1. Scriptures are sufficient for salvation.
2. Scriptures are sufficient for sanctification.
3. Scriptures are uniquely God-breathed (theopnoustos). Tradition is never given this designation or any similar designation.
PsPs.. 111199
This Psalm is an acclamation of the Scriptures, made up of 176 verses (longest chapter in the Bible) mentioning the Word of God 178 times using 10 different synonyms. The Scriptures are presented as being totally sufficient for the follower of God in all matters pertaining to instruction, training, and correction. It is significant that though Scripture is mentioned 178 times, the concept of unwritten Tradition is never mentioned once. In fact, there is no acclamation of or meditation on unwritten Tradition in such a way anywhere in Scripture.
This would be problematic if one were to believe that the concept of unwritten Tradition is on equal footing as Scripture, yet the Bible never mentions it. It would be the greatest case of neglect that one could find.
AcActtss 1177::1100––1111
“The brothers sent Paul and Silas off to Berea at once, during the night.
When they arrived, they went to the Jewish synagogue. These Jews were more open-minded than those in Thessalonica, for they eagerly received the message, examining the scriptures carefully every day to see if these things were so.”
2. Scripture explicitly states that no one is to add to or take away from the Word of God. These warnings would be meaningless if there was not some objective way for one to judge if he or she was adding to God’s Word, since unwritten Tradition is by nature beyond this type of
examination. These commands are warnings against traditions that add to the complete and sufficient Word of God. They would only make sense if the Scriptures were sufficient and complete.
DeDeuutt.. 44::22
“Do not add a thing to what I command you nor subtract from it, so that you may keep the commandments of the LORD your God that I am delivering to you.”
ReRevv.. 2222::1188––1919
“I testify to the one who hears the words of the prophecy contained in this book: If anyone adds to them, God will add to him the plagues described in this book. And if anyone takes away from the words of this book of prophecy, God will take away his share in the tree of life and in the holy city that are described in this book.”
CoConncceerrnniinngg tthhee ssuufffificciieennccyy ooff SSccrriippttuurree,, tthhee WWeessttmmiinnsstteerr CCaatteecchhiissmm ssaayyss::
“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” (1:6).
3. If the Roman pontiff, the “Vicar of Christ”, or the magisterium is going to speak on behalf of Christ, being successors to the apostles’ office,
authority, and infallibility, they must show the signs of one who speaks for God as prescribed in Scripture.
DeDeuutt.. 1188::2200––2222
“But if any prophet presumes to speak anything in my name that I have not authorized him to speak, or speaks in the name of other gods, that prophet must die. Now if you say to yourselves, ‘How can we tell that a message is not from the LORD?’ —whenever a prophet speaks in my name and the prediction is not fulfilled, then I have not spoken it; the prophet has presumed to speak it, so you need not fear him.”
2 2 CCoorr.. 1122::1122
“Indeed, the signs of an apostle were performed among you with great perseverance by signs and wonders and powerful deeds.”
4. The Scriptures speak explicitly against the “traditions of men” as
misleading and often in opposition to God’s written Word. Therefore, all traditions must submit to Scripture.
M
Maatttt.. 1155::22––66
“‘Why do your disciples disobey the tradition of the elders? For they don't wash their hands when they eat.’ He answered them, ‘And why do you disobey the commandment of God because of your tradition?
For God said, ‘Honor your father and mother’ and ‘Whoever insults his father or mother must be put to death.’ But you say, ‘If someone tells his father or mother, ‘Whatever help you would have received from me is given to God,’’ he does not need to honor his father. You have nullified the word of God on account of your tradition.”
5. The early-medieval church supported an unarticulated and undeveloped doctrine of sola Scriptura.
IrIrenenaaeeuuss ((ccaa.. 115500)) AgAgaaiinnsstt HHeerreessieiess 33..11..11
“We have learned from none others the plan of our salvation, than from those through whom the gospel has come down to us, which they did at one time proclaim in public, and, at a later period, by the will of God, handed down to us in the Scriptures, to be the ground and pillar of our faith.”
ClCleemmeenntt ooff AAlelexxaannddrriiaa ((dd.. 221155)) ThThee SSttrroommaatta,a, 77::1166
“But those who are ready to toil in the most excellent pursuits, will not desist from the search after truth, till they get the demonstration from the Scriptures themselves.”
GrGreeggoorryy ooff NNyyssssaa ((dd..ccaa,, 339955))
“O“Onn tthhee HHoollyy TTrriinniittyy””,, NNPPNNFF,, pp.. 332277
“Let the inspired Scriptures then be our umpire, and the vote of truth will be given to those whose dogmas are found to agree with the Divine words.”
AtAthhaannaassiiuuss ((cc.. 229966––373733)) AgAgaaiinnsstt tthehe HHeeaaththeenn,, 11::33
“The holy and inspired Scriptures are fully sufficient for the proclamation of the truth.”
BaBassiill tthehe GGrreeaatt ((ccaa..332299––373799)) OnOn tthehe HHoollyy SSppiririitt,, 77..1166
“We are not content simply because this is the tradition of the Fathers.
What is important is that the Fathers followed the meaning of the Scripture.”
AmAmbbrroossee ((A.A.DD.. 334400––339977))
OnOn tthehe DDuuttiieess ooff tthehe CClleerrggyy,, 11::2233::110022
“For how can we adopt those things which we do not find in the holy Scriptures?”
StSt.. AAuugguussttiinnee ((A.A.DD.. 335544––443300)) D
Dee uunniittaatete eecccclleessiaiaee,, 1100
“Neither dare one agree with catholic bishops if by chance they err in anything, but the result that their opinion is against the canonical Scriptures of God.”
ThThoommaass AAqquuiinnaass ((A.A.DD.. 11222255––12127744)) SuSummmmaa TTheheoollooggiiaae,e, QQuueessttiioonn 11,, aarrtt.. 88
“For our faith rests on the revelation made to the Prophets and Apostles who wrote the canonical books.”
6. By the process of elimination, one must come to the conclusion that Scripture is the final and only infallible authority available to us.
W W h h a a t t s s o o l l a a S S c c r r i i p p t t u u r r a a d d o o e e s s n n o o t t m m e e a a n n : :
• That there are no other sources of authority in the life of a Christian.
• That each Christian is an autonomous interpreter of the Scriptures, being independent of the interpretive community of the body of Christ.
• That Tradition is not valuable for understanding matters of faith and practice.
• That there is no institutional authority at all to which believers must submit.
HeHebb.. 1133::1177
“Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they keep watch over your souls and will give an account for their work. Let them do this with joy and not with complaints, for this would be no advantage for you.”