and shudders, we however have placed our entire Faith in Him, and thus shall be saved.

Merely assenting that He exists is not the same thing as believing in Him, though.

We have to be members of His Church, and follow His laws - otherwise, we are only giving lip-service while continuing in our own ways.

No it’s not, I know. It has been historically proven that Jesus existed as a person and that means nothing. But believing in Him is what I do and what you do; therefore if our hearts that God judges are pure, He’ll accept us into His kingdom.

To this I recommend the lovely, often-neglected little Book of James, that warns us not only to be hearers, but doers of what we have heard.

James is wonderful, and I obey it like I obey Jesus. (to my best ability, I don’t ever claim to be perfect or even good for that matter, but the God of all grace has accepted me and I love Him with all my heart.)

 

[Nicea325]

I suppose it’s because the Bible makes some pretty explicit statements that make us feel there is no need for anything extra Biblical. John 3:16 is straight forward, there is no special context to it. God loved the world that He gave His only Son so that whoever believes in Him will not perish but have everlasting life.

So how does anyone obtain Salvation and not perish? Believing in His Son.

Okay,but no where does the Bible teach:

The Bible-only is the authority or means

Jesus founded His Church and gave her full authority…not strictly to written words.

 

[Nicea325]

Can you find me this passage first of all?

Second of all, the Apostles wrote much of the Bible and we accept it.

Jesus did establish His Church and we’re both in it if we believe in God’s Son. 2 Thess 2:15 proves that we can believe what was written by the Apostles by word of mouth or by letter. Do we still have the words that the Apostles said that weren’t wrote down?

So you agree that we’re all one fold and not separate because we have heard His voice and accepted it as truth? I believe this.

Huh? We are in His Church. You’re looking at this in a way that separates Protestant’s from Catholic’s. We’re all in His Church because we all believe in Him and shall be saved. It would be like me telling you Jesus was a liar if you don’t accept that I’ll be saved because I believe in Him.

I won’t speak on my behalf, but my girlfriend is a sweetheart. She travels to other countries on missions, preaching the Gospel, building Churches and schools. The devil knows God is One and shudders, we however have placed our entire Faith in Him, and thus shall be saved.

No it’s not, I know. It has been historically proven that Jesus existed as a person and that means nothing. But believing in Him is what I do and what you do; therefore if our hearts that God judges are pure, He’ll accept us into His kingdom.

James is wonderful, and I obey it like I obey Jesus. (to my best ability, I don’t ever claim to be perfect or even good for that matter, but the God of all grace has accepted me and I love Him with all my heart.)

Indeed. But no where does Jesus teach: The Bible-only.

Christianity is not a religion of the book,but of a person: Jesus.

 

[chero23]

dronald, here’s the answer. Its on Luke 10:16
16 “He who hears you hears me, and he who rejects you rejects me, and he who rejects me rejects him who sent me.” 17 The seventy returned with joy, saying, “Lord, even the demons are subject to us in your name!” 18 And he said to them, "I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven.

As you can see, Jesus never said the Bible has the authority. Besides who gave you the Bible, Jesus didnt drop it when he was ascending to heaven. The Church sat down and made sure that what was given was right and inspired. So it seems to me the Church has more authority since it was who gave you the Bible.

You also say that were in the Church. But your Protestant were Catholics, I dont recall God Saying I want Churches, he said and Paul repeated be one, we are not 1, we are so divided its sad bc we have not cared about Jesus Passion.

 

[jmcrae]

To this I recommend the lovely, often-neglected little Book of James, that warns us not only to be hearers, but doers of what we have heard.

James 1:22
King James Version (KJV)
22 But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.

 

[jmcrae]

Can you find me this passage first of all?

Second of all, the Apostles wrote much of the Bible and we accept it.

Jesus did establish His Church and we’re both in it if we believe in God’s Son. 2 Thess 2:15 proves that we can believe what was written by the Apostles by word of mouth or by letter. Do we still have the words that the Apostles said that weren’t wrote down?

Of course we do: they are in the prayers of the Mass, and in the prayers that Catholics say every morning and evening.

So you agree that we’re all one fold and not separate because we have heard His voice and accepted it as truth? I believe this.

If you are “in the fold” then you can see both the “fence” and the “gate.” But if your church is invisible, then you might not be “in the fold”, because Jesus established a visible Church with visible authority.

James is wonderful, and I obey it like I obey Jesus. (to my best ability, I don’t ever claim to be perfect or even good for that matter, but the God of all grace has accepted me and I love Him with all my heart.)

If you really love Jesus, you will come to His House, put on your “wedding garment” (Baptism and Confirmation in the Catholic Church) and eat at His table.

 

[Razanir]

I suppose it’s because the Bible makes some pretty explicit statements that make us feel there is no need for anything extra Biblical. John 3:16 is straight forward, there is no special context to it. God loved the world that He gave His only Son so that whoever believes in Him will not perish but have everlasting life.

So how does anyone obtain Salvation and not perish? Believing in His Son.

I offer a counterargument. Where in the Bible does it say these 66 books are to be read, but most certainly not Sirach, Baruch, Tobit, Wisdom, Judith, 1 Maccabees or 2 Maccabees? Many Protestants seem to think those 66 books always made up the Bible, then Catholics added 7 more. Here’s a more accurate version:

First 400 years– No uniform canon. Different regional churches have different regional canons
c. 400 AD– The first uniform canon is made. It consists of the 66 books Protestants know, plus Sirach, Baruch, Tobit, Wisdom, Judith, Maccabees, and a few more chapters in Esther and Daniel
c. 1500 AD– Luther starts the Reformation. He removes those 7 books partially because the original versions were Greek and not Hebrew. Notably, he still considered them worth reading, just not divinely inspired
Some time after the KJV– Protestants stop publishing the apocrypha/deuterocanon

Other facts:
*Hanukkah is from 1 Maccabees
*Ironically, some of those books found older Hebrew versions in the Dead Sea Scrolls

 

[pablope]

Can you find me this passage first of all?

Second of all, the Apostles wrote much of the Bible and we accept it.

Jesus did establish His Church and we’re both in it if we believe in God’s Son. 2 Thess 2:15 proves that we can believe what was written by the Apostles by word of mouth or by letter. Do we still have the words that the Apostles said that weren’t wrote down?

So be perfect or even good for that matter, but the God of all grace has accepted me and I love Him with all my heart.)

Absolutely…it is in the Liturgy, the common teaching, the common life, the common worship…in the prayers…of the Church…it is lived and made alive.

And you can get a sense of this in the patristic writings of the ECFs.

 

[classica87]

dronald, you asked if we still had what the Apostles did not write down. We do have those things, the things which the Church calls Tradition. The Church was founded by Jesus, expanded by the Apostles, and has carried on to this day as the Catholic Church.

History is proof enough of this; read a good history book and you will see that the first church was Catholic, and that the Reformation happened because of apostasy and heresy by a few people.

No one in the Church denies that at the time of the Reformation, there were indeed problems and abuses in the Church. No institution is perfect, and even the Pope recognized the problems at the time and was working to fix things. The abuses surrounding Church practices were not and are not Church teaching—unfortunately, men are sinful and can be corrupted, even within the Church.

However, problems do not justify tearing a gash in the Body of Christ for selfish pride. The Pope never made Luther rescind all his thesis, only a few, because they were heretical. He invited Luther to come to Rome, and Luther refused. After repeated attempts to make peace with the disgruntled reformer, the Pope was forced to speak out against the heresy threatening his sheep.

The fact is that we need the help of the Holy Spirit to interpret scripture and the teachings of Christ. Christ gave that teaching authority to the Church and to his apostles, and he has promised that the holy spirit will guide His Church. He promised no such guidance to single persons, and as we read in 2 Peter 1:20, no scripture is open to private interpretation. Martin Luther cannot have more authority than the Holy Spirit. Only the Church has divine assurance that the gates of Hell will not prevail against it. Do not forget that Martin Luther and the Reformers were Catholic before they began teaching heresy.

I ask you now the same question I asked myself as I converted: Whose authority do you accept? Luther’s? Or Christ’s? Will you trust man or God? I invite you to learn more about the Catholic faith through this site. Also, look at Scripture Catholic for some great biblical outlines of Church teaching. Pick up a copy of the Catechism and find out for yourself what we believe.

 

[dronald]

dronald, here’s the answer. Its on Luke 10:16
16 “He who hears you hears me, and he who rejects you rejects me, and he who rejects me rejects him who sent me.”

17 The seventy returned with joy, saying, “Lord, even the demons are subject to us in your name!” 18 And he said to them, "I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven.

As you can see, Jesus never said the Bible has the authority. Besides who gave you the Bible, Jesus didnt drop it when he was ascending to heaven. The Church sat down and made sure that what was given was right and inspired. So it seems to me the Church has more authority since it was who gave you the Bible.

You also say that were in the Church. But your Protestant were Catholics, I dont recall God Saying I want Churches, he said and Paul repeated be one, we are not 1, we are so divided its sad bc we have not cared about Jesus Passion.

We are also the sheep’s among wolves though my friend. These are good instructions for me if I went to the middle east preaching Christ.