What is the biblical basis for "bible only" (sola scriptura)? If this is not in the Bible, what is its basis?

Answer 1

The Bible specifically says that there is more than just Scripture:

+ I have much more to tell you, but you cannot bear it now. But when he comes, the Spirit of truth, he will guide you to all truth. He will not speak on his own, but he will speak what he hears, and will declare to you the things that are coming. (John 16:12-13)

+ 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 Thessalonians 2:15)

+ We instruct you, brothers, in the name of (our) Lord Jesus Christ, to shun any brother who conducts himself in a disorderly way and not according to the tradition they received from us. (2 Thessalonians 3:6)

+ I praise you because you remember me in everything and hold fast to the traditions, just as I handed them on to you. (1 Corinthians 11:2)

The Catholic Church does not use Holy Scripture as the only basis of doctrine. It could not. The early Catholic church existed before and during the time that the New Testament was written.

There were hundreds of Christian writings during the first and second centuries. Which New Testament writings would become official was not fully decided until about 400 C.E.

Catholics believe that the Holy Spirit was guiding the early church (and is guiding the church today) to make the correct choices about things like:
+ The Holy Trinity (which is also only hinted at in the Bible)
+ Going to church on Sunday instead of Saturday (which is actually directly against one of the Ten Commandments)
+ The Communion of Saints
+ Which writings include in the New Testament?

Things that are even more modern like
+ Slavery is bad. Slavery is never declared evil in the Bible. This was one of the justifications for slavery in the Confederate States.
+ Democracy is good. The Bible states that either God should be the leader of the nation like Israel before the kings or kings should be the leader, "Give to Caesar that which is Caesar's." This was talked about a lot during the American Revolution.

This second source of doctrine is called Apostolic Tradition.

Do Christians who do not allow the continuing guiding force of the Holy Spirit to make their beliefs more and more perfect, still endorse slavery as Colossians 3:22 commands, "Slaves, obey your human masters in everything"?

For more information, see the Catechism of the Catholic Church, sections 80 and following: http://www.usccb.org/catechism/text/pt1sect1chpt2.htm#80

With love in Christ.

Answer 2

I don't know what the basis is for sola scriptura, but there's a lot of things you don't find in the Bible...take for example the word Trinity. But that doesn't mean that concepts like the Trinity are not in existance. God has given us a mind to use in accordance with His Word.

Answer 3

The Word of God is the only authority for the Christian faith. Traditions are valid only when they are based on Scripture and are in full agreement with Scripture. Traditions that contradict the Bible are not of God and are not a valid aspect of the Christian faith. Sola scriptura is the only way to avoid subjectivity and personal opinion from taking priority over the teachings of the Bible. The essence of sola scriptura is basing your spiritual life on the Bible alone, and rejecting any tradition or teaching that is not in full agreement with the Bible. Second Timothy 2:15 declares, "Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the Word of truth."

Sola scriptura does not nullify the concept of church traditions. Rather, sola scriptura gives us a solid foundation on which to base church traditions. There are many practices, in both Catholic and Protestant churches, that are the result of traditions, not the explicit teaching of Scripture. It is good, and even necessary, for the church to have traditions. Traditions play an important role in clarifying and organizing Christian practice. At the same time, in order for these traditions to be valid, they must not be in disagreement with God’s Word. They must be based on the solid foundation of the teaching of Scripture. The problem with the Roman Catholic Church (and many other churches) is that it bases traditions on traditions which are based on traditions which are based on traditions – often with the initial tradition not being in full harmony with the Scriptures. That is why Christians must always go back to sola scriptura, the authoritative Word of God, as the only solid basis for faith and practice.

On a practical matter, a frequent objection to the concept of sola scriptura is the fact that the canon of the Bible was not officially agreed upon for at least 250 years after the church was founded. Further, the Scriptures were not available to the masses for 1500+ years after the church was founded. How, then, were early Christians to use sola scriptura, when they did not even have the full Scriptures? How, then, were Christians who lived before the invention of the printing press supposed to base their faith and practice on Scripture alone if there was no way for them to have a complete copy of the Scriptures? This issue is further compounded by the very high rates of illiteracy throughout history. How does the concept of sola scriptura handle these issues?

The problem with this argument is that it is essentially saying that Scripture’s authority is based on its availability. This is not the case. Scripture’s authority is universal; because it is God’s Word, it is His authority. The fact that Scripture was not readily available, or that people could not read it, does not change the fact that Scripture is God’s Word. Further, rather than this being an argument against sola scriptura, it is actually an argument for what the church should have done, instead of what it did. The early church should have made producing copies of the Scriptures a high priority. While it was unrealistic for every Christian to possess a complete copy of the Bible, it was possible that every church could have some, most, or all of the Scriptures available to it. Early church leaders should have made studying the Scriptures their highest priority so they could accurately teach it. Even if the Scriptures could not be made available to the masses, at least church leaders could be well-trained in the Word of God. Instead of building traditions upon traditions, and passing them on from generation to generation – the church should have copied the Scriptures and taught the Scriptures (2 Timothy 4:2).

Again, traditions are not the problem. Unbiblical traditions are the problem. The availability of the Scriptures throughout the centuries is not the determining factor. The Scriptures themselves are the determining factor. We now have the Scriptures readily available to us. Through the careful study of God’s Word, it is clear that many church traditions which have developed over the centuries are in fact contradictory to the Word of God. This is where sola scriptura applies. Traditions that are based on, and are in agreement with God’s Word can be maintained. Traditions that are not based on, and/or are in disagreement with God’s Word, must be rejected. Sola scriptura points us back to what God has revealed to us in His Word. Sola scriptura ultimately points us back to the God who always speaks the truth, never contradicts Himself, and always proves Himself to be dependable.

Answer 4

"Bible only" can go too far. I knew a very fundamentalist preacher who maintained that cats don't literally exist. There is no mention of them in the Bible. I'll have to tell my fiancé's cats, Tuffy and Tiger, about their non-existence....

The admonition about not adding to the scriptures, I think, is a warning not to take a human being's word for it. Preparing for flames by the believers of these groups.....

....but when people start taking the writings of someone else, say Joseph Smith or Ellen G. White or L. Ron Hubbard or Mary Baker Eddy, along WITH the Bible, things can go terribly wrong.

Answer 5

More big words, to hide from the light. But Gospel of Jesus Christ is God the Father's truth,

For is was said, for law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.

What is Jesus saying ? that Moses lied ? and that Jesus brought us the truth ?

How about

Moses gave you not that bread from heaven, but My Father giveth you the true bread from heaven.

It seems Jesus is telling us again that Moses lied to us, do you know why, and what Jesus is talking about.

How about
As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of man be lifted up.

What is Jesus saying, that Moses glorified Satan in the wilderness,

Are these the things that Jesus meant by that He could not tell all because they (the Apostles) could not handle it because they like you do not believe His Words, even though you confess you do.

The Spirit of Truth gives wisdom it seems to me that the physical churches have no wisdom if they still teach that the earth is 6000 years old, and the Catholic Church can't make up your minds what to believe, and they tell you that absolute truth is God's wisdom, I guess they don't know God to well.

Answer 6

The Roman Catholic Church made a lot of mandates about how people should live if they are to call themselves 'Christians."

I'm only guessing, but that sounds typical of how the old Roman Catholics used to dictate to people how to serve and follow the Catholic empire in the mid centuries. Anything else was heresy or witchcraft?

I definately know that that phrase is not in the Bible, since God gives everyone the right to choose for themselves. God is not going to give someone a choice and then say "Bible only" or else......

It isn't His nature, He wouldn't say that in His word.

Answer 7

"Sola Scriptura" is one of the worst beliefs to come out of the Protestant Reformation. While scripture is important, and helps us understand God and understand our relationship with Him better, as well as helping us understand ourselves better, it was never intended to be the ultimate expression or finalization of our faith.

Faith is supposed to be something that is lived out, not simply read about.

Answer 8

All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work. 2 Tim. 3:16-17

You shall not add to the word which I command you, nor take from it, that you may keep the commandments of the LORD your God which I command you. Deut. 4:2

Answer 9

The basis is to protect yourself from foolish doctrines taught by men.

"...if they speak not according to this Word it is because there is no light in them".(Isa.8:19)"

We are commanded to preach the Word...

"PREACH THE WORD, in season and out...reprove, rebuke, and exhort with all patience and doctrine; for the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine...but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers telling them what they WANT to hear...." (2Tim.4:2)

Answer 10

There is no biblical basis, the bible wasn't even compiled in biblical days.