Episode 16: Catholic vs. Protestant – Sola Scriptura
What does “Sola Scriptura” mean? Do Protestants and Catholics view the Bible differently? Why don’t Protestants believe in the Pope? In this episode, Jacque and Megan have a friendly “debate” over the primacy of Scripture in a Christians life and compare how Protestants and Catholics treat this controversial phrase from the Protestant Reformation.
Resources for Jacque’s View:
And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock, I will build My Church, and the powers of death shall not prevail against it. I will give you the keys of the Kingdom of Heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in Heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in Heaven.” (Mt 16:18-19)
“So then, brethren, stand firm and hold to the traditions which you were taught by us, either by word of mouth or by letter.” (2 Thess 2:15)
“Sacred Scripture is the word of God inasmuch as it is consigned to writing under the inspiration of the divine Spirit, while sacred tradition takes the word of God entrusted by Christ the Lord and the Holy Spirit to the Apostles, and hands it on to their successors in its full purity.” The Church, “led by the light of the Spirit of truth, …may in proclaiming it preserve this word of God faithfully, explain it, and make it more widely known.” (Dei Verbum, 9)”
Catholic Bible 101 – Sacred Tradition
Material vs Formal Sufficiency of Scripture by Mark Shea, Material vs Formal Sufficiency of Scripture by Mark Shea
Resources for Megan’s View:
We are forbidden to add to or take away from Scripture (Deut. 4:2; 12:32; Rev. 22:18-19).
The “Word of God” are the inspired teachings of God (2 Timothy 3:16-17). Perhaps there was oral teaching not written down, but Scripture is entirely sufficient. We are not in need of those other teachings in order to be saved.
Only Scripture is God-breathed. Even our Pastors and teachers cannot claim to be inspired by the Holy Spirit in the way that the authors of Scripture were.
“The whole counsel of God, concerning all things necessary for his own glory, man’s salvation, faith, and life, is either expressly set down in scripture, or by good and necessary consequence may be deduced from scripture: unto which nothing at any time is to be added, whether by new revelations of the Spirit, or traditions of men.” —Westminster Confession of Faith
The Confession of Faith of the Assembly of Divines at Westminster
What Is Sola Scriptura? | Christian Research Institute
What Is the Sufficiency of Scripture? by Don Stewart
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