Is the Bible the sole authority that it is NOT the sole authority?

Question

"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 Thessalonians 2:15)

Answer 1

The Bible is not an authority at all. That should be obvious from the fact that those who try to make it an authority have a continuous history of fragmentation and doctrinal chaos. The true Church founded by Christ is where He placed full authority. He gave the leaders of His Church the power of binding and loosing. He gave the leader of those leaders the keys to His kingdom, the universal symbol of ultimate authority. That Church has remained united in belief, united in teaching and united in worship for 2,000 years. Obviously Jesus knew that you cannot have unity without genuine authority, and you cannot have truth without unity.

The Bible cannot be an authority because any written work requires interpretation. Even a stop sign must be interpreted befrore it can be acted upon. Rejecting the authority of Christ's Church while attempting to set up the Bible as an authority is like following the Constitution of the united States as an authority while rejecting the authority of the United States government, which produced the Constitution and is its sole valid interpreter.

Answer 2

Just remeber this when reading the Bible:

It wasn't written in English.

It has been translated millions times over. Ther are different translations for different churches. It has been translated to help Popes and Kings reclaim and hold onto their own power. If it is the Word of God, it has been sullied by the Hands of Man.

That being said, I do recomend that the Bible be read, and apoplied to your life as much as possible. But it beeds to be read and meditated. Dwell on the readings in your soul, and ask God to enlighten them for you, washing away the dirt of Man that covers the Enlightenment of the Word. Use it as a means to communitae with God. It is a Living word, not something writ in stone and never to be questioned.

Answer 3

You're right. Protestanism believes in Sola Scripture but the bible itself doesn't say anything about Scripture alone. It does said that the bible is inspired by God and we should listen to it but it never specifies if we can't have other authorities. Also, there is more than one verse in the bible that justifies traditions and they're in the New Testament.

Answer 4

That was the Apostle Paul in the second letter he wrote to the church that he had founded in Thessalonica, in Greece. If you start with the 13th verse instead of taking the 15th verse out of context, you get a better picture of what he was trying to say.

Answer 5

And hold the traditions which ye have been taught: meaning the truths of the Gospel, which may be called traditions, because they are delivered from one to another; the Gospel was first delivered by God the Father to Jesus Christ, as Mediator, and by him to his apostles, and by them to the churches of Christ; whence it is called the form of doctrine delivered to them, and the faith once delivered to the saints: and also the ordinances of the Gospel which the apostles received from Christ, and as they received them faithfully delivered them, such as baptism and the Lord's supper; as well as rules of conduct and behaviour, both in the church, and in the world, even all the commandments of Christ, which he ordered his apostles to teach, and which they gave by him; see 2Th_3:6. And so the Syriac version here renders it, "the commandments": and these were such as these saints had been taught by the apostles, under the direction of Christ, and through the guidance of his Spirit; and were not the traditions of men or the rudiments of the world, but what they had received from Christ, through the hands of the apostles:

whether by word, or our epistle, that is, by "our" word, as well as by our epistle, and so the Arabic version reads; these doctrines, ordinances, and rules of discipline were communicated to them, both by word of mouth, when the apostles were in person among them, and by writing afterwards to them; for what the apostles delivered in the ministry of the word to the churches, they sent them in writing, that they might be a standing rule of faith and practice; so that this does not in the least countenance the unwritten traditions of the Papists; and since these were what were taught them, "viva voce", and they received them from the mouth of the apostles, or by letters from them, or both, it became them to hold and retain them fast, and not let them go, either with respect to doctrine or practice.

Answer 6

You lost me.

If the Bible is so omnipotently authoritative over all else, why doth confusion & contradiction abound boundlessly over many parts of the word?

Why doth not the light shine brilliantly, instead of brilliantly blinding people in confusion & religious unproven dogma?

Answer 7

Bible = Word of God = Highest authority

Answer 8

This is referring to a previous visit and letters. Everything we need to be good and faithful servants is included in The Bible.

Answer 9

This means to not stray away from the teachings of the Bible.

Answer 10

Yes, concerning spiritual and moral matters.