Please email me with your questions, objections or comments. INRI33AD@aol.com
Many Protestants are surprised to learn that the *SOLA* in Sola Scriptura, or the "Bible Only" idea is not taught anywhere in the Holy Scriptures. I.e., nowhere do the Holy Scriptures claim to be the ONLY or "Supreme Authority" for God's Word as their pastor's "Statement of Faith" may state, nowhere. Nowhere does the Holy Bible teach the "Sola" or the "Only" or a rejection of the teaching authority of Christ's Church.
In fact the Holy Scriptures do not even *imply* the idea that the Bible is
the *Sole* Infallible Rule of Faith, and the Teachings of the Apostles
(Apostolic Tradition) are secondary to anyone and everyone's interpretation of
the Holy Bible. If you don't believe this statement, explore the link below.
(Does
your pastor quote 2 Tim 3:16? Click here to read verse 15, the whole of chapter
3 and its implications. Is the Bible Only idea Biblical?)
Yet before
rejecting the "Bible Only" idea as UNBiblical, many ask:
Does the Bible teach that anything OTHER than the Holy Scriptures is to be considered with Christ's authority and without error?
The answer is best revealed through the very words of Holy Writ. What does
the Holy Bible say about itself and what does it say about Christ's Holy Church?
A Bible Believing Christian embraces the sacred words of the Holy Bible. He
doesn't discount them if they don't fit his present theology. He embraces
without equivocation, what they say and what they mean. Are you a Bible
Believing Christian?
=>Does Christ ever command that his Gospel be based on a book or even exclusively on a book? Or did he say it would be based on his Gospel as he delivered it to his Holy Church? Scripture tells us in Matt 16:16-19 that his Gospel is to be based on and taught through his Church, not anyone's and everyone's interpretation of a book.
=>Did our Lord Jesus Christ ever even command that this book, the NT Bible be written? No.
=>Does Christ call a book the "Pillar and foundation of Truth" or his
Church?
=> What does Christ call his Body? A Book or his Holy Church, the Body of Christ?
"And he is the head of the body, the church"Colossians
1:18 and
[Paul's Labor for the Church] "Now I rejoice in what was suffered for
you, and I fill up in my flesh what is still lacking in regard to Christ's
afflictions, for the sake of his body, which is the church." Colossians
1:24
=>Did Christ say he would be with a *book* until the end of
the world,,, or his Church?
Since the Apostles would not live forever, he
spoke of his Church:
=>And did he say a "Book" would prevail against the "Gates of hell" (Matt 16:16-19) or his Church, the ONE "Bride of Christ?"
=>Did he give the "Keys to the Kingdom of Heaven with power to Bind
and Loose" to a Book or to his Church, the "Church of the Living God, the
Pillar and Foundation of Truth?" (1 Tim 3:15)
=>And finally, when
our Lord Jesus Christ himself said:
My friend, please reflect on the Biblical verses above in support for
the Authority of Christ's Church, the Authority the Bible speaks of, the
Authority needed to "Teach all nations" with Christ's blessing for he
will be with this Church "Until the end of the World" and the
"Gates of Hell will never prevail against it." And contrast this with
the absence of *any* verse teaching the SOLA in Sola Scripture. The absence of
*any* verse stating or even implying that the Bible by itself is the SOLE or
SUPREME infallible rule of faith.
The Church AND the Bible is the Authority you seek. Just as the Bible tells
us. For this Church is the institution that actually wrote and preserved the
Bible. I know you have been taught the opposite for many years. But just because
one has believed something for years on end, doesn't mean it's true.
I hope
you agree. It's what the Bible tells us and what Christianity has taught for
2000 years.
"So then, brethren, stand firm and hold to the traditions which you were taught, whether by word of mouth or by letter from us." 2 Thessalonians 2:15
God Bless you,
Daniel
Many Protestants have been taught that the Catholic Church originated in the
4th century or later. Yet many learned Protestants and even the secular
encyclopedia tells us Christ commissioned the Catholic Church in 33AD and the
unbroken succession of popes dates to 33AD. Read what isn't taught in most
Protestant Churches or seminaries:
Click here: Catholic
popes from St. Peter in 33AD to John Paul II from Encyclopedia
Britannia.
http://www.britannia.com/history/resource/popes.html
Just because one has believed something or has been taught something
for years on end, doesn't mean it's true.
Suggested reading:
Catholic Answers: "Pillar of Fire, Pillar of Truth" A compendium of basic Catholic beliefs and the Biblicism behind these beliefs. http://www.catholic.com/library/pillar.asp
14 Questions for the Earnest Believer:
1. Are you a Bible Believing Christian? Does your pastor preach " Bible Only?"
Click Here: 40 Protestant Practices and Doctrines not found in the Holy Bible... https://www.angelfire.com/home/protestantchallenges/unbiblical.html
2. Three Questions your pastor can't answer... https://www.angelfire.com/home/protestantchallenges/formypastor.html
4. THE ORIGINS & AUTHORS OF THE PROTESTANT THEOLOGIES.
Do you know who authored Protestantism's distinctive beliefs and in what century? You might be surprised. https://www.angelfire.com/home/protestantchallenges/dates.html
5. "The 7 Stages of Christian Spiritual Development."
What stage you are in?... https://www.angelfire.com/home/protestantchallenges/7stages.html
6. Faith Alone (Sola Fide): It is a Catholic position.
Has your pastor taught you that Catholics must "work their way to Heaven?" Another misunderstanding of Catholic theology. https://www.angelfire.com/home/protestantchallenges/faithalone.html
7. "Who is the Bride of Christ?
What does the Holy Bible say? ...https://www.angelfire.com/home/protestantchallenges/bride.html
8. Non-Catholics often ask: "WHAT ELSE IS THERE?"
"What else has Christ's Infallible Authority besides the Holy Scriptures?"
Read the verses not underlined in your Bible nor taught in your seminaries or present church. https://www.angelfire.com/home/protestantchallenges/whatelse.html
9. Is Sola Scriptura or the "Bible Only theory" even Biblical?
Where does the Bible teach the "SOLA" in Sola Scriptura?
Click here to read what the Bible says about God's Word and how it is to be taught... https://www.angelfire.com/home/protestantchallenges/ss.html
10. Did the Bereans "Search the Scriptures" and thereby follow the "Bible Only" theory?
Many claim they did, but not if you read the whole chapter, i.e., the verses not taught in non-Catholic churches. Read the story again and then decide. https://www.angelfire.com/home/protestantchallenges/bereans.html
11. The 3rd Unanswered Challenge for Non-Catholic Theologies: Is the Catholic Faith Apostolic?
Name just one Catholic doctrine that isn't. Name one doctrine the early Church believed,,,, that the Catholic Faith *no longer does*. Why can't the Protestant theologies make the same bold claim? https://www.angelfire.com/home/protestantchallenges/3challenge.html
13. Is Praying to Saints Biblical? Is the "Hail Mary" prayer Biblical? (Read the Verses not underlined in your Pastor's Bible.) https://www.angelfire.com/home/protestantchallenges/saints.html
