Does The Bible Teach Sola Scriptoria?

[Cure of Ars]

Does the Bible teach sola scriptoria?

Protestants have a couple of passages that they think support the doctrine of sola scriptoria or Bible alone. The main one is 2 Tim 3:15-17 which says,

and that from infancy you have known (the) sacred scriptures, which are capable of giving you wisdom for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All scripture is inspired by God and is useful for teaching, for refutation, for correction, and for training in righteousness, so that one who belongs to God may be competent, equipped for every good work.

Protestants are making this passage say too much. First off, Paul is speaking of the Old Testament because Timothy has received it from “infancy”. This should then only mean that the Old Testament is the only authority but Traditionally this is not the case for Christians. But for arguments sake lets say that it is speaking about the New Testament as well.

The second thing is that this scripture passage uses “useful” not sufficient. Vitamins are useful for training, building the body, and making a championship bodybuilder. But vitamins are not sufficient in themselves to make a championship body builder.

The third thing is that this passage does not say that apostolic Tradition and the Teaching office of the Church are not authoritative. What it does say is that the Bible is an authority but Protestants are reading into it that it is the only authority.

Let me give an example how a similar passage can be made to say just the opposite of what Protestants want the Bible to say using the same type of method of interpretation.

Paul says the following in Ephesians 4:11-15

And he gave some as apostles, others as prophets, others as evangelists, others as pastors and teachers, to equip the holy ones for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until we all attain to the unity of faith and knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the extent of the full stature of Christ, so that we may no longer be infants, tossed by waves and swept along by every wind of teaching arising from human trickery, from their cunning in the interests of deceitful scheming. Rather, living the truth in love, we should grow in every way into him who is the head, Christ,

So Jesus gave us the body of Chris, i.e. the Church, “for unity of faith and knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood” and grow into the “full stature of Christ”. This is using stronger language than 2 Tim 3:15-17. And it does not mention scripture so in a comparison of how Protestants interpret 2Tim 3:15-17 then this therefore teaches Sola Ecclesia . Don’t get me wrong, the Catholic Church does not teach Sola Ecclesia. Just making a point.

I have a question. Paul says the following, "Therefore, brothers, stand firm and hold fast to the traditions that you were taught, either by an oral statement or by a letter of ours.” (2 Thess 2:15) At what point did this scripture passage become void in regards to Apostolic Oral Tradition? Where in the Bible does it say, Ok now all that Jesus revealed is written in the Bible, now disregard what Paul said in 2 Thess 2:17?

[hyperdulia again]

where'd you get a bible?

[Cure of Ars]

What do you mean?

[hyperdulia again]

it was a carry over from the "from a non-catholic" thread.

Edited July 24, 2003 by hyperdulia again

[Cure of Ars]

O Ya, It was chained up but I was able to steal the key from my priest.