Last time I asked this the answers went more to whether Sola Scriptura is valid. In this question I do not care whether you feel it is valid. I want simple plain answers to the following two questions.
1) Is everything you need to be saved contained in the scripture?
2) If the answer to question 1 is yes why do we need more than the scriptue?
Please no comments about whether or not sola scriptura is valid.
2007-09-06 08:26:16 · 13 answers · asked by Bible warrior 5 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Let me add I know we need Jesus to be saved. What I am asking though is does scripture contain all we need to point us towards Christ and salvation.
2007-09-06 08:55:08 · update #1
Skepsis - I disagree with you that applying Biblical morals to today is difficult. For example the Bible does not say stem cell research is wrong or a sin. But by reading the Bible we can see that murder is wrong. That God knew us before we were even in the womb and thus we can easily come to the conclusion that stem cell research is wrong. Or at least the embryonic variety. The morals of the Bible are just as valid today and are easy to apply if you read the Word.
2007-09-06 09:17:18 · update #2
Excalibur - Authority of the catholic church? Where in the Bible did it say one sect of the church is the authority? The church is all the believers in Christ. This is the true church not one sect headquartered out of Rome.
2007-09-06 09:21:35 · update #3
Excalibur - you are right those are not mentioned. However does scripture tell us to ask the pope whether those things are right and just? Or does it tell us to decide for ourself? I doubt you will agree but does not the following verse tell us to work out our own salvation?
Phillipians 2:12 Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.
2007-09-06 09:29:03 · update #4
The scriptures do contain everything you need to be saved. They show you how to believe in Jesus for salvation. They give you the prophecies of his coming, his teachings, the events of his life, his death and resurrection, and the understanding of how those affect your life. Everything you need for salvation is there.
But not everything you need to live in that salvation day to day is there. For example, it tells you to preach the gospel to all nation, but not which specific person to preach it to today. While it gives you the "guidelines" for living your life, it does not often give you the specifics for each day. That is why we also need prayer. Through it, we talk to God and get the daily guidances by which he live out those guildelines.
Sola Scriptura is correct for doctrine, but it takes more for day to day living.
2007-09-06 08:36:14 · answer #1 · answered by dewcoons 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
1) Yes, as far as it goes. Comprehensive general principles of morality are contained in the scriptures. along with a lot of other stuff.
2) Yes. Because a book that stopped being written centuries ago could not have anticipated the ethical issues that have arisen from subsequent social and technological development. There are now "sins" and acts of "virtue" that were simply impossible before. The general Biblical principles need to be applied and interpreted in light of new discoveries and techniques. Unfortunately, the general moral principles of the Bible are not always as clearly stated as specific examples.
When specific examples from the Bible are applied to unforeseen developments, it's often a bad fit. So people who are very familiar with the Bible need to discuss the new issues and figure out how the underlying principles apply. The reasoning often gets complicated, enough that books need to be written about it. These are not "new", just reasoned adaptations of Biblical standards, but without them, direct application of the Bible to a generational ethical wound likely makes it worse because of forced analogies and cultural disconnects. The Bible doesn't change, but culture and technology does. Without a thoughtful bridge of interpretation between them, the Bible and contemporary life have a hard time connecting. This is something the Catholics learned as time went on, hence their "traditions". It is the youngest denominations with the least experience who most vociferously proclaim "sola scriptura".
2007-09-06 15:58:36 · answer #2 · answered by skepsis 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I'll just you some circular christian logic...
2 Tim 3:14-17 gets used by many christians to claim the current canon is "god's inspired word", but as written it can only be referring to the old testament... thus any claim that the current canon is "scripture", must say that "sola scriptura" is wrong...
take your pick... either 2 Tim 3:16 cannot possibly, under any circumstances refer to the new testament, or there is an open canon based on an eisegetic interpretation.
2007-09-06 17:08:24 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Paul's letter to Timothy says that the Bible is useful but it does not say it is sufficient. (2 Timothy 3:16).
Where can we find passages in the Bible about artificial insemination, organ transplants, and limits to medical research? For example, does the Bible specifically tell us that stem cell research is a sin? Divine revelation did not stop after the Bible was published. God continues to talk to us through the teaching authority of the Catholic Church, which he founded and clothed, with the authority to teach infallibly.
2007-09-06 16:14:51 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 1⤋
The scripture contains the knowledge of the key to Salvation.
To be Saved (regeneration) one needs nothing more. However, regeneration is only one of the three recognized states of Salvation. Do not ignore Sanctification and Glorification.
The knowledge of these are also contained in scripture.
Additional written works are useful testimonies, possibly, but not required.
2007-09-06 15:34:48 · answer #5 · answered by Just David 5 · 1⤊ 1⤋
1) No. It is true the correct doctrine for salvation is contained in Scripture. However, Adonai Yeshua is the only one who saves.
John 5:39-40 39 "(1a)You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; it is (b)these that testify about Me; 40 and you are unwilling to come to Me so that you may have life.
2007-09-06 15:46:24 · answer #6 · answered by everyone's right 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
No.
David Koresh, a branch davidian who died in Waco Texas believed he was following the Bible.
The Rev. Jim Jones, leader of the Peoples Temple, who led his followers into mass suicide, believed he was following the Bible.
The list goes on and on.
Clearly, there is something missing in merely following the Bible.
2007-09-06 15:34:18 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
1. Yes.
2. We do not need more than Scripture. Everything anyone needs to know and believe is spelled out there. Any one or group that claims otherwise is being gnostic and cultish.
.
2007-09-06 15:39:15 · answer #8 · answered by Hogie 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Yes I believe the Bible has all we need to be saved.
2007-09-07 10:02:13 · answer #9 · answered by jael 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
1. Not in the original version, no.
2007-09-06 15:50:25 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋