The Bible: The Sole Standard of Authority
I came across a web site that questioned the fact that Christian churches use the Bible as their only standard of authority (sola scriptura). Having read it, I write now to answer and defend the truth.
Where Does the Bible claim to be the only source of authority?
By what authority does the Christian practice and teach his beliefs? Of course we answer that the Bible is the authority. So they want you to prove from the Bible that the Bible alone is a sufficient authority. The writer of the article then comments that 2 Timothy 3:16-17 will probably be used by the unsuspecting Christian, and he proceeds to attempt to prove that the passage does not claim to be the only source. He says it only states that Scripture is profitable or helpful. "Many things can be profitable for moving one toward a goal, without being sufficient in getting one to the goal." This may be true, but the writer misses the latter part of the verse, which states that Scripture can make a man "perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works." (KJV) If the goal isn't to be perfect and complete and able to perform all good works, like God, then I don't know what the goal is (Matthew 5:48). Therefore, I want to be guided by that which is able to equip me in that way.
He is correct that the passage nowhere states the policy of "Scripture Alone," but was it necessary for God to make a list of everything that was not to be used for authority? (See Silence of the Scriptures). Should Paul have added an 18th verse here that said "And all other creeds and writings of men and traditions cannot save a man or perfect him"? God didn't need to say that, nor would I dare to add to the Scriptures (Revelation 22:18-19).
The writer of the article then states that the context indicates that Paul instructed Timothy to practice traditions. Paul was referrring to the Gospel of Christ. Any traditions included therein would be traditions established by the Gospel, such as partaking of the Lord's Supper (Matthew 26:26-28; 1 Corinthians 11:23-26), singing (Ephesians 5:19 Colossians 3:16; Hebrews 13:15), and assembling on the first day of the week (1 Corinthians 16:2; Acts 20:7). These traditions were not done "for the sake of tradition," but each for a specific purpose. The Lord's Supper is done to remember the Lord and proclaim His death (see above references). Singing is done to praise God and edify members (see above references). We assemble on the first day because it is the day upon which Christ arose, and it is the day upon which we are commanded to "break bread" and take up the collection (see above references). Each tradition begun by the Gospel had a purpose. Paul was instructing Timothy to continue doing the very things he and the other apostles commanded and wrote about in their letters.
Furthermore, the writer fails to notice that Paul speaks in verse 15 of the writings of the Old Testament. Paul was not telling Timothy to continue in Judaism, but to remember the writings of the Old Testament because they prophesy of Christ. In fact, he was essentially telling Timothy the same thing he told the Galatians: "the Law has become our tutor to lead us to Christ, that we may be justified by faith" (Galatians 3:24). Paul also told the Romans that "whatever was written in earlier times was written for our instruction, that through perseverance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope" (Romans 15:4). Did Paul need to say that through perseverance of traditions and creeds we would have hope? No. Again, speaking of the prophetic word, Peter said to "pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star arises in your heart" (2 Peter 1:19). Did Peter say anything about paying attention to creeds & traditions? No. In Acts 8:26-39, Phillip met the Ethipian eunuch, and beginning from a passage in Isaiah, "he preached Jesus to him." Phillip didn't need a creed book, nor did he teach the eunuch about traditions. He preached Jesus from the written Scriptures of the Old Testament. All 4 passages are talking about the written prophecies of the Old Testament that pointed to Christ, through whom salvation was made possible.
No scripture ever claims that salvation is made possible by the church. Rather, that the church is composed of those who are already saved (Acts 2:47). Finally, Acts 3:23 says, "And it shall be that every soul that does not heed that prophet shall be utterly destroyed from among the people." "That prophet" is Jesus Christ, and His words which we are told to heed are recorded in the New Testament by men directed and inspired by God to do so (2 Peter 1:21; Revelation 1:10-11).
Would it have been possible for the 12 apostles to go to every city in the world to preach the Gospel? No. That is why they wrote letters which could be sent to the churches and copied for each one to reference (Colossians 4:16).
Are you willing to rely solely on your memory to know what God expects? God knows the weaknesses of man and directed men to write down His laws (the 10 Commandments on stone!) so that we would not have to rely on ourselves, and also so that on the Judgement Day there will be no excuse, because everything is evident and available for learning. "...according to my gospel, God will judge the secrets of men through Jesus Christ" (Romans 2:16). "He who rejects Me, and does not receive My sayings, has one who judges him; the word I spoke is what will judge him at the last day" (John 12:48). Personally, I want to be absolutely sure that I receive what Jesus spoke, so I am thankful that God directed the writers of the New Testament to write it for me!
There is no Scripture that plainly states that Scripture alone is sufficient. However, there is also no Scripture that mentions any other method of ascertaining authority. Therefore, the silence of the Scriptures automatically excludes using anything other than what is written. Therefore we must affirm that the written Word of God is the sole standard of authority that all Christians and the church must abide by.
written by David F. Sims, doing my part to "turn the world upside down" (Acts 17:6)
All quotes taken from the New American Standard Bible.
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