Sola Scriptura
Hello Brother,
I am debating Sola Scriptura with a Protestant over on the Envoy site. He, of course is saying 2 Tim 3:14 is all he needs. I stated that it wasn't proving Sola Scriptura at all.
He then came back with this statement that to be honest has stumped me!:
(Start of his statement) Well what do you make of these statements, then?
"In regard to the divine and holy mysteries of the faith, not the least part my be handed on without the Holy Scriptures. Do not be led astray by winning words and clever arguments. Even to me, who tell you these things, do not give ready belief, unless you receive from the Holy Scriptures the proof of the things which I announce. The salvation in which we believe is not proved from clever reasoning, but from the Holy Scirptures."
He's teaching us to test everything with Scriptures! That's sola Scriptura! (The end of his statement)
I responded that I would have to get back on that. But, then I did ask him why he was quoting a Church Father to prove his "Sola" Scriptura belief. Seems a bit odd that he went away from the Bible!
Here is the URL to the thread if you are interested:
QUESTION from Ron on August 2, 2003
-- Cyril of Jerusalem, Catechetical Lectures 4:17
http://www.envoymagazine.com/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=284
ANSWER by Staff on August 6, 2003
|
Dear Ron: I would have to see the full context of that quote to be able to comment. I have yet to see an Protestant quote accurately the Church fathers. They always misquote or take out of context or misinterpret. But I can say, that this quote is not speaking about bible vs. tradition. It is speaking about bible vs.. human reasoning. Sacred Tradition is NOT clever human reasoning, it is the Word of God and as such cannot be denied by men or changed by men (even a Pope). Thus, whatever Cyril of Jerusalem is taking about it is not Bible vs.. Sacred Tradition. And you have an interesting point. If this fella TRULY believes in sola scriptura then he must prove his points by the Bible and not from extra-biblical material. Where in the BIBLE is the words sola scriptura? The Bible actually teaches the opposite of sola scriptura. I just did a brief outline of the Biblical teaching on this in my response to Wes that is immediately before this posting. And by the way, ALL CATHOLIC DOCTRINE, every one, can be found either directly in the Bible or can be derived from biblical principles and teaching. Some of the most important doctrines that Protestants complain about can be proven by the Bible and the Bible alone. Some of these Catholic doctrines that can be proven overtly by the Bible and the Bible alone are:
Sacred Tradition (and not the Bible alone) To read the Bible in context and without hidden agenda is to cease to be non-Catholic. To immerse oneself in history is to cease to be non-catholic. These people have to work REALLY hard to remain Protestant because the Bible in its full context, the Bible as interpreted by the early Christians, the history of the Church, the documentary evidence still in existence from the 1st - 4th centuries all prove without any doubt to a reasonable man that Jesus founded the Catholic Church and that the Catholic Church is the only True Church in the fullness of the Faith that exists on this planet. Remember one thing, Jesus taught and the apostles taught that unproductive argumentation is not to be done. If someone will not listen to the Truth we are to turn our backs on them. That is the teaching from Jesus Himself.
God Bless, |