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Blue Collar Apologetics Session 10Sola Scriptura

“The glory of God is man fully alive” (St. Irenaeus, Lyons).

Website infohttp://www.biblechristiansociety.com/home.php http://www.saintteresahutchinson.com https://www.catholic.comhttp://www.ofcuniversity.com

“The Catholic faith is like a lion in a cage. You don’t need to defend it. You simply need to open the cage door.”

Rules of Engagement

1. Pray2. Learn more about your faith daily…small steps make big changes over time3. Do not be afraid - Luke 5:10 10 (RSV2CE) and so also were James and John, sons of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon. And Jesus said to Simon, “Do not be afraid; henceforth you will be catching men.”4. View questions as opportunities5. Don’t get frustrated6. Don’t be afraid to say, “I don’t know”

Apologetic Strategies

1. The “ignorant Catholic”2. Be “Aw” fensive and not “Uh” fensive3. It’s the principle of the thing4. But that’s my interpretation

Reminder of 2 Essential Layers of Foundation

1. The Bible is a Catholic book!2. There truly is an answer for every intelligible question about our Catholic faith – it is your responsibility to go find it.

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Today we discuss one the two great pillars of Protestant beliefs, sola scriptura, almost universally believed by Protestants. Simply put, they believe that the Bible is the sole authority on what Christians should believe and walk out in their own daily lives.

Protestants, for the most part, believe that the Bible is the infallible source of Christian truth and doctrine, and nothing else or no one else has such authority. You will often hear them say something to the effect, if it is not in the Bible, I should not, and I will not believe it. The Bible is the binding authority on all things Christian, and it is the only source of all that I am bound to believe. Bible authority is above my pastor, my parents, seminary teaching, you name it, only the Bible has supreme authority.

With that in mind, John Martignoni looks at the sola scriptura from three important perspectives; logically; historically; and scripturally. Let’s look at this together to see how this Protestant belief holds up. Before we jump in with John’s teaching, it is very important to understand as Catholics we too hold the Bible in very high regard, it is of the highest authority, inspired by the Holy Spirit, we believe it to be the Word of God written by inspired authors and handed down to us without error. In fact, Catholics actually hold the Bible in higher regard than some Protestant denominations.

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Logically speaking, where did the Bible come from? Why do we believe that it is the inspired word of God, and without error? These are pivotal questions, and of upmost importance to determine from what source the Bible came from. By what authority was it assembled as a sacred book? After all the Bible didn’t just fall out of heaven, and end up on every door step of Christian churches all over the world. Our belief in the Bible had to come to us from some source, and as Catholics that authority was the Catholic Church. We believe that the original Apostles infallibly chose what books would be in the Bible, and once that list was agreed upon the final canon of the Holy Bible was established and handed down through the centuries, to us, for our generation. In the Protestant world, the Catholic Church does not have authority to make that claim. They believe that only the Bible has that authority, and that it states its own claim for that authority. But that creates some problems, first, there are a number of books that make that claim, such as the Koran. Since both books make that claim, who decides who’s right? Even Jesus shows us this problem of bearing witness to yourself, John 5:31 (RSV2CE) 31 If I bear witness to myself, my testimony is not true;

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Secondly, and this is big too, the Bible never makes the ultimate authority claim about itself, there is no verse in the Bible that makes that claim. Third, thinking logically, if several disagreements develop over the meanings of passages in the Bible, and that has happened many times, how do we determine who is right? Sola scriptura says, the Bible is the final authority, but that makes absolutely no sense. The Bible can’t be that authority, in the same way I cannot credibly bear witness of myself, who would believe me? Try that in a court of law sometime, you will need at least one other witness, outside of yourself…that only makes logical sense. John uses the example of a dispute of what books should be in the Bible, obviously you can’t consult the Bible to settle that dispute. There is no passage in the Bible telling us what books should be in the Bible. Sola scriptura fails the test of logic on many different levels.

Historically, the original Apostles and early Christian believers couldn’t have believed in the Bible alone, why? Because they didn’t have a Bible for over three hundred years after the resurrection of Christ. So what authority settled these issues in those pre-New Testament Bible times, the Apostles, and the bishops that followed them. It was extremely important for the Apostles to name their successors before they were martyred, to carry on the teaching of the Apostles, again, because there was no Bible. And what church did these succeeding bishops belong to, the Catholic Church, the only church that existed at that time. For further historical proof, just look at what happened after Martin Luther was excommunicated from the Church in the 1520’s, now proclaiming his new doctrine of sola scriptura.

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By 1600, there were 200 different protestant denominations in existence, and by the year 1900, that number had grown to over 1000 denominations. Today that number is over 33,000 protestant denominations and growing. My source for that latest number came from a pastor in Little River, Ks. hosting a seminar on the 500th anniversary of the Protestant Reformation at Hutch Juco, in which I was a participant presenting the Catholic response. Just think, a little over five years ago I was on the Protestant team. Each of those 33.000 denominations claim that their understanding of the Bible is the right one, and many of them have developed doctrines in direct contradiction to one another. Sola scriptura has tragically divided and splintered the Body of Christ, and it is clear to me that sola scriptura has failed the test of logic, and the historical test as well.

John asks about the monks who spent their entire lives hand copying the Bible, were they Baptist monks, or Lutheran monks, or Pentecostal monks, or maybe even non-denominational monks…of course not, they were Catholic monks.

The last aspect we will look at is the scriptural proof of sola scriptura. Most Christians agree that there is no Bible passage that states directly the idea of sola scripture, but many of Protestants believe there are some passages that hint strongly at that belief. Here is one verse they quote in support of the Bible only, but once again we need to think about what this verse is saying, Acts 17:11 (RSV2CE) 11 Now these Jews were more noble than those in Thessalonica, for they received the word with all eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so.

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This is another example of taking a passage out of context. First, there is nothing in the Old Testament that even implies sola scriptura, that was the only Bible they could have been examining at that time. We know from this whole passage St. Paul was preaching to Jews and Gentiles in Beroea, and he always quoted Old Testament prophecies about Messiah. These folks were looking up those prophesies to see if what Paul was preaching to them was actually in the Sacred Scrolls. Secondly, it is well known from ancient times that the Jews never believed in scripture alone, they also believed heavily in sacred tradition. Thousands of books containing the interpretation of all kinds of rabbis were studied by generations of Jews. If this verse is presented to you as proof of sola scriptura, ask them politely to tell you the context of this verse.

One of the companion beliefs that is linked to “the Bible only” is the idea that every believer has the right and the responsibility to read sacred scripture individually, and let that scripture speak to you about its meaning, and God will do the rest. Does that make any common sense to you? The Beroeans needed St. Paul’s help to understand these Messianic prophesies. If you take that idea of

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reading the scripture and finding its meaning with just you and the Holy Spirit, what is the logical outcome of that? The Holy Spirit is not the problem, each of us individually is the problem. The logical conclusion of individual interpretation is 33,000 Protestant denominations, and that is exactly what we have.

Here is another scripture dealing with the same problem, Acts 8:26–35 (RSV2CE) 26 But an angel of the Lord said to Philip, “Rise and go toward the south to the road that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.” This is a desert road. 27 And he rose and went. And behold, an Ethiopian, a eunuch, a minister of Candace the queen of the Ethiopians, in charge of all her treasure, had come to Jerusalem to worship 28 and was returning; seated in his chariot, he was reading the prophet Isaiah. 29 And the Spirit said to Philip, “Go up and join this chariot.” 30 So Philip ran to him, and heard him reading Isaiah the prophet, and asked, “Do you understand what you are reading?” 31 And he said, “How can I, unless some one guides me?” And he invited Philip to come up and sit with him. 32 Now the passage of the Scripture which he was reading was this: “As a sheep led to the slaughter or a lamb before its shearer is silent, so he opens not his mouth. 33 In his humiliation justice was denied him. Who can describe his generation? For his life is taken up from the earth.” 34 And the eunuch said to Philip, “Please, about whom does the prophet say this, about himself or about some one else?” 35 Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning with this Scripture he told him the good news of Jesus. He wanted to be baptized right then and there.

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Acts chapter 15 is powerful proof of how the Church settled issues from the very beginning, this is the first council meeting in Jerusalem to settle a very important disagreement about sacred scripture. Acts 15:1-22, 30–35 (RSV2CE) 1 But some men came down from Judea and were teaching the brethren, “Unless you are circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved.” 2 And when Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and debate with them, Paul and Barnabas and some of the others were appointed to go up to Jerusalem to the apostles and the elders about this question. 3 So, being sent on their way by the Church, they passed through both Phoenicia and Samaria, reporting the conversion of the Gentiles, and they gave great joy to all the brethren.

4 When they came to Jerusalem, they were welcomed by the Church and the apostles and the elders, and they declared all that God had done with them. 5 But some believers who belonged to the party of the Pharisees rose up, and said, “It is necessary to circumcise them, and to charge them to keep the law of Moses.” 6 The apostles and the elders were gathered together to consider this matter. 7 And after there had been much debate, Peter rose and said to them, “Brethren, you know that in the early days God made choice among you, that by my mouth the Gentiles should hear the word of the gospel and believe. 8 And God who knows the heart bore witness to them, giving them the Holy Spirit just as he did to us; 9 and he made no distinction between us and them, but cleansed their hearts by faith. 10

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Now therefore why do you make trial of God by putting a yoke upon the neck of the disciples which neither our fathers nor we have been able to bear? 11 But we believe that we shall be saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus, just as they will.” 12 And all the assembly kept silence; and they listened to Barnabas and Paul as they related what signs and wonders God had done through them among the Gentiles.

13 After they finished speaking, James replied, “Brethren, listen to me. 14 Symeon has related how God first visited the Gentiles, to take out of them a people for his name. 15 And with this the words of the prophets agree, as it is written, 16 After this I will return, and I will rebuild the dwelling of David, which has fallen; I will rebuild its ruins, and I will set it up, 17 that the rest of men may seek the Lord, and all the Gentiles who are called by my name, 18 says the Lord, who has made these things known from of old.’ 19 Therefore my judgment is that we should not trouble those of the Gentiles who turn to God, 20 but should write to them to abstain from the pollutions of idols and from unchastity and from what is strangled and from blood. 21 For from early generations Moses has had in every city those who preach him, for he is read every sabbath in the synagogues.” 22 Then it seemed good to the apostles and the elders, with the whole Church, to choose men from among them and send them to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas. They sent Judas called Barsabbas, and Silas, leading men among the brethren,

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30 So when they were sent off, they went down to Antioch; and having gathered the congregation together, they delivered the letter. 31 And when they read it, they rejoiced at the exhortation.

32 And Judas and Silas, who were themselves prophets, exhorted the brethren with many words and strengthened them. 33 And after they had spent some time, they were sent off in peace by the brethren to those who had sent them. 35 But Paul and Barnabas remained in Antioch, teaching and preaching the word of the Lord, with many others also.

There is no mention here of this council consulting the sacred scrolls, instead they debated and considered Peter’s dream including the Gentiles in salvation through Jesus, and Paul’s calling to preach to the Gentiles. The Church had to settle this issue and they agreed on the content of the letter to be sent to the church at Antioch, they did not rely on individual interpretation of sacred scripture.

Here is a couple more, just to make things very clear, 2 Thessalonians 2:15 (RSV2CE) 15 So then, brethren, stand firm and hold to the traditions which you were taught by us, either by word of mouth or by letter.

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2 Timothy 2:2 (RSV2CE) 2 and what you have heard from me before many witnesses entrust to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.

1 Corinthians 11:2 (RSV2CE) 2 I commend you because you remember me in everything and maintain the traditions even as I have delivered them to you.

1 Thessalonians 2:13 (RSV2CE) 13 And we also thank God constantly for this, that when you received the word of God which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men but as what it really is, the word of God, which is at work in you believers.

1 Timothy 3:14–15 (RSV2CE) 14 I hope to come to you soon, but I am writing these instructions to you so that, 15 if I am delayed, you may know how one ought to behave in the household of God, which is the Church of the living God, the pillar and bulwark of the truth.

Acts 2:42 (RSV2CE) 42 And they held steadfastly to the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, to the breaking of the bread and to the prayers.