JUST FOR my fellow CATHOLICS - Sola Scriptura

Let us continue to compare the word of Dr. Joe Mizzi with Scripture and Catholic Teaching.

We shall proceed to the question, What is Sola Scriptura?

Mizzi's words, in blue.

What is Sola Scriptura?

Question: What is Sola Scriptura?

Answer: Sola Scriptura (Scripture Alone) is the doctrine that the Holy Bible, being the Word of God, is the only infallible rule of faith and practice for Christians in the post-apostolic age.

The Bible is:

1. The rule (standard, guide) of faith - teaching us what we ought to believe and how to live for the glory of God.
2. The infallible rule - incapable of error, certain, not liable to mislead - because it is the Word of God.
3. The only infallible rule - it contains the whole counsel of God for His people. Christians value religious teachers, but they are fallible (liable to make mistakes). We also value tradition as long as it is consistent with the Scriptures.

Let's stop reading here for a second and compare this lesson to Scripture.  Now, Scripture does say that Scripture is the Word of God and the Bible contains Scripture.  But Scripture also says that the teaching of the Church is the Word of God.  Let me take you there:

Hebrews 13:7

King James Version (KJV)

 ⁷Remember them which have the rule over you, who have spoken unto you the word of God: whose faith follow, considering the end of their conversation.

Now, this teaching, according to Scripture, is to continue indefinitely:

2 Timothy 2

 ¹Thou therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.
 ²And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also.

Therefore the Catholic Church teaches:

80 "Sacred Tradition and Sacred Scripture, then, are bound closely together, and communicate one with the other. For both of them, flowing out from the same divine well-spring, come together in some fashion to form one thing, and move towards the same goal." Each of them makes present and fruitful in the Church the mystery of Christ, who promised to remain with his own "always, to the close of the age".

81 "Sacred Scripture is the speech of God as it is put down in writing under the breath of the Holy Spirit."⁴²
"And [Holy] Tradition transmits in its entirety the Word of God which has been entrusted to the apostles by Christ the Lord and the Holy Spirit. It transmits it to the successors of the apostles so that, enlightened by the Spirit of truth, they may faithfully preserve, expound and spread it abroad by their preaching."⁴³

So, then, it seems to me that the Catholic Church follows more closely the teaching of Scripture.  Let's proceed.

Christians have full confidence in the Holy Scriptures because they are "given by inspiration" or "God-breathed" - the very Word proceeding from the mouth of God. What "The Scriptures say" and what "God says" are the same thing. That is what Jesus believed.

Jesus answered and said to them, “You are mistaken, not knowing the Scriptures nor the power of God. “For in the resurrection they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are like angels of God in heaven. “But concerning the resurrection of the dead, have you not read what was spoken to you by God, saying, ‘I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob’? God is not the God of the dead, but of the living.” (Matthew 22:29-32).

What is read in the Scriptures is God speaking to us! Therefore the Scriptures are the infallible rule of faith since God can neither lie nor err. 'The entirety of Your word is truth, And every one of Your righteous judgments endures forever' (Psalm 119:160). The teaching of the Bible is free from error and we can have absolute confidence in it.

There's a beautiful picture being painted here.  But one which is not based upon reality.  A simple question to ask Dr. Mizzi would be, "how about the New World Translation Bible, is it the Word of God also?"

You see, the Jehovah Witnesses interpreted the original manuscripts of Scripture according to the doctrines they wanted to promote.  Neither Catholics nor Protestants accept the New World Translation as a true reading of the Word of God.

So, that leads to a problem which Dr. Mizzi's explanation omits.  Who decides which is the true Bible?

Historically, we can trace the Bible back to the Catholic Church.  It is the entity which put the Bible together back in the 4th Century.  

So it is that Christ established an authoritative entity which could determine whether the Scriptures were being interpreted correctly.  The Bible can't stop anyone from making a mistake or from intentionally twisting the Word of God.  So, the Bible warns us:

2 Peter 3:16

King James Version (KJV)

 ¹⁶As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction.


And so the Bible recommends:

Acts 8:31

King James Version (KJV)

 ³¹And he said, How can I, except some man should guide me? And he desired Philip that he would come up and sit with him.


And the men whom Christ appointed over the Church are they who should guide us:

2 Peter 1:19

King James Version (KJV)

 ¹⁹We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts:


Because God has made them responsible for our souls:

Hebrews 13:17

King James Version (KJV)

 ¹⁷Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you.

And given them the charism of infallibility;

1 Timothy 3:15

King James Version (KJV)

 ¹⁵But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.


Let us proceed.

Moreover, sola Scriptura affirms that all that the Church and every Christian must believe for salvation and godliness is certainly found in the Holy Scriptures. 

The Catholic Church teaches that Scripture is the Word of God and all of Christ's doctrines are within It found, either implied or explicit.

It sounds as though we're saying the same thing, but we're not.  Christ only taught Traditions.  He did not write any Scripture.  So, Christ would not deny the validity of His own Traditions.  

In fact, the New Testament was written from Christ's Traditions.  So to deny the validity of the Traditions is to deny the validity of the Scriptures from which they were written.

The Bible is able to make us wise for salvation which is by faith in Christ Jesus (2 Timothy 3:15,16). 

True.  But this verse is frequently taken out of context.  The Bible is able to make you wise, if you interpret it correctly.  That's a big IF, as Scripture attests:

John 5:38-40

King James Version (KJV)

 ³⁸And ye have not his word abiding in you: for whom he hath sent, him ye believe not.
 ³⁹Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.
 ⁴⁰And ye will not come to me, that ye might have life.


You see, the Old Testament Scriptures testify to Christ.  Yet the Jews could not find Him therein.


Therefore, the Bible attests that some people misunderstand Scripture.


Christ foresaw this dilemma and established a Church, the Pillar and Foundation of Truth (1 Tim 3:15), which could address these problems.


Let's get back to Mizzi's lesson.

The Bible is also useful for teaching and correction so that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly furnished for every good work. 

Sorry to break in so quickly.  This verse comes from the book of 2 Timothy and Protestants frequently use it to support Sola Scriptura.  But in order to do so, they have to twist Scripture severely.  For brevity's sake, here's a study of the book of 2 Timothy to which you can refer.  Suffice to say at this point, that the verse says, The Bible is also useful for teaching and correction which describes  precisely the Catholic doctrine of Magisterium, the Teaching Church.

God's revelation for His Church is fully contained in the Holy Bible and there is no important information missing that we should seek elsewhere.

That sounds really nice.  But the fact is, even with everyday subjects, like cooking a recipe or assembling a toy, we need to have more than a written lesson.  

The Catholic Church not only explains the Scriptures, but She provides a witness and a model of the Scriptures throughout the centuries.  Example:  The Scriptures don't say precisely how to baptize.  Some Bible Churches baptize according to the formula, in the name of Christ.  Some in the name of the Trinity.  But the Catholic Church has always baptized in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.  If we follow the Traditions of the Church, many of our Bible questions will be answered.

And we can confirm these answers by the witness of the Early Christians:

The Didache

After the foregoing instructions, baptize in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, in living [running] water. If you have no living water, then baptize in other water, and if you are not able in cold, then in warm. If you have neither, pour water three times on the head, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Before baptism, let the one baptizing and the one to be baptized fast, as also any others who are able. Command the one who is to be baptized to fast beforehand for one or two days (Didache 7:1 [ca.A.D. 70]).

Having indicated what sola Scriptura is, we must also discuss what it is not. Sola Scriptura is often misunderstood and misrepresented. I am dismayed and angered whenever I read Catholic literature on this subject because more often then not they are attacking a straw man.

I'm often accused of this by Protestants.  But the fact is, they have never defined Sola Scriptura in a manner that is universally accepted by Protestants.  I have finally learned to ask each Protestant for his definition of Sola Scriptura.  Then, if they do so, I ask them to trace that definition to Scripture.

I was surprised, in a recent discussion, one Protestant, Peace by Jesus, commented that Sola Scriptura was only implied in Scripture.  Which makes one wonder why they require all Catholic doctrines to be explicit in Scripture?

We'll have to break this next one down carefully, because there are many loaded presuppositions in the various points.

1. Sola Scriptura is not a claim that the Bible contains all knowledge.

I've never heard any Catholic make this claim.  So, this really amounts to a "straw man" argument.

In doctrinal discussions between Catholics and Protestants, what frequently happens is that a Catholic will mention say, Purgatory.  The classic Protestant objection is, "Where is the word purgatory in the Bible?"  And of course, its not there.  So, Catholics will reply, "It's not there."  And the Protestant will retort, "If its not in the Bible, it isn't true."  Which of course, isn't true.  It is in the Bible, but not by the name "Purgatory".

But my point is, however, it is Sola Scripturists who claim that all doctrines must be in the Bible or they aren't true.  Not Catholics.

 The Bible does not give exhaustive details on the history of redemption. John 21:25 says that not all that Jesus did is recorded in the book; all the books of the world would not be enough for that purpose. 

This little portion is in agreement with Catholic Teaching. 

But the Bible does not have to be exhaustive to function as the sole rule of faith for the church. 

As mentioned before, it is Protestants who act as though it should be.  Not Catholics, because we don't believe it is the SOLE rule of faith in the first place.  Scripture says:

2 Thessalonians 2:15

King James Version (KJV)

 ¹⁵Therefore, brethren, stand fast, and hold the traditions which ye have been taught, whether by word, or our epistle.


And also:

Matthew 18:17

King James Version (KJV)

 ¹⁷And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church: but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a publican.


So, the Scriptures testify to three rules of faith.  Tradition, Scripture and the Church.

We need 'enough' knowledge not 'exhaustive' knowledge. Sometimes Catholic apologists argue for the need of tradition, saying that Bible does not record everything. Apparently they do not realize that tradition is not exhaustive either! Does tradition give us all possible information about the life of Christ, and all that He said, and all the apostles did and said? Of course not! In fact, we would respectfully challenge our Catholic friends to give us one statement that Jesus said that comes to us by tradition and not from the Holy Scripture.

Here's another loaded statement.  Jesus Christ did not elaborate on all His doctrines.  He didn't, for instance, coin the word, Trinity.  This word, comes to us by Tradition.  It is infallible and the Protestants use it with gusto.

But they neglect to thank the Catholic Church for providing it.  In fact, they denounce the Tradition from which that word came to them, vehemently.

2. Sola Scriptura is not a denial of the church's authority to teach God's revelation. 

It is, in fact.  Sola Scriptura, as I mentioned, does not have a definition universally accepted by Protestants.  But, based upon this doctrine, most Protestants have set aside the authority of the Church and become their own authorities.  

The Church is 'the pillar and foundation of the truth' (I Timothy 3:15) because it upholds and teaches the Word of God. However the church cannot add doctrines of human origin or contradict the God-breathed Scriptures. 

That is absolutely true.  And the purpose of this blog is to show that it is Protestants' who have created doctrines which contradict Scripture.  Sola Scriptura, as I have shown, contradicts the doctrine of Tradition, Scripture and Magisterium which is taught in Scripture.

And salvation by faith alone, directly contradicts Scripture:

James 2:24

King James Version (KJV)

 ²⁴Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only.

The church's authority is subordinate to the authority of the Bible. 

This is Catholic Teaching:

86 "Yet this Magisterium is not superior to the Word of God, but is its servant. It teaches only what has been handed on to it. At the divine command and with the help of the Holy Spirit, it listens to this devotedly, guards it with dedication and expounds it faithfully. All that it proposes for belief as being divinely revealed is drawn from this single deposit of faith."

Moreover, the church is commissioned to preach the Word orally, and to transmit the Christian Gospel from one generation to the next. The most enthusiastic proponents of sola Scripturado so eagerly and do their best to make sure that their preaching is consistent with the written Word of God. 

They attempt to do so, but since they can't do it infallibly, they mostly mess up the Gospel.  For one thing, they give a terrible witness of contradicting doctrines to non-Christians.  And certainly contradict the Word of God in so doing:

Philippians 1:27

King James Version (KJV)

 ²⁷Only let your conversation be as it becometh the gospel of Christ: that whether I come and see you, or else be absent, I may hear of your affairs, that ye stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel;


For another, they cause division and strife wherever they go:

Romans 16:17

King James Version (KJV)

 ¹⁷Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them.

3.  Sola Scriptura is not a denial that historically God's Word came in other ways other than the written form. Before writing down His message, God spoke through the apostles and prophets, and personally in Christ Jesus, His Son. During the same time the Holy Spirit moved holy men to write down His Word to be the permanent inspired record of His message for the post-apostolic age till the end. The apostles and prophets are the foundation of the church (Ephesians 2:20) and though they are absent, we can still build our lives on their teaching which is recorded infallibly in the Holy Scriptures.

Amen!  The only thing I would add is that it is recorded infallibly in the Scripture and passed down infallibly by the Church in Her Teachings and Traditions.

4. Sola Scriptura does not imply that the Bible will always be interpreted correctly, or that there will not be differences and heresies among Christians. Jesus was clear enough in His teaching, yet His disciples often misunderstood Him. The apostles' message was also perfectly intelligible, and yet all sorts of errors and heresies crept in the early church. Similarly, the Bible is not written in a mysterious and cryptic code that needs some infallible decoder to explain its hidden meaning. 

Huh?  That is called a "non sequitur".  The concluding idea does not follow the preceding logic.

Note that this argument confirms that even Jesus, who taught infallibly, was misunderstood.  JESUS IS THE INFALLIBLE DECODER.  Therefore, the conclusion should be that there is a great need for infallible decoding.  Since fallible decoding would make the problem even worse than it is today.

And this is confirmed by history.  Look at the Catholic Church, one, holy, Catholic and Apostolic for 2000 years.  Look at the Protestants.  Which ones?  Exactly!  They have split exponentially since the 1500's and there is no telling how many thousand denominations exist today. 

So, yes, it is evident that the Infallible Interpreter is necessary for the interpreting of the infallible Word of God in Scripture and Tradition.

The Bible is addressed to the ordinary people of God and it can be understood.

What does Scripture say?  I've posted this above, but it bears repeating:

2 Peter 3:16

King James Version (KJV)

 ¹⁶As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction.


Scripture says that some things in Scripture are hard to understand.

The problem lies not with the clarity of the Bible, but with people who often ignore the Bible or twist the its meaning because of laziness, ignorance and prejudice.

There are a great many well meaning people, such Dr. Mizzi himself, who misunderstand Scripture.

'What is the infallible rule of faith?' remains the a major dividing issue between Catholics and Protestants. And rightly so. We are building on different foundations.

No.  The question is worded wrongly.  If a Catholic were asked that question, he would respond, "The Word of God".  But to a Catholic that means, "The Word of God in Tradition, Scripture and Magisterial Teaching."

The question which divides relates to authority.  To reword the question, "What is the ONLY infallible rule of faith?"  At which point, the Catholic would respond, "there are three".  One immediate, two proximate.

The matter which divides is authority.  Regardless of the pretty picture which is painted by Dr. Mizzi, the Protestant's motto is, "me and my Bible".  They deny Church authority.

The Roman Catholic answers something like this, 'God's Word is found in the Bible and in Tradition. 

Correct.

But you can't understand the Bible correctly. 

False.  The Church teaches that we can understand the Bible correctly, if we stick to some basic rules or are guided by a proper teacher:

The Second Vatican Council indicates three criteria for interpreting Scripture in accordance with the Spirit who inspired it.⁷⁸
112 1. Be especially attentive "to the content and unity of the whole Scripture". Different as the books which compose it may be, Scripture is a unity by reason of the unity of God's plan, of which Christ Jesus is the center and heart, open since his Passover.⁷⁹ 

The phrase "heart of Christ" can refer to Sacred Scripture, which makes known his heart, closed before the Passion, as the Scripture was obscure. But the Scripture has been opened since the Passion; since those who from then on have understood it, consider and discern in what way the prophecies must be interpreted.⁸⁰

113 2. Read the Scripture within "the living Tradition of the whole Church". According to a saying of the Fathers, Sacred Scripture is written principally in the Church's heart rather than in documents and records, for the Church carries in her Tradition the living memorial of God's Word, and it is the Holy Spirit who gives her the spiritual interpretation of the Scripture (". . . according to the spiritual meaning which the Spirit grants to the Church"⁸¹).
114 3. Be attentive to the analogy of faith.⁸² By "analogy of faith" we mean the coherence of the truths of faith among themselves and within the whole plan of Revelation.

As for Tradition, no one knows exactly what it contains. 

Actually, we do.  It contains the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  And a summary of the Teaching of the Church concerning the Gospel of Jesus Christ is contained in the Catechism of the Catholic Church.

The difference between the Catholic Church and the Protestants is confusion.  There is no confusion in the Catholic Church.  Whereas, some Protestants deny they teach any traditions.  Some know that they do.  And those who know that they teach traditions have also not written a comprehensive list of all their traditions, except for their catechisms.  For instance, Dr. Mizzi.

Therefore you must submit without reservations to the Pope and the bishops of the Roman church. 

I think Dr. Mizzi expects his readers to react in horror to this statement.  But 

Scripture says:

Hebrews 13:17

King James Version (KJV)

 ¹⁷Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you.


So, that sounds as though the Catholic Church is more in line with Scripture than is Dr. Mizzi.  

The teaching of the Catholic magisterium is the infallible rule of faith.'

There are three infallible rules of faith.  The Magisterium is just one of them.

An Evangelical answers differently, 'The Holy Scriptures are able to make us wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that God's people may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.'

All that is Catholic Teaching.  That is the verse from 2 Tim which I said is frequently taken out of context by Protestants.  In fact, the verse stresses the teaching of the man of God.  Notice what it says.

All (not only) Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable (not necessary) for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, (doctrine, reproof, correction and instruction are all attributes of TEACHING.)

Therefore, this verse supports the Catholic doctrine of Tradition, Scripture and Magisterium.

Anyway, let me know your thoughts.

By the way, I intend to go systematically through his website.  But if there is anything you would prefer I look into for you first, let me know.

Sincerely,

De Maria