Question for protestant Christians. Do you believe that the Bible is the only valid source of God's message?

Question

In other words, would you consider the writings of the Saints as a source for Christian wisdom and theology?
So many protestants that I have known put a lot of faith in a particular contemporary preacher, but turn up their noses at the writings of Catholic and Orthodox saints.
It seems to me that these ancient writings have stood up to centuries of scrutiny by religious scholars. So why do so many discount them so easily?

Answer 1

the Bible is NOT the Word of God. It is words from God revealed to people who walked closely with Him. The Bible does relate truth to us, but it is NOT the only valid source of God's message. Jesus Christ, however, through His person and through the Holy Spirit is the only source of God's message. He can reveal Himself however he darn well pleases. and to say that He can't or doesn't makes Him a lot smaller than He really is. And He is not small. He is Holy, Holy, Holy Lord God ALMIGHTY. Jesus Christ is The Word. not the Bible. (See John 1:10) And see what Jesus said about the scriptures in John 5: 39. The HOly Spirit is our guide John 14: 15. yes, i would consider the writings of saints for christian wisdom and theology.

Answer 2

You've fallen for anti-Catholic propaganda. The Catholic Church never banned the Bible from people. The Catholic Church didn't have problems translating the Bible to common languages - they had problems with translations that were bad and contained heresy. When translating the Bible, people were able to slip in their own bias and heresy - that's the problem the Catholic Church had. As for the Bible - it is the inerrant Word of God, written by men inspired by the Holy Spirit. Since the Bible is an inanimate object it can't be "infallible" (unable to teach error). It's inerrant - everything asserted as true in the Bible is asserted by the Holy Spirit and the Holy Spirit doesn't lie or make mistakes. The challenge comes in determining what the Holy Spirit is asserting as true - which is why sola scriptura is such a poor doctrine. Without the magisterium (teaching authority of the church) and Sacred Tradition, we can't be sure we could accurate understand the bible. I like the example Mark Shea gives in his article "What is Sacred Tradition". The Bible is sufficient - but there's a difference between material sufficiency and formal sufficiency. "What's the difference between material and formal sufficiency? It is the difference between having a big enough pile of bricks to build a house and having a house of bricks. Catholic teaching says written Sacred Tradition (known as Scripture) is materially sufficient: all the bricks necessary to build its doctrines are there in Scripture. But because some things in Scripture are implicit rather than explicit, other stuff besides Scripture has been handed down from the apostles. This other stuff is unwritten Sacred Tradition (which is the mortar that holds the bricks of the written Tradition together in the right order and position) and the Magisterium or teaching authority of the Church (which is the trowel in the hand of the Master Builder). Taken together, these three things are formally sufficient for knowing the revealed truth of God."

Answer 3

The Bible is God's definitive word. Writings by Christian commentators on scripture can be a source of wisdom we can use to help use understand the Bible and apply it correctly as long as it never contradicts scripture. Whether they are modern day evangelist like Billy Graham or Ray comfort, great preachers of the past like Charles Spurgen or John Edwards or the Puritans. The writings of the "Catholic or Orthodox Saints" can also be a source of insight. But be careful!! You need to be sure that these writings are not contradictory to scripture.
The reason many Christians discount these wittings is because of the doctrinal differences between Catholic teaching and Reform teachings. Particularity the Catholic doctrine of infused righteousness. Roman Catholicism maintains that the righteousness of the "saints" and of Christ is gradually "infused" into the believer through the sacraments. For the Catholic, infused righteousness either gradually dissipates as the believer takes part in worldly sins or is enhanced by good works. This doctrine is in complete disagreement with scripture as shown in Romans 11:5-6
"It is the same today, for a few of the people of Israel have remained faithful because of God’s grace—his undeserved kindness in choosing them. And since it is through God’s kindness, then it is not by their good works. For in that case, God’s grace would not be what it really is—free and undeserved."
It is God through Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit that we become righteous not by our good works.
Instead Imputed righteousness means that upon repentance and belief in Jesus Christ, individuals are declared righteous. This righteousness is not the believer's own, rather it is Christ's own righteousness 'credited' to the believer.
Since much of the "saints" writing are based in this infused doctrine it is sometimes not helpful to the Christian but should not be entirely discounted.

I use "Saint" in quotations because this is also a Catholic idea. In Truth all believers are called Saints in the King James Bible. Look at these two verse side by side. The first King James and the second NIV.

Ephesians 4:12
"For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:" KJV

"to prepare God's people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up" NIV

Answer 4

The writings in the Bible are considered to be the only books that we know for certain came directly from God. it is called the "cannon" for a reason.

As for the writings of the saints, we sometimes read those as well. After all, a lot of Protestant theology comes from the writings of Saint Augustine of Hippo. We consider the writings of a saint to be the same as the writings of any other human author. Anything in the writings of a saint that seems to contradict the Bible is discarded, since God would not contradict himself. Anything that seems to agree with the Bible, then we believe.

Answer 5

Sola Verbum Dei

The approach to authority is very different in the ancient Church than in the modernist Protestant church. The Catholic Church follows the “Word of God alone” while the Protestant ecclesiastical groups follow Sola Scriptura which states that only God’s written word is authoritative. The latter is a sixteenth century man made doctrine designed to destroy the unity of the Church and fragments the entire body of Christ by exponentially increasing schisms caused by accepting only part of God’s word by the Protestants. Sola Scriptura is not a doctrine for a better understanding of the Logos but instead is designed to circumvent the legitimate authority of the Church given by Christ.
It is the belief of the ancient Church that is the Magisterium of the Church that has the authority given by Christ to expound on, recognize and guard the Word of God. The Word of God is not only the written Scriptures but all that is handed to the Church by the Holy Spirit. In so doing and carrying out her responsibility the Church is the true servant of the Word.
God’s people have never been Sola Scriptura advocates. In Jesus’ day the orthodox Jews were not, nor were Jesus or the apostles. The continuation Sola Verbum Dei is a theological continuation of God’s Word from the Old Covenant to the New. The only ones who believed in anything resembling Sola Scriptura were the Sadducees who were the theological liberals of their day. We know that the first century Christians did not believe in Sola Scriptura by the teaching of St. Paul in Holy writ:
(2Th 2:15 DRB) (2:14) Therefore, brethren, stand fast: and hold the traditions, which you have learned, whether by word or by our epistle.

The Church teaches that the Word of God is the Logos:

(Joh 1:1 DRB) In the beginning was the Word: and the Word was with God: and the Word was God.

(Joh 1:2 DRB) The same was in the beginning with God.

(Joh 1:3 DRB) All things were made by him: and without him was made nothing that was made.

(Joh 1:4 DRB) In him was life: and the life was the light of men.

So the question among Christians should not be what is the Word but instead how is the Word revealed to man. To the Protestant the Word is only revealed in written form called Sola Scriptura. To the Catholic Christian the word has a much broader meaning and is revealed to man in more than a written form where men were inspired to reveal God’s Word. Catholics believe that inspiration is not only personal as with the biblical writers but is also revealed to and through the Church such as in the Ecumenical Councils and through the authority exercised through the Church to recognize, guard, interpret and teach the Word. The Church throughout history has faithfully exercised her authority to guard the word of God against the attacks of heresies, such as Sola Scriptura.

In Christ
Fr. Joseph

Answer 6

Protestants are to believe the bible is the Holy Spirit inspired revelation of God. Judgements and revivals. rescues and perishings.songs(psalms). prophecies.poems.gospels.letters.dreams and much more have been divinely inspired and documented for our instruction. The scrutiny of religious scholars could still be in error if the standard for their scrutiny is faulty. Much like evolution in which Darwin himself said he didn't believe that theory before he died but many people are still teaching it as fact. It cannot be proven at all. Only the bible should be trusted as an authority on divine instruction. Gifts of the Holy Spirit such as healings,miracles,words of wisdom and knowledge,prophecies, and interpretations of tongues are valid if they can be confirmed by what is already established in the bible. The gifts are in part and must be compared to the bible to be trustworthy.

Answer 7

Yes and why ?. I believe even the scriptures tell us not to put our trust in the (help)arm of the flesh, Jeremiah 17:5. The books of the bible may have been intrusted in the care of men to record but the sacred truths has been protected by God. When we lean on the clergy or spiritual leaders alone we become easy targets for satan. Men although priest or pastors ect. can be falliable but Gods words are not. Infact he warned the people of old Israel to prove the prophets that spoke in his name saying God said, (Isaiah 8:20, Jerm.23:31-32 ) he said. How much more to us in our time ,that are living in the time of the end as says the word( 1 John 2:4)? These and many other testimonies of scriptures show why, many are mislead. I know there are people that love the Lord as much as myself and may be sincere christains but we all have to take heed to testimony of scriptures. In the prophecy of revelations apostal John saw a mysterious woman the got nations drunk by her piosionous doctrines (Rev.17:1-2 & 18:1-3). Who is this? Just know for sure it is an apostate church that heads over others for she is called a whore and the mother of harlots (Rev.17:5). So in general I am saying we can look to our religious leaders because many are ever learning but we have to search things out to see if the end of what they teach is truth. Whosoever would like to know more of the beasts, the whore, and the mark in revelation. pls. email me at [e-mail].

Answer 8

I do believe that God speaks His wisdom through others in addition to the Bible.
A few thoughts just off the top of my head- the Serenity Prayer is not in the Bible - but it has alot of comfort, peace and God's wisdom in it.
http://www.cptryon.org/prayer/special/serenity.html
I love St. Francis prayer below.
Martin Luther's wise quotes are linked below:
http://www.zaadz.com/quotes/Martin_Luther?page=2

Answer 9

I don't think any of the Saint's writings are infallible like the Bible is, but yes, they are most certainly a ginormous source of wisdom. Confessions, Dark Night, Summa Theologica, various diaries, etc; all are great spiritual tools.

Answer 10

You make a very valid point. I do not accept any writing other than the Bible to be of God. Yes, I have a number of books and authors that I enjoy their Bible studies, but they are just that, studies. And there are certain authors who just seem to put scripture into every day situations very well. However, the Bible is our guide, not any of these, they are merely tools we use in studying God's Word.