JUST FOR my fellow CATHOLICS - Sola Scriptura PROVED?

Just for Catholics is a website where Dr. Mizzi seeks to convince Catholics to leave the Catholic Church.  I am reviewing his teachings and comparing them to the Word of God in Tradition, Scripture and Magisterium.  We are currently on this article.  His words in blue.

Sola Scriptura Proved

Question: Where does the Bible say that our beliefs should be based on the teaching of the Bible? 'Bible only' is plainly unbiblical.

Answer: Every disciple of Christ is obedient to the Lord and is committed to believe and obey His Word. The Christian will not permit any man or creature to usurp the throne of his Lord. Moreover, every Christian believes that the Bible is the Word of God. He is therefore committed to its teachings, commands and instructions.

So far so good.  I don't see anything in that little introduction with which a Catholic  should have trouble.

You may respond, 'Yes, the Christian should be obedient to the Bible. But why insist on the Biblealone as his ultimate authority?'

Wow!  He read my mind.

To answer, let me ask some questions myself. What would you add to the Bible?

Nothing.  The Catholic Church adds nothing to Scripture.  It is Protestants who have both added to and taken from Scripture in the past.

'Sola Scriptura' is not whether the Bible is the infallible Word of God or not (we all agree that it is). The question is whether the Bible is the only infallible rule of faith or not; whether we should add something else of equal authority along with the Bible.

Actually, the question I seek to answer is whether Scripture says that the Bible is the only infallible rule of faith.  

I think this idea of Sola Scriptura is going to be hard to prove from Scripture, since Scripture has already added something of equal authority along with the Bible:

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.

The peculiar thing in this verse, is that Scripture is categorized as one of the TRADITIONS.  Which, technically, it is.

Well then, would you add human reason and philosophy, as the liberals do? No, because the word of man could never be equal to the word of God. 'Every word of God is pure; He is a shield to those who put their trust in Him. Do not add to His words, Lest He rebuke you, and you be found a liar' (Proverbs 30:5).

Absolutely true.  We add nothing to God's word.

 What then, would you add to the written Word of God? 

Nothing.  That is the Catholic answer.

Let us consider three possibilities:

Just as long as it is understood that it is Dr. Mizzi considering three possibilities.

1. New revelations

Can we add new revelations? No, because God's revelation is complete. There was a time when God was giving new revelations as He was unfolding the plan of salvation. Indeed there was a time when there was no written Scriptures and God spoke audibly to people like Adam, Noah and Abraham. There was a time when God's Word came in the form of prophetic and apostolic speech as well as the written form. God's revelation reached its climax in Christ, who is the image of the invisible God. During the apostolic era, the Christian faith was delivered in full to the church, as Jude tells us. Christians should 'should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints' (Jude 3). It is therefore wrong to seek new revelations seeing that the Bible declares that the Christian faith is already delivered to us. 

Agreed.  That is Catholic Teaching:

There will be no further Revelation

66 "The Christian economy, therefore, since it is the new and definitive Covenant, will never pass away; and no new public revelation is to be expected before the glorious manifestation of our Lord Jesus Christ."²⁸ Yet even if Revelation is already complete, it has not been made completely explicit; it remains for Christian faith gradually to grasp its full significance over the course of the centuries.

2. Tradition

What about tradition? Did God give a body of truth, different and apart from teaching of the Bible, which was transmitted intact through the centuries in an oral, unwritten form? Definitely not!

I broke in here because this is a "straw man" which Protestants frequently use in their arguments against the Catholic Church.

First, the Church does not teach that there exists an oral tradition which teaches anything but that which is contained in the Bible.  There are at least two reasons for this:

a.  The New Testament was written from the Traditions of Jesus Christ.

What do I mean by "from the Traditions"?  The New Testament was written with a certain cultural point of view.  The authors of the New Testament took many things for granted.  For instance, when we read the words, "washing of regeneration" in Scripture, there is no definition provided.  We can assume many things from the context.  But we find the definition of the phrase in the writings of the Fathers. 

b.  The New Testament records those Traditions.

The Traditions which Jesus taught are recorded in the New Testament either explicitly or implied.

We can compare the church with the Old Testament people of God, Israel. From the prophet Malachi to John the baptist, God did not give them new revelations. The Jews were responsible to obey the Word of God preserved in the Holy Scriptures, and nothing else. 


That's not true.  The Jews, in addition to the Scriptures, had a Tradition of Teaching Authority, very similar to the Catholic Church.  We can trace this Jewish Teaching Authority back in Scripture.  We see here, that Moses taught the people 

Exodus 18:13-16

King James Version (KJV)

 ¹³And it came to pass on the morrow, that Moses sat to judge the people: and the people stood by Moses from the morning unto the evening.

 ¹⁴And when Moses' father in law saw all that he did to the people, he said, What is this thing that thou doest to the people? why sittest thou thyself alone, and all the people stand by thee from morning unto even?

 ¹⁵And Moses said unto his father in law, Because the people come unto me to enquire of God: 

¹⁶When they have a matter, they come unto me; and I judge between one and another, and I do make them know the statutes of God, and his laws.


Notice that he had not only the authority to teach the will of God but the authority to judge between the people.  Later, this authority was passed on to Aaron and the Levites (Deuteronomy 33:8-11) as well as the judges (Exodus 18:25) and elders (Numbers 11:25) which Moses appointed.


The Catholic Church calls this the Magisterium and we can similarly trace this back in the Bible:

Matthew 18:15-18

King James Version (KJV)

 ¹⁵Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother.
 ¹⁶But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.
 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.
 ¹⁸Verily I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.

Matthew 28:19-20

King James Version (KJV)

 ¹⁹Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:

 ²⁰Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

Jesus Christ appointed St. Peter as head of the Church (Matthew 16:18), the 12 Apostles (Luke 6:13) and the 70 (Luke 10:1).

In addition to Scripture and the Teaching Authority, the Jews also recognized Tradition (Galatians 1:14).

So it isn't true that the Jews preserved Scripture and nothing else.


During His earthly ministry, the Lord Jesus did not expect the Jews to believe some extra-scriptural doctrine which was supposedly transmitted from the prophets of old by word of mouth. Jesus often appealed to the Scriptures - 'It is written' - but He never appealed to tradition as if it carried equal authority (see below). 


Actually, He did.  But, Dr. Mizzi is reading his own presuppositions into Scripture here.


First, we know that Moses sat down to teach the people from Scripture.  And we know that he established a group of judges to do the same.  What we do not know, because it is not mentioned in Scripture, is that this tradition continued to the time of Christ:

Matthew 23:1-3

King James Version (KJV)

 ¹Then spake Jesus to the multitude, and to his disciples,

 ²Saying The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses' seat:

 ³All therefore whatsoever they bid you observe, that observe and do; but do not ye after their works: for they say, and do not.

Note how Jesus confirms that this was a valid office and authoritative.


In addition, Jesus alludes to a proverb which can't be found in the Old Testament:

Luke 4:23

King James Version (KJV)

²³And he said unto them, Ye will surely say unto me this proverb, Physician, heal thyself: whatsoever we have heard done in Capernaum, do also here in thy country.

Many proverbs are to be found in the Scriptures, but not this one.  Yet Jesus assumes they have heard it.


And besides Jesus saying, "it is written", He also said, "you have heard":

Matthew 5:38

King James Version (KJV)

 ³⁸Ye have heard that it hath been said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth:

Although this saying is in Scripture, Tradition normally contains exactly the same thing as Scripture.  Scripture is simply the written form of Tradition.  

And finally, Jesus Christ established His own Traditions.  He didn't write a letter of Scripture.  Yet He expected His Church to follow His oral Teachings.

Mark 13:31

King James Version (KJV)

 ³¹Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my words shall not pass away.

Matthew 7:24-25

King James Version (KJV)

 ²⁴Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock:

 ²⁵And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock.

On the contrary, He rebuked the Jews for adding traditions which in effect undermined the plain teaching of the Scriptures: 'Making the word of God of none effect through your tradition' (please read Mark 7). 


Again, Dr. Mizzi is reading his presuppositions into Scripture.  The Jews did not restrict the Word of God to Scripture alone.  As has been shown, Moses taught the Jews the will of God, before one word of God was ever written in Scripture.


Sadly, history repeats itself. Christians today should obey the Word of God preserved in the completed Scriptures, but they often go beyond what is written.


In this he is correct.  But it isn't the Catholic Church which goes beyond that which is written.  It is Protestants.  A perfect example is this doctrine of Scripture alone, which we are discussing right now.  Another is the doctrine of faith alone, which contradicts the Scripture of God:

James 2:24

King James Version (KJV)

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

Because of tradition, the Catholic church now has graven images, 


These Traditions can all be traced to Scripture.  Graven images are not forbidden.  God Himself ordered Moses to make to golden cherubim (Exodus 25:18) and a bronze serpent (Numbers 21:8).


obligatory fasting, 


Jesus said, "they shall fast" (Mark 2:20).


relics, 


Elisha's bones bring a man to life (2 Kings 13:21) and St. Paul's napkins cure the sick (Acts 19:12).


indulgences, 


The treasury of merits is the basis for this doctrine (Matthew 6:20).


celibate ministry, 


Is recommended by St. Paul (1 Corinthians 7:32).


the sacrifice of the mass, 


Christ our Passover is sacrificed, let us keep the feast (1 Corinthians 5:7).


the confessional, 


The confessional is simply a place for confessions.  Christ gave His Church the authority to remit and retain sins (John 20:23).


purgatory 


What is this place where the righteous dead are punished before going to heaven (1 Corinthians 3:15).  The Catholic Church calls it Purgatory.


and so on, all of which are absent from the Bible and indeed contradict the plain teachings of Scripture.

On the contrary, it is Dr. Mizzi's teaching which contradicts the teaching of Scripture.  The Catholic Traditions are perfectly in line with Scripture.




3. Bishops

Finally, can we place the teaching authority of the church on the same plane with the Bible? Certainly we should listen to and respect Christian teachers. Pastors (also know as bishops and elders) are God's gift to His church. They are appointed by God to teach and lead the churches, and Christians are commanded to submit to them. 


Very good.  This is a teaching from Scripture and Tradition.  Scripture says it here:

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.


Now, I wonder how Dr. Mizzi will explain how the Reformers could violate this doctrine without violating the will of God?  Because the Reformers did not submit or obey the leaders which God has appointed in the Church.

The leaders' responsibility is to study and teach God's Word as it is, without additions or change. They should study the Word carefully for they are liable to make mistakes (2 Timothy 2:15). And since they are not infallible, the apostle Paul advises us to 'test all things; hold fast what is good' (1 Thessalonians 5:21), while James warns us: 'My brethren, let not many of you become teachers, knowing that we shall receive a stricter judgment. For we all stumble in many things' (James 3:1).

It is true that individual teachers are not infallible.  But Scripture says that the Church will always uphold the truth and is thus infallible:

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.


And that Peter, the Rock upon which the Church is founded, is infallible:

Matthew 16:17-19

King James Version (KJV)

 ¹⁷And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven.
 ¹⁸And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.
 ¹⁹And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.

In short, since the Bible is the Word of God, there is nothing of equal authority.


I hope I have proven to you by now that Scripture does not make this statement.  To the contrary, Scripture repeatedly says that oral teaching is the Word of God:

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.

Hence the Christian's commitment is to the Bible alone as the ultimate and absolute authority. 


As Catholics, we are committed to the Word of God, in Tradition, Scripture and Magisterium.


Christ rejected tradition as an additional channel of revelation. 


On the contrary, Christian Tradition is entirely based on the revelation of Jesus Christ.  None of which He passed down in Scripture.  Jesus did not write a word of Scripture.


Christ showed that the religious teachers were fallible  - and how! 


But not all religious teachers.  Otherwise, He would have condemned Himself.  And it is His Traditions which He passed down, therefore His Traditions are infallible.  And He passed them down through His Church and He declared His Church infallible.


Christ had absolute confidence in the Scriptures as the Word of God. 


So do we.  But we don't have absolute confidence in people, like Dr. Mizzi, to interpret Scripture correctly.


I am His disciple and I share His convictions. That is why I believe in sola Scriptura.

I won't deny that Dr. Mizzi is a disciple of Jesus Christ.  I simply deny that he has learned the lessons which Jesus Christ taught.  


The Bible reveals an infinite God who is perfect in holiness, love, wisdom and in all His attributes. The Bible teaches us how He created the world and how He rules all things by His wise providence. His Law reveals our sinfulness, and warns us about Hell and the wrath to come. Thankfully, the Bible also has a good message of hope. God sent His Son who gave Himself as a ransom for many. He overcame death and He is now alive forevermore. The Bible calls us to repentance and faith in Christ for our salvation, and guides us by its precepts along the way of our pilgrimage. The Bible gives us precious promises, especially of His protection and His coming again to take us home.


But not the Bible alone.  I learned all those things from my parents and from the Church long before I learned to read.  Didn't you?

God's children are satisfied with the message of the God-breathed Scriptures because we are satisfied with the Saviour revealed therein.


True. The Saviour who left behind SACRED TRADITIONS.   

---

"It is written!" - Jesus' absolute confidence in the divine authority of the Scriptures:


And, "ye have heard", Jesus preached both Tradition and Scripture.


Matthew 5:27Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery:


Matthew 5:33
Again, ye have heard that it hath been said by them of old time, Thou shalt not forswear thyself, but shalt perform unto the Lord thine oaths:


Matthew 5:38
Ye have heard that it hath been said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth:


Matthew 5:43
Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy.

Matthew 13:17
For verily I say unto you, That many prophets and righteous men have desired to see those things which ye see, and have not seen them; and to hear those things which ye hear, and have not heard them.

The remainder of Mizzi's article follows.  Its just a listing of verses which say, "It is written".  They really prove that Jesus was orally passing down that which is written.  Something which the Magisterium continues to do today.

1. Matthew 4:4 But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.
2. Matthew 4:7 Jesus said unto him, It is written again, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God.
3. Matthew 4:10 Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.
4. Matthew 21:13 And said unto them, It is written, My house shall be called the house of prayer; but ye have made it a den of thieves.
5. Matthew 26:24 The Son of man goeth as it is written of him: but woe unto that man by whom the Son of man is betrayed! it had been good for that man if he had not been born.
6. Matthew 26:31 Then saith Jesus unto them, All ye shall be offended because of me this night: for it is written, I will smite the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock shall be scattered abroad.
7. Mark 7:6 He answered and said unto them, Well hath Esaias prophesied of you hypocrites, as it is written, This people honoureth me with their lips, but their heart is far from me.
8. Mark 9:12 And he answered and told them, Elias verily cometh first, and restoreth all things; and how it is written of the Son of man, that he must suffer many things, and be set at nought.
9. Mark 9:13 But I say unto you, That Elias is indeed come, and they have done unto him whatsoever they listed, as it is written of him.
10. Mark 11:17 And he taught, saying unto them, Is it not written, My house shall be called of all nations the house of prayer? but ye have made it a den of thieves.
11. Mark 14:21 The Son of man indeed goeth, as it is written of him: but woe to that man by whom the Son of man is betrayed! good were it for that man if he had never been born.
12. Mark 14:27 And Jesus saith unto them, All ye shall be offended because of me this night: for it is written, I will smite the shepherd, and the sheep shall be scattered.
13. Luke 3:4 As it is written in the book of the words of Esaias the prophet, saying, The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.
14. Luke 4:4 And Jesus answered him, saying, It is written, That man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God.
15. Luke 4:8 And Jesus answered and said unto him, Get thee behind me, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.
16. Luke 4:10 For it is written, He shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee:
17. Luke 7:27 This is he, of whom it is written, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee.
18. Luke 19:46 Saying unto them, It is written, My house is the house of prayer: but ye have made it a den of thieves.
19. Luke 24:46 And said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day:
20. John 6:45 It is written in the prophets, And they shall be all taught of God. Every man therefore that hath heard, and hath learned of the Father, cometh unto me.
21. John 8:17 It is also written in your law, that the testimony of two men is true.
22. John 10:34 Jesus answered them, Is it not written in your law, I said, Ye are gods?

I hope I have been able to convince you that the Scriptures do not teach Sola Scriptura, but they teach us to keep Tradition and Scripture according to the Teaching of the Church.

Let me know if there is anything with which you disagree.

Sincerely,

De Maria