What is the basis for the Bible being the only source of Christian teaching?

Question

Hello,

I am Catholic and was having a discussion with a good friend of my who is a born-again Christian evangelical. He kept insisting that the Bible -- and only the Bible -- is the sole source of Christian teaching. However, in the Catholic Church we also recognize that Tradition plays a central role in Christian teaching; St. Paul himself wrote, "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 Thess. 2:15]"

Additionally, it seems odd to contend that the Bible alone can be used for the transmission of Christian teaching -- after all, the first several generations of the Early Church did not have a Bible; they had to rely primarily on the oral traditions handed down to them by their predecessors.

I'm curious to know other people's thoughts, especially those like my friend who contend that the Bible is the sole source of teaching.

Have a Merry Christmas!

John E: Thank you for your response. I would like to clarify, however, that Catholics do not "pray to the saints as mediators," which, as you point out, Paul forbids in 1 Tim 2:5. Instead, Catholics ask the saints to act as "intercessors," -- that is, as advocates before Christ and the Father, as well as models of holiness to be replicated. There is essentially no difference in asking a Saint to intercede for you as there is in asking one of your friends to pray for you or changing your behaviors to mirror those of someone who you highly respect for their holiness.

I bring that up only because I think it is one of the most misunderstood aspects of Catholicism -- misunderstood by both Catholics and non-Catholics alike!

Answer 1

Evangelicals believe that the 12 apostle's conscent is necessary to say anything written by man is true doctrine. For example, Paul's writtings are confirmed by Peter to be of truth [2 Peter 3:15]...

If there was evidence to support that the traditions of Catholicism [inparticular the praying to other saints[rejected by 1 Timothy 2:5], confessing to priests rather than God, works necessary for salvation (and not proof of..)] were actually laid out by the apostles themselves, then more evangelicals might be apt to adopt the Catholic cannons...

Answer 2

1) Where did Jesus give instructions that the Christian faith should be based exclusively on a book?
2) Other than the specific command to John to pen the Revelation, where did Jesus tell His apostles to write anything down and compile it into an authoritative book?
3) Where in the New Testament do the apostles tell future generations that the Christian faith will be based solely on a book?
4) If the meaning of the Bible is so clear—so easily interpreted—and if the Holy Spirit leads every Christian to interpret it for themselves, then why are there so many different Protestant denominations, and millions of individual Protestants, all interpreting the Bible differently?
5) How did the early Church evangelize and overthrow the Roman Empire, survive and prosper almost 350 years, without knowing for sure which books belong in the canon of Scripture?
6) Who in the Church had the authority to determine which books belonged in the New Testament canon and to make this decision binding on all Christians? If nobody has this authority, then can I remove or add books to the canon on my own authority?
7) Why do Protestant scholars recognize the early Church councils at Hippo and Carthage as the first instances in which the New Testament canon was officially ratified, but ignore the fact that those same councils ratified the Old Testament canon used by the Catholic Church today but abandoned by Protestants at the Reformation?
8) If the early Church believed in sola Scriptura, why do the creeds of the early Church always say “we believe in the Holy Catholic Church,” and not “we believe in Holy Scripture”?
9) The time interval between the Resurrection and the establishment of the New Testament canon in AD 382 is roughly the same as the interval between the arrival of the Mayflower in America and the present day. Therefore, since the early Christians had no defined New Testament for almost four hundred years, how did they practice sola Scriptura?
10) If Christianity is a “book religion,” how did it flourish during the first 1500 years of Church history when the vast majority of people were illiterate?

Answer 3

I am with you. As a member of the Anglican Communion I am pleased to acknowledge my debt to the whole Catholic Church. The sources of Christian teaching are the Bible, Tradition and Experience. But that is not to say that my story is the same as your story,
God bless you.

Comment on Morganie above - Whilst I understand the point you are making I think you would have a hard time justifying the statement that Luke knew Jesus. Scholarly opinion would place the writing of the gospel according to Luke and the Acts of the apostles sometime after the year 70 - i.e roughly 40 years after the death of our Lord.

Answer 4

I'm a firm believer in Biblical teaching. But, tradition does play an important part...to an extent. Christians should teach what's in the Bible, not thier opinions. Sometimes, people get opinions and traditions mixed up, and we have a huge mess to sort out. I believe that if we just teach Jesus, what He said, and the examples He set...everything else will fall into place. Because Jesus also said that the Holy Spirit would teach us as well.
So, I believe a healthy combination of the preached Word and divinley inspired words.
God Bless and Merry Christmas to you too!

Answer 5

"after all, the first several generations of the Early Church did not have a Bible; they had to rely primarily on the oral traditions handed down to them by their predecessors."

These traditions were not necessarily oral - Paul wrote letters to the churches, Revelation is a letter to the churches. The churches saved the letters (which became the bible) and read them aloud in their congregations.

Perhaps oral data about Christ's life and birth etc. were passed along until Luke the Doctor and the Historian (among others) took the time to research the claims and write them down. Luke even makes references to other written collections of data about Jesus's life, ministry, and death.

Now Luke was a contemporary of Jesus - as were Peter, Paul, John, Matthew, Mark etc. there were not years of gaps of oral tradition between the letters and books of the bible bible and Christ.

Answer 6

The first century church did have what we call the Old Testament.

Tradition is fine, as long as it does not contradict scripture - many traditions practiced and observed by the Church are not scriptural.

The Bible is the compilation of books and letters composed by men under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. Therefore, it is more than wise that the Bible be our main source of teaching. This is why God had men write these things down. When things are written down, there is no question of what was said.

Answer 7

Hey Chris,

It all depends. If we are talking doctrine, then yes, the Bible alone. However, if we are to learn about Greek and Hebrew, or early traditions and cultures, then other books will come in real handy.

Remember, it was the Scribes and Pharisees that put tradition and ritual over the Word of God--the Tonakh. I am afraid, in many ways, the Catholic Church has done the same.

Matthew 15:3
Jesus said, “Why do you also transgress the commandment of God because of your tradition?"

Answer 8

I think we know that not all historical events are recorded in the Bible, atho Christ predicted that Romans gods would be in the Jewish temple (abomination of desolation). The Maccabees's' revolt is also not in the Bible. To understand scripture it is important to know something about history.
That said, the Bible is complete in that the way to salvation thru Jesus is taught completely there. We do not need any other source to tell us how to be saved. Any one can learn how to be saved from the Bible, from the simple mind to the profound.

Answer 9

You advise to let us know which you have got here upon yet another?? Boy, i can not wait to work out that. i % a good chortle. GOD Bless YA, Chicago Bob. (Imasinner) Please pray for our united states and Our President (on a daily basis) there is extra exhilaration in JESUS in 24 hours, Than there is in the international in 12 months. I easily have tried them the two.(ME TO) R.A. Torrey.

Answer 10

I mainly use the Bible, but if I come across somethings that I may question or do not understand, I use a concordance and a Bible dictionary, and if it deals with the OT then I look up on the Torah