Why do Protestants skip around this question?

Question

I have asked this to many Protestants--evangelicals, fundamentalists, baptists, etc, but they never answer it. Here it is:
Where IN THE BIBLE does it say that THE BIBLE is the SOLE authority?
I believe that we need the Church and the Bible. If you can show me WITH SCRIPTURE that all we need is the Bible, then I will renounce my Catholic faith. In other words, prove the doctrine of sola scriptura.
Or, you can answer this. Either one:
Where IN THE BIBLE does it say that we are saved by faith ALONE?
Don't say Eph. 2: 8-9. That does not say faith ALONE, and you are taking it out of context. Read on to verse 10. The only place in the Bible where it says faith ALONE is of course James 2:24. In other words, prove the doctrine of sola fide to me..
Answer either one, and I'll renounce my faith.

So far none of you have answered my question (from moviemiss up). If you can't answer it, doesn't that mean that those two pillars of Protestantism just might be wrong?

Also, these both are man-made traditons (by Martin Luther and other 500 years ago) The Bible condemns man-made traditions. For the first 1500 years after Christ, it was not sola fide and sola scriptura. It was faith WORKING through love; the scriptures and the Church, etc.

19jay63: actually, you're wrong. Learn your Latin. Sola Scriptura means scripture only, or scripture ALONE. And this just proves another point. You know, it's hard to say what Protestants really believe, because there are at lean 30,000 denominations, each believing something a little different from the next. They all claim to be going by the Bible and the Bible alone, yet they all teach different things, sometimes radically different. You are an example. Most Protestants tell me that all we need is the Bible, and you tell me that it is not only the Bible, but that the Bible is the highest source of authority. Before Martin Luther came along, there was one Christian church, the one founded by Jesus Christ 2000 years ago, and I'm happy to be a member of it.

Answer 1

Because Protestants couldn't exist if they didn't understand things differently than Catholics do.

Catholics understand that no one can force God to save them, simply because God is God.

That's why salvation is and always will remain, a free gift.

The matter of works is a Protestant "red herring" designed to make people critical of the laws and devotions of the Catholic Church.

Catholics know that we're saved by GOD.

Protestants argue that we're saved by grace or by faith, or by faith alone.

Catholics know that Jesus founded only one church, the Catholic Church, and he gave the church unlimited and sweeping power and authority to act in his holy name.

Protestants theorize that Jesus should have given that authority to a book ... the Bible ... which didn't even exist at the time.

Catholics rely on the sacred deposit of faith, which was handed down to the Church by Jesus and the apostles, interpreted by the teaching office of the church, as the sole "rule of faith".

Protestants believe that the Holy Spirit has somehow led them to 31,000 different versions of the truth ... all based on the same Bible.

Catholics know that sacraments are outward signs of a spiritual reality, instituted by Jesus Christ to give grace, for the benefit of the individual, and for the benefit of the whole church.

Protestants claim that sacraments are not necessary, because they erroneously maintain that Christ's death on the cross "finished" all his work, and nothing is left to be done. They conveniently ignore the fact that people still die, and they can still be sent to hell, so something certainly has yet to be accomplished.

Catholics know that Tradition is the way the Holy Spirit guides the Church and the faithful, from age to age, and it's what being a PRACTICING Christian really means.

Protestants deny Catholic tradition, in favor of their own, even though they officially claim to reject tradition entirely, on scriptural grounds.

The fact is:

Faith alone is a Protestant tradition.
Scripture alone is a Protestant tradition.
Grape juice instead of wine is a Protestant tradition.
Altar calls are a Protestant tradition.
The "Sinner's Prayer" is a Protestant tradition.
Denying the authority of God's one, true church is a Protestant tradition.
The entire concept of breaking away from the church Jesus founded is a Protestant tradition.

And every one of these traditions is a false tradition of men, and not of God.

Answer 2

This is a good question. This is why I'm currently in the process of converting to the Roman Catholic Church.

The Bible doesn't say the Bible is the sole authority.
However, these verses say we should hold on to Tradition:
1 Corinthians 11:2, 2 Timothy 1:13-14, 2 Thessalonians 2:15, 2 Timothy 2:1-2, 2 Peter 1:20-21, and 2 John 12.

These verses promote faith and works:
Matthew 7:21, Luke 6:46, Romans 2:6-8, Romans 2:13, Hebrews 10:26-27, James 2:14, James 2:17, James 2:18-20, and James 2:24. James 2:24 specifically says, "You see that a man is justified by works and not by faith alone."

Answer 3

I'm going to go out on a limb here, as a protestant, and agree with you on one point. The Bible doesn't seem to support "sola scriptura" in the way it is usually understood by modern protestants. Maybe even by modern Catholics, IDK. Why, do you ask?

THE BIBLE WAS NEVER MEANT TO REPLACE THE HOLY SPIRIT. That's why.

The Scriptures we have are a priceless treasure, yes. They record many of God's workings among humans, yes. The records kept reflect what we know of God, His Christ, and His will for our lives--YES. BUT, it was never meant to be the Holy Spirit for us.

One of God's first observations with His creation of Man (Adam) was that "it is not good that the man should be alone". Even though Adam had rulership of the Earth, and a complete relationship with God (and presumably, the angelic hosts), it still wasn't enough. Adam needed one more human being. It is still the same today. We need other human beings in our lives, to walk with us, talk with us, and keep us in balance. Spiritually, that corresponds to the Church--the assembly of the saints (other believers). It is not good for the (born again) man to be alone, so Father has given them the Holy Spirit (inside) and other believers (outside).

The Book (Bible) is great too; our memories stink! But that isn't all their is.

About sola fide: obviously we are saved by the grace of God, which we accept through faith (believing in God). Our works don't make us clean. However, that salvation comes with a responsibility. How can we claim to be "saved", and refuse to do God's work? That is like claiming to be a farmer, and refusing to touch the earth.

Answer 4

I love your question!!!

There are 4 steps to faith in the Bible:

Belief in God, biblical writer, and committee (3). Then, the Bible generates multiple religions, that are doctrine based on what groups of people believe the bible is saying (4). Some people focus on faith, some on works, some on holiness.

Do not give up your faith. Do not worry what these other believers believe. Keep your faith with all your heart. Why?

“God enters by a private door into every individual.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson

Edit: Proudtobeacatholic: You are not to judge, God is. From this comes peace and serenity. Do not worry about it. Keep your faith!!!!! Actually, I am, well better not say, except, I agree with you.

Answer 5

I'll attempt to answer the second question. Actually, Eph 2:8-9 is talking about faith alone. It's saying for by the goodness of God, we are saved through Faith (faith in Christ, with the Cross ever as its object). Vs. 10 is saying that if we are God's workmanship, our salvation cannot be of ourselves, it speaks of "good works" as the results of salvation, never the cause of salvation. We do good works, not to get saved, but because we are saved. If you have the faith, the work is going to automatically come. Romans Chapter 5 talks about being justified by our faith. If we don't have faith in the finished works of Christ, what good would our works do? I really don't know how much more plain that can get.

Answer 6

Now, come on. Let's be realistic. I grew up as a Lutheran, but now am nondenominational. I'm sure that we can agree that the Bible is the supernaturally inspired Word of God. If we can agree on that why do you need a scripture to tell you that the Bible is all you need. Is there anything that a mortal man can add that God doesn't know? Does God need our help? What you're saying is like...I'm trying to put together a bike and I know that they included the explicit instructions in the box, but I'd better go to the book store and pick up a book on bike building because the bike maker probably doesn't know what he's talking about. Get a grip. Pray for yourself. Ask God for guidance. Jesus us your intercessor between you and God--not a priest. God Bless you, sister. I'll pray that the Holy Spirit fills you with the answers you need.

Answer 7

Firstly, I am Protestant. I don't believe that it does say anywhere in the Bible that faith alone is what you need to be saved. It says that "I am the way, the truth and the light. No man cometh onto the Father, but by me." Jesus said those words in John 14:6. Protestants believe that in order to be saved, you must confess that Christ is our Saviour and that He is the Son of God. We are to confess and repent of our sins, and ask Christ to live within us. Then, we are to live our lives as Christ instructed us to. We are saved through the confession of Christ as our Lord, and our acceptance of Him, and because of that, we have faith, and we do good works. Having faith and doing good is a by-product of being a Christian, not a prerequisite to being saved.

In regards to being the sole authority, I believe that the Bible is. I do not need someone else to interpret it for me. I don't need the organized church to tell me what God says. The Bible isn't so cryptic that we need priests or ministers, or whatever we want to call them, to tell us what it means. We do need the church, however, because we are commanded in the Bible to gather together and worship.

Answer 8

Protestant do not state that the scripture is the sole authority, just the highest authority. In other words, sola scriptura means that the Bible trumps all other authorities. In fact, it is the standard that we judge everything else by. If we had no such standard then we would be left to believe anything and everything, according to the dictates of man. God's Word does not change. Man does. The Bible is the last word. There are plenty of other authorities, parents, teachers, civil, church, pastors, other authors, theologians, historians, scientists etc. But none of these trumps the Bible. If there is a disagreement between the Bible and one of these other sources, the Bible has the final say, period. This is what sola scriptura means. In the Catholic faith, the Pope and the traditions of the church frequently trump the Bible. Man should never place himself above the Word of God.

You asked for scripture:

To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them. Isaiah 8:20

All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness 2 Timothy 3:16

Some of the Catholic churches teachings are not in line with the Bible. Even you must agree with that.

Sola fide is the doctine that states that we are saved by faith and faith alone. What that means is that there is nothing that we can do that will merit us eternal life. If there was, eternal life would not be a free gift, grace, but wages owed to us by God.

Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt. But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness Romans 4:4,5

Of course faith without works is dead. Fruit trees that do not grow fruit encumber the ground in which they are planted. The good fruit that they grow proves that they are good fruit trees. If they grow bad or no fruit, they may call themselves fruit trees, but, in reality they are not because they do not produce edible fruit. Likewise, many call themselves Christians, when their lives prove otherwise. In this sense faith and works are inseparable. However, eternal life is not dependant on works of sinful man. Our good deeds are like filthy rags compared with the righteousness of Christ. They can not purchase even one drop of blood from the Savior. Because even one sin disqualifies us from eternal life, we are all condemned to die. We have no righteousness to give that can make any atonement for the broken law. Even if we become perfect in Christ, our past sins still disqualify us. The thief on the Christ was granted eternal life without doing any works. His only saving grace was to believe in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins. I suppose Catholics would say that he needed to spend some time in purgatory to burn off some of those sins. But, that would mean that God owed him eternal life in heaven, contrary to the text above.

There are other texts that I could use, but you only asked for one, so in the interest of time, that is all I gave you.

I, too, was born a Catholic.

Answer 9

Gospel According to Saint Luke
Chapter 8

5 The sower went out to sow his seed. And as he sowed, some fell by the way side, and it was trodden down, and the fowls of the air devoured it.

6 And other some fell upon a rock: and as soon as it was sprung up, it withered away, because it had no moisture. 7 And other some fell among thorns, and the thorns growing up with it, choked it. 8 And other some fell upon good ground; and being sprung up, yielded fruit a hundredfold. Saying these things, he cried out: He that hath ears to hear, let him hear. 9 And his disciples asked him what this parable might be. 10 To whom he said: To you it is given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God; but to the rest in parables, that seeing they may not see, and hearing may not understand.


11 Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God. 12 And they by the way side are they that hear; then the devil cometh, and taketh the word out of their heart, lest believing they should be saved. 13 Now they upon the rock, are they who when they hear, receive the word with joy: and these have no roots; for they believe for a while, and in time of temptation, they fall away. 14 And that which fell among thorns, are they who have heard, and going their way, are choked with the cares and riches and pleasures of this life, and yield no fruit. 15 But that on the good ground, are they who in a good and perfect heart, hearing the word, keep it, and bring forth fruit in patience.

Answer 10

Thank you for your question, I have often wondered the same. St. Augustine said he would not believe the Bible if not for the authority of the church. This authority given to the Catholic Church by the Holy Spirit is what has kept the church unified throughout its history, and the lack of authority and unity is why there are thousands of protestant churches today. We must always remember that we are brothers and sisters with all Christians, and must work to achieve the unity we once had.

The Church's Magisterium exercises the authority it holds from Christ to the fullest extent when it defines dogmas, that is, when it proposes, in a form obliging the Christian people to an irrevocable adherence of faith, truths contained in divine Revelation or also when it proposes, in a definitive way, truths having a necessary connection with these.

Christ is himself the source of ministry in the Church. He instituted the Church. He gave her authority and mission, orientation and goal:
In order to shepherd the People of God and to increase its numbers without cease, Christ the Lord set up in his Church a variety of offices which aim at the good of the whole body. The holders of office, who are invested with a sacred power, are, in fact, dedicated to promoting the interests of their brethren, so that all who belong to the People of God . . . may attain to salvation.

Ignorance of Christ and his Gospel, bad example given by others, enslavement to one's passions, assertion of a mistaken notion of autonomy of conscience, rejection of the Church's authority and her teaching, lack of conversion and of charity: these can be at the source of errors of judgment in moral conduct.