What is Sola Scriptura?
Sola Scriptura is the belief that the Bible alone is the supreme, final, only infallible source and authority for all matters of Christian faith and practice. Sola scriptura comes from Latin, meaning Scripture alone. The Bible is authoritative for the faith and practice of churches and in the lives of Christians. Often in Baptist documents we speak of Scripture as the “only rule of faith and practice” rather than using the Latin terminology Sola Scriptura.[i] Our church believes and declares “the sufficiency of Scripture for all matters of faith and practice.” Here are some other examples:
First London Baptist Confession, 1644/1646
“The rule of this knowledge, faith, and obedience, concerning the worship and service of God, and all other Christian duties, is not mans inventions, opinions, devices, laws, constitutions, or traditions unwritten whatsoever, but only the word of God contained in the Canonical Scriptures.”
Second London Baptist Confession, 1677/1689
“The Holy Scripture is the only sufficient, certain, and infallible rule of all saving Knowledge, Faith and Obedience…” (also Philadelphia Baptist Confession, 1742)
Principles of Faith of the Sandy Creek Association, 1758/1816
“[We believe] That Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments are the word of God, and only rule of faith and practice.”
The New Hampshire Confession of Faith, 1833
“We believe that the Holy Bible…is…the supreme standard by which all human conduct, creeds, and opinions should be tried.”
What is the problem?
In a recent blog post, Kent Brandenburg addressed a problem of Christians asserting a Sola Scriptura position of biblical authority, while not having the ability to provide scriptural support for the assertion. In “God-Breathed Scripture & Sola Scriptura,” Simon Turpin notes this same problem, while suggesting some who have held it historically may now be positioned to abandon it.
“…many Christians simply pay lip service to this doctrine without being able to defend or define what it actually is.”
“Nevertheless, many Christians today struggle to defend this vital doctrine while others say that Sola Scriptura is not even taught in the Bible.”
Both Brandenburg and Turpin point to scriptural proofs of this doctrine. Bible-believing Christians need to be aware of them and ready to provide an answer for their believing Sola Scriptura, that Scripture is and should be our only rule of faith and practice.
What is the proof?
The Bible is its own proof of itself. What does the Bible teach about itself? Does the Bible teach “Sola Scriptura”? I submit that the teaching can be found in the following Scriptures, as well as deduced from others.
Scripture is inspired and complete. 2 Timothy 3:16-17.
All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: that the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.
The source of the Bible is God. It provides completely for all good works – doctrine, reproof, correction, instruction.
Nothing can be added or subtracted from Scripture. Deuteronomy 12:32; Jude 1:3; Revelation 22:18-19.
“What thing soever I command you, observe to do it: thou shalt not add thereto, nor diminish from it.”
“…earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.”
“For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book: and if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.”
The Christian walks and pleases God by faith, whose ultimate source is Scripture. Hebrews 11:6; Romans 10:17.
“But without faith it is impossible to please him…”
“So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.”
The Scripture from God provides all things that pertain to life and godliness. 2 Peter 1:3, 20-21.
“…according as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue…knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.”
Scripture provides the ultimate testimony of Jesus Christ. John 5:39.
“Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.”
The commandment of God, via Scripture, trumps human tradition. Mark 7:7-8; Matthew 15:9.[ii]
“Howbeit in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men. For laying aside the commandment of God, ye hold the tradition of men…”
Man lives by the words from the mouth of God, which we know from Scripture. Matthew 4:4.
“…It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.”
Religious doctrinal teaching must be tested by Scripture. Acts 17:11.
“These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.”
What must we do?
Let God be true, but every man a liar. The Bible is the only inspired infallible teaching available to mankind.
In his book Commenting and Commentaries, Charles H. Spurgeon wrote, “It seems odd, that certain men who talk so much of what the Holy Spirit reveals to themselves, should think so little of what he has revealed to others.”
Sola Scriptura does not mean we cannot or do not consider and be helped by the words taught by other Christians, written in a book or commentary, found in creeds and confessions, and so forth. It means we consider and judge these sources by and under the authority of the word of God, as per Acts 17:11.
Neither archaeological discoveries, church tradition, decisions of church councils, popish pronouncements, historical evidences, human philosophies – nor even Baptist creeds and confessions – can be allowed to override the explicit commands and approved examples of the word of God found in Scripture. Let not man prevail or put asunder. The Bible, because it is God’s word, must reign Supreme.
Let us be able to define Sola Scriptura, defend it – and also live it with the Scripture directing our lives and actions as Christians, and establishing what our churches do and do not do. To the law and to the testimony.[iii]
[ii] Note that tradition is used both negatively (Matthew 15:2-6; Mark 7:3-13; Galatians 1:14; Colossians 2:8) and positively (2 Thessalonians 2:15; 3:6) in Scripture. In context in 2 Thessalonians, Paul refers to one truth communicated by his spoken word (preaching) and by his written word (letter). The latter remains.
[iii] Isaiah 8:20.
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