Why Sola Scriptura fails

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JonNC:
Quote:

Originally Posted by concretecamper

Where in scripture does it define the necessity of a council in order for the Pope to make dogmatic statements?

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Where in the Tradition of the early Church does it say he can?

Jon
Jon, you forgot the 3rd leg of the stool. It is scripture, tradition, and magisterial teaching. So tradition doesn’t necessarily need to define that the pope can speak from The “chair of Peter”

The popes have spoken ex cathedra on many occasions. The earliest one that comes to mind is:

“Tome to Flavian”, Pope Leo I, 449, on the two natures in Christ,

So…tradition supports ex cathedra statements. Now, kindly answer my question.

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The premise of the OP is the reason protestants disagree is because of sola scriptura. I reject the claim, based on the fact that there are also divisions among those who claim scripture and Tradition.
Instead, the reason for division is human sin, not the hermeneutical practice of various different communions.

Jon
Clearly you misunderstood my point.

Yes, the reason different people disagree is based upon their exegesis and hermeneutics.

Fine, you can point to Rob Bell as a liberal heretic. I agree, even though he actually DOES do a lot of exegesis and hermeneutics to come to his conclusions.

But you can look to very conservative “orthodox” Protestants who apply the art and science of exegesis and hermeneutics and come to wildly different interpretations.

Hank Hanegraaff believes in partial preterism and denies the concept of a final 7 year tribulation period started by a rapture, while Jack Van Impe, John Hagee, and Hal Lindsey have built entire ministries upon dispensationalism.

Martin Luther believed in consubstantiation and baptismal regeneration. John Calvin denied both. Both gave solid biblical reasons for their beliefs; yet came to extremely different conclusions.

John Calvin believed in absolute (double) pre-destination. Jacobus Arminius denied pre-destination altogether.

I could go on and on and on.

All of these are very conservative bible scholars who exegete from the original Greek and Hebrew and engage in the art and science of biblical interpretation and hermeneutics; and yet are incapable of coming to any consensus.

The original disagreements, for the first 400 years, were mostly theological. There still has been no consensus amongst Protestants on their theological differences.

Now, since the 60’s, the theological differences has slowly turned into moral differences. It began in the 60’s when MOST Protestant denominations were against contraception. One by one they all fell into accepting it. 20 years ago hardly any mainstream evangelical would openly call for accepting gay marriage. Now you have entire denominations falling into it.

Sola scriptura simply doesn’t work.

As Jesus said, “a kingdom divided against itself cannot stand” (Mark 3:24). And there’s little wonder why the so-called Enlightenment came directly after the Protestant Revolution.

And you’re right that the problem isn’t necessarily “sola scriptura,” but is “human sin.” Sola scriptura was Martin Luther’s sin, and we’re still suffering the consequences of it.
 
It isn’t ecumenical because there hasn’t been one since the Schism.

Jon
Wrong. An Ecumenical Council is a Council held by all the Bishops who are in communion with the Bishop of Rome.

Meaning the Eastern Orthodox schism is irrelevant to your claim, because the Eastern Orthodox are by definition not in communion with the Bishop of Rome.

Even they understand this, because they haven’t held a council for 1,000 years and even state themselves that they’re not sure what makes a Council “Ecumenical.”
 
Sola scriptura does not deny that more exists than scripture. That limits the power of God. What sola scriptura says is that the conscience of the believer should not be held to things (doctrine) that are not clear in scripture, since as you quote above, scripture was written that we might believe. Believing comes by hearing.

Jon
I just passed your definition of Sola Scriptura by a Protestant Pastor friend. He completely disagreed with your definition.

Now who has the authority to define which is the correct definition of “sola scriptura”? 😃
 
Very recently there was an episode of “Unbelievable?” which featured a Conservative Protestant debating a Liberal Protestant about the issue of gay marriage.

See how Sola Scriptura utterly fails as they both try to use Scripture to prove their points.
Straw man.
 
I just passed your definition of Sola Scriptura by a Protestant Pastor friend. He completely disagreed with your definition.

Now who has the authority to define which is the correct definition of “sola scriptura”? 😃
If Luther gets the blame/credit for SS, then Lutheranism gets the default definition. 😃
. 1] 1. We believe, teach, and confess that the sole rule and standard according to which all dogmas together with [all] teachers should be estimated and judged are the prophetic and apostolic Scriptures of the Old and of the New Testament alone, as it is written Ps. 119:105: Thy Word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path. And St. Paul: Though an angel from heaven preach any other gospel unto you, let him be accursed, Gal. 1:8.
Jon
 
Wrong. An Ecumenical Council is a Council held by all the Bishops who are in communion with the Bishop of Rome.

Meaning the Eastern Orthodox schism is irrelevant to your claim, because the Eastern Orthodox are by definition not in communion with the Bishop of Rome.

Even they understand this, because they haven’t held a council for 1,000 years and even state themselves that they’re not sure what makes a Council “Ecumenical.”
A source from the early Church that says this.

Jon
 
I guess no one wants to acknowledge the evidence in SCRIPTURE that the Church was given authority.

Again, the Mosaic Law is scripture. Not WAS scripture, but IS scripture. Even more so, it was Gods Law. Make no mistake, it was to be followed.

Mathew 23:1

**The Sadducees and Pharisees sit on the THRONE OF MOSES therefore do all they tell you. **

So, what does that mean? There was a real reason for the debate. The CHURCH made a decision. Of course, this is IN SCRIPTURE. The Council of Jerusalem is that significant for a variety of reasons. The first is it was a departure from the MOSAIC LAW which is SCRIPTURE. Two, it is established that the CHURCH is the pillar, and when Christ said he gave the KEYS TO THE KINGDOM, WHATSOEVER you bind shall be bound, and whatsoever you loosen, shall be loosened. It establishes the authority by Christ THROUGH the Holy Spirit that the Church is the AUTHORITY.

The whole notion that there are tens of thousands of different interpretations and established churches all claiming access to divine truth is in itself absurd enough to question if that is the way it was suppose to be.

We can get into debate on whether or not there have been Saints over the years like Saint Francis (both of them, Francis De Sale) reformed the Church from with in with out attacking the sacraments. There is a distinction and yes, many Saints have reformed the Church. I can make an argument that they all reformed the church. No, not them, but the Holy Spirit through them. You get my point.

Sometimes we think there was ONE reformation period. There is a constant “reformation” going on. Meaning, I believe the Church is constantly going through “conversions” and being brought into a higher state of grace. Constantly being transformed. Well, what the world calls “the reformation” I see as the great apostasy. Should any and all mortal sins on behalf of the church fathers be illuminated? Yes. Is there a graceful way to do that with out departing from the Sacraments? Yes.
 
I just passed your definition of Sola Scriptura by a Protestant Pastor friend. He completely disagreed with your definition.
Yes. This is something that I have noted of late, since coming to the CAFs: there are numerous definitions of SS.

And with no Protestant magisterium, there is no way to authoritatively declare one def the actual one.
 
Yes. This is something that I have noted of late, since coming to the CAFs: there are numerous definitions of SS.

And with no Protestant magisterium, there is no way to authoritatively declare one def the actual one.
Yes, this is pretty much true. However, I am pretty sure, that when they claim sola scriptura, they are pretty much saying the bible is their authority and not a man made church with man made traditions. Therefore, the notion of one magisterium setting doctrine would not be a part of the thinking whether it be protestant or ROMAN Catholic.

They do not recognize, and refuse to accept church authority. So, anyone claiming sola scriptura is essentially saying this.

Of course, that leads to a variety of problems. Cause the way I see it in regards to that is they do not actually go by scripture. They actually go by their PERSONAL INTERPRETATION of scripture. That, ties into “personal Lord and Savior.” One thing to have a personal intimate relationship with Christ. In order to have that (as we believe it) is the culmination with Holy Communion. It does not get any more personal than that. In accordance with SCRIPTURE, and with in the embrace of the Church. When this Holy Communion is done in faith, it does not get more personal.

Anyway, the notion of sola scriptura means the Church is not the authority and the bible is.That is the way I understand it anyway.
 
If Luther gets the blame/credit for SS, then Lutheranism gets the default definition. 😃

Jon
The Pastor who disagreed with your definition of Sola Scriptura was a Lutheran.

But why should I accept Luther over Calvin? (Or Zwingli or whoever for that matter). Perhaps Luther was only half right, and God had to send Calvin to really fix what Luther didn’t quite get right?

Calvin believed in SS, too. I’ve heard Calvinists and Lutherans have different definitions of SS. I’ve also heard individual Lutherans and Calvinists have different interpretations of Luther and Calvins definition. So how do we know whos interpretation of sola scriptura is correct?

And if Luther came along and had to correct everything, how do we know he wasn’t originally off on his definition of Sola Scriptura? Perhaps someone today can correct Luthers correction? Or do you think that Luther’s definition of Sola Scriptura was infallible? And is your interpretation of Luther’s definition of SS also infallible?
 
Straw man.
I’m guessing you haven’t studied philosophy and are unaware of what a straw man actually is.

My premises were directly related to Protestant interpretations of scripture. I presented two Protestants exegeting Scripture and coming to completely different conclusions.

My conclusion followed directly from my premises, and my premises came directly from commonly held Protestant definitions of Sola Scriptura.

Therefore it is not a straw man.
 
A source from the early Church that says this.

Jon
Clement of Rome

“Accept our counsel and you will have nothing to regret. . . . If anyone disobeys the things which have been said by him [Jesus] through us, let them know that they will involve themselves in no small danger. We, however, shall be innocent of this sin and will pray with entreaty and supplication that the Creator of all may keep unharmed the number of his elect (Letter to the Corinthians 58:2, 59:1A.D. 95]).”

St Irenaeus

"Peter and Paul, that church which has the tradition and the faith which comes down to us after having been announced to men by the apostles. With that church, because of its superior origin, all the churches must agree, that is, all the faithful in the whole world, and it is in her that the faithful everywhere have maintained the apostolic tradition (Against Heresies 3:3:2 [A.D. 189]).

Tertullian

"[T]he Lord said to Peter, “On this rock I will build my Church, I have given you the keys of the kingdom of heaven [and] whatever you shall have bound or loosed on earth will be bound or loosed in heaven” [Matt. 16:18-19]. … Upon you, he says, I will build my Church; and I will give **to you **the keys, not to the Church; and whatever you shall have bound or you shall have loosed, **not what they shall have bound or they **shall have loosed (Modesty 21:9-10 A.D. 220]).

Cyprian

“With a* false bishop appointed for themselves *by heretics, they dare even to set sail and carry letters from schismatics and blasphemers to the Chair of Peter and to the principal church [at Rome], in which sacerdotal unity has its source” (Epistle to Cornelius [Bishop of Rome] 59:14 [A.D. 252]).

Cyprian

The Lord says to Peter: “I say to you,” he says, “that you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my Church” . . . On him he builds the Church, and to him he gives the command to feed the sheep John 21:17], and although he assigns a like power to all the apostles, yet he founded a single chair [cathedra], and he established by his own authority a source and an intrinsic reason for that unity. Indeed, the others were that also which Peter was *, but a primacy is given to Peter, whereby it is made clear that there is but one Church and one chair. So too, all [the apostles] are shepherds, and the flock is shown to be one, fed by all the apostles in single-minded accord. If someone does not hold fast to this unity of Peter, can he imagine that he still holds the faith? If he [should] desert the chair of Peter upon whom the Church was built, can he still be confident that he is in the Church? (The Unity of the Catholic Church 4 [A.D. 251]).

I could go on and on. But I have to get to work.*
 
So, there is no debate among Catholics on this issue? Catholics are in lock-step?
How about on abortion. What percent of Catholics voted for Obama?

Over the last 1,000 years, how successful has sacred Tradition been in solving the Great. Schism? I guess Tradition has failed, too. 🤷

Jon
really? The Catholic Church has remained steadfast. Cafeteria Catholics are the issue, not the Church.
 
Christ is the Way the Truth and the Life and as St. John states there aren’t enough books in the world that could contain everything Christ did. It is the Holy Spirit who will guide the Church, the Pillar of Truth, into all truth. The Holy Spirit working through the teaching authority of the Church will illuminate those things which where handed down to us by letter and by word from the Apostles. Not everything worthy of faith could have been written since not everything Christ did could have been written.
 
Jimmy Akin addresses this quite eloquently:

For example, they might say, “Look at the Dominicans and the Jesuits. They typically hold different views of predestination. This shows that Catholics as well as Protestants disagree on essentials, and thus are no more credible than Protestants.”

In response, a number of points may be made: First, Catholicism has a functioning magisterium that can decide that these matters are not essential differences. Second, the relevant schools adhere to the teachings of the magisterium and, if their views were reprobated, would accept the results (or cease to be faithful Catholics). Third, the differences between Catholic schools of thought have nowhere near the magnitude of the difference among Protestant schools. Compared to the differences among Protestant groups, differences among orthodox Catholic groups are trivial. Finally, the fact that the Catholic Church has a magisterium means that there can be—and on the most important theological matters there is—an official Catholic position. There is no parallel standard in Protestant circles that can speak for Protestantism.

Other times, advocates of the “unity in essentials” argument will attempt to construct a parallel argument against Catholics by pointing to the existence of ostensible Catholics who refuse to acknowledge the magisterium’s teachings.

In response, it should be pointed out that the difference among Catholic dissidents is frequently far less than among individuals in the sweep of Protestant belief. Furthermore, individuals’ refusal to accept the magisterium’s teachings does not challenge the Christ-given authority of the magisterium any more than the refusal to accept some of Paul’s teachings undermines Paul’s authority as an apostle. Moreover, Protestant churches also have individuals who refuse to honor the teachings of their denominations. The difference is that for Catholicism there is a body—the bishops teaching in union with the pope—who “speak for the Church” and who can articulate what “the Catholic position” is, while in Protestantism there is nothing comparable.eboards4all.com/813467/messages/88993.html
" . . . . while in Protestantism there is nothing comprable."

Yep 👍
 
JonNC, honestly, you have to get rid of that defense. Look, bc a certain percentage voted for Obama voted for Obama does not mean they agree with everything he stands for.

I’ll throw you the question now. Whoever you vote for, I don’t know how many presidential elections you have been part of. But every time that you cast your ballot, your telling me every time you have agreed with the candidate 100%. I’m not trying to be rude but you would be lying.

Just bc you vote for x candidate does not mean I agree with him completely.
I would agree.

Jon, get rid of that defense.
 
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