Did God intend the Bible as the one and only authentic source of doctrine for Christians?

Question

What did Christ really intend? If your answer is yes, please explain and justify your answer.

No instructed Catholic will ever say that the Bible is not the inspired word of God. The difficulty arises when Fundamentalists, Pentecostals and Evangelicals say the Bible is the FINAL and COMPLETE word of God and it is all we need to conduct ourselves as Christians.

If Christ INTENDED the Bible as the FINAL and only source of Christian doctrine and practice he would have left instructions to his disciples to compile the Bible. It is only in the book of Revelations where Christ says, "write this to the church in ..."

Creation
The apostle John was only referring to the Book of Revelation. Please read the passage again. You won't find similar passages in the New Testament.

Michael
My answer to your response is the same I gave to Creation

Don,
You are right. Thanks for the correction.

Elizabeth J
Oh really? Where in the Bible does it say that the Bible is the sole infalllible guide to Christian doctrine and practice?

Capri,
The passage you quote does not say it is the ONLY it says useful or profitable. It does not even say it is sufficient.

Old guy 63
You won't find the passage you cite in 2 Corinthians 4. Please check it yourself.

Steve Amato
Why don't you post your comment so we can answer and debate on it?
The Catholic doctrine of the Real Presence is rooted in the Bible and Sacred Tradition.

nymormon
Thanks for the scholarly answer.

Martin S
Celibacy is not a doctrine but a disciplinary rule. We did not invent it. It is in the Bible. Christ and St. Paul were celibate. As for your other comment let me inform you that there have been many great saints of the Church who were celibate, far more than who were not before celibacy became a rule.

Answer 1

I commend you because you remember me in everything and maintain the traditions even as I have delivered them to you.
1 Corinthians 11:2



Most Protestant Christians believe that the Bible is the only source concerning faith. According to them, there is no need for Apostolic Tradition or an authoritative, teaching Church. All that they need is the Bible in order to learn about the faith and to live a Christian life. The "Bible Alone" teaching can be appealing in its simplicity, but it suffers from fundamental problems. A few are considered here.

First the Bible itself states that not everything important to the Christian faith is recorded in it. For example, not everything that Christ did is recorded in the inspired Books:

But there are also many other things which Jesus did; were every one of them to be written, I suppose that the world itself could not contain the books that would be written. [John 21:25; RSV]

According to John 20:31, some things have been recorded in the Gospel in order to come to know Christ; however, John 21:25 suggests that there is still more to know about Him. At least for St. John the Apostle, there was more that he needed to teach which was not recorded in the Bible:

I had much to write you, but I would rather not write with pen and ink; I hope to see you soon, and we will talk together face to face. [3 John 13-14]

Also St. Paul instructs Timothy on how to orally pass on the teachings of the faith:

...what you have heard from me before many witnesses entrust to faithful men who will be able to teach others also. [2 Tim. 2:2]

St. Paul even commands (2 Thess. 3:6) the Thessalonian Christians to follow the oral Traditions of the Apostles:

So then, brethren, stand firm and hold to the traditions which you were taught by us (Apostles), either by word of mouth (oral) or by letter (Epistle). [2 Thess. 2:15]

These commands promoting Oral Tradition would be quite strange, if only the Bible were needed to pass on the entire Christian faith.

Is the Bible the sole "teaching from God?" No. The Bible Itself states that their are "oral" teachings and traditions that are to be carried on to the present-day (2 Thessalonians 2:15; 1 Corinthians 11:2; 2 Timothy 2:2; Romans 10:17; 1 Peter 1:24-25). These teachings are what the Catholic Church considers "Sacred Apostolic Tradition." This type of "Tradition" never changes because it was passed down by the Apostles themselves. It is not the same as the man-made traditions condemned in Scripture. The man-made traditions condemned in Scripture were those of the Jewish Pharisees. In fact, as Christians, we are suppose to disassociate ourselves from persons who do not follow Apostolic Tradition (2 Thessalonians 3:6). If oral tradition is not to be followed, why did St. Paul state Christ said something that is not recorded in the Gospels (Acts 20:35)? St. Paul must have "heard" this saying, not read it from any Gospel or "Scripture," thereby, proving that some things Christ said were not recorded in the Gospels (John 21:25) and were passed on orally among His disciples instead, but were just as valid as anything written since St. Paul himself used one of these oral passages in one of his own epistles.


Does the Bible state It is the sole or final authority of Christianity? No. Neither this statement nor anything even close to it appears anywhere in the New Testament. In fact, Christ said that the Church is to resolve disputes among Christians, not Scripture (Matthew 18:17).

Didn't Jesus Christ with His own mouth instruct His disciples to "write down" His teachings? No. With the possible exception of the Book of Revelation (Apocalypse) by St. John the Apostle, Jesus Christ gives no such instructions to any of His disciples or Apostles. In fact, only the Apostles Sts. Peter, John, James, Jude and Matthew were inspired by the Holy Spirit to write Scripture. Why were the other seven not inspired of the Holy Spirit to "write" if the "written" Word of God is the ONLY authority to be followed in the Christian religion?

Answer 2

We live by the Bible and it is the Bible that says that it is the final word. Several places in the Bible it says that. In 2 Cor 4 Paul tells us not to go beyond and exceed what is written. In Peter were are told that the word has all that we need that pertains to life and godliness. In Revelation we are told not to add to or take away from what is contained in what is written. The problem is when you add to the scriptures with man's ideas you get contradictions with the Bible and that makes God out to be a liar. If you don't believe the Bible you have freedomto believe what ever you want, but if you do believe it then you are under some obligation to stick to what it says.

Edit: If what John wrote in the book of revelation only applied to revelation than all other 65 books would not be scriture, and Christ clearly stated that other books were scriture as did Peter and the apostles.

When you say that God would have had the disciples compile the Bible, who are you to say what God would or would not have done?

Sorry, you re right, it is 1 Cor 4:6, I'm getting old, I should not trust my memory so much any more. 1 Cor 4:6 Now these things, brethren, I have figuratively applied to myself and Apollos for your sakes, so that in us you may learn not to exceed what is written, so that no one of you will become arrogant in behalf of one against the other.

I commend you on a good question and I like the debate but bottom line is you have the freedom as a catholic to believe as you wish, but we protestants also have that right frankly I will continue to believe that the Bible is God's final word for us on life.

Answer 3

If you back up a bit and examine it, you will find the bible to be very accurate in it's descriptions of people's lifestyles. Changing, but not changing according to each person's needs. An answer for every question. And yet a library for many.
Yes a library. You cannot read the bible as a novel......the books are not arranged in sequence.
Now another look and you will find that the bible is cross referenced. Nothing else as written over many centuries is written like it. Thus showing it to be divinely inspired.

Answer 4

No. A better source would be the Spirit of Truth, the Advocate (John 16:12-13). The Bible was written by inspired writers. It must also be read by inspired readers, especially now when just about every sect is publishing its own opinionated version.

Answer 5

This question is difficult to answer without defining terms.

Fundamentalists, and many evangelicals, would say that a "source" of doctrine will directly and explicitly state all the doctrine we need. That is to say, if that "source" doesn't say it outright, then don't believe it.

Lutherans would say that a "source" of doctrine provides the foundation--the body of knowledge of the revelation that was given to us both face-to-face by Jesus Himself and through the witness of the prophets and of the founders of the Church. By this understanding, doctrine is developed, defined, and clarified, through the traditions of the Church, with the "source" as the sole basis.

So my answer would be "yes" if, and only if, you mean "source" in the Lutheran sense. If you meant it in the Fundamentalist sense, then my answer would be "no."

Answer 6

I think so, but then homo-sapiens got hold of what was given to Moses and changed the meanings to suit themselves in the name of God. Jesus tried to change their attitude with his parables but they didn't like his interference and had him killed.

That is why there are so many different Bibles, Scriptures and Codex's and I am not going to guess how many more bits and peaces that may have lasted somewhere hidden from society that will come to light in the future.

We must remember that religious artifacts are worth fortunes on the antiquities markets around the world and known greed as well as I know it then those bits and peaces will surface sometime in the future.

Answer 7

In the bible God states in II Timothy 3:16-17: "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 perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works."

It is clear that it says thoroughly furnished, so there is no need for any other book.

Answer 8

I think there is a reason we have the holy spirit. It is to continue our education. The bible itself helps us on the journey but it is just like reading a book on how to make pottery.

It is with experience and wisdom can you truly create wonderful art. You got started by reading the book but got really good by putting it into practice and by experimenting with inspiration.

Answer 9

Yes He did. The Bible states in two seperate places, which makes it Church Doctrine, that we are not to add to or take away form what is written in His Book. Everything that we need for Salvation is written in those pages. If we are not saved by how it is written by God, then it is man-made and not of God.

Answer 10

Jesus did not write the book of revelations.

Someone named John did.

Love and blessings Don