Sola Scriptura

Sola scriptura (Latin: "by Scripture alone") is the doctrine that all teachings concerning faith and life that are necessary for salvation are taught in the Bible and nowhere else; or, alternatively, it is also called a guiding Lutheran principle that the Bible is the benchmark for all things and through it all things are judged.^[1] It does not mean that everything that is true is addressed in the Bible or that the Bible is written clearly enough for every believer to find and understand all that is contained therein equally as well as every other believer.

Pillar of the Protestant Reformation[edit]

The doctrinal principle of sola scriptura was a pillar of the Protestant Reformation, which rejected Roman Catholicism's claim that Tradition has as much authority within the Church as the Bible. The view is strongest among Evangelical and fundamentalist Christian denominations, and also to a great extent among Pentecostal denominations.

The Authority of Scripture[edit]

A Sola Scriptura topical Bible Study

Scripture interprets scripture. The context of the whole Bible taken together. 2 Timothy 3:12–4:5

See the following sequence of passages in order which speak directly of authority in the Bible:
John 8:47;
John 5:39-40;
John 7:16-17;
John 10:34-38;
John 13:20;
John 20:21-23
Matthew 16:17-19;
Matthew 18:15-18;
Matthew 28:18-29;
Luke 24:45;
Ephesians 3:7-10 — compare multiple versions of Ephesians 3:10;
1 Timothy 3:14-15;
Ephesians 2:19-22;
1 Peter 2:4-9;
1 Corinthians 12:4-28;
John 13:20;
2 Corinthians 5:18-20;
Hebrews 13:17
— compare Matthew 23:1-3; 1 Samuel 26:9-10; 2 Samuel 1:14-16; Acts 5:35 and 38-39; 1 Corinthians 3:16-18
Titus 2:15–3:1;
1 Timothy 4:11-16;
Romans 13:1-3;
1 Peter 2:13-17;
Titus 3:9-11;
John 15:1-11;
Acts 20:28-30;
1 John 2:18-20;
2 John 8-11;
2 Peter 1:20–2:3;
2 Peter 3:15-18;
2 Thessalonians 2:15;
2 Thessalonians 3:6;
2 Thessalonians 3:15;
Acts 18:24-26;
James 5:19-20;
1 Corinthians 11:2 — compare multiple versions of 1 Corinthians 11:2;
Matthew 22:29;
John 8:47;
1 Corinthians 15:34;
Galatians 1:6-9;
Jude 3-4;
Jude 8-11 — compare multiple versions of Jude 8;
Jude 16-22 — compare multiple versions of Jude 19;
1 Timothy 4:1-2;
2 Peter 3:3 and 3:16-17;
3 John 9-11;
John 14:15-17;
John 16:12-13;
2 Timothy 2:1-2;
Matthew 10:40;
Acts 15:2, 15:6, 15:23-24, 15:30-35;
John 20:30;
Revelation 22:18-19.

See Jeremiah 8:8-9 with multiple versions of verse 8 and multiple commentaries on verse 8.
This applies to discernment of misleading, inaccurate translations, versions, notes and commentaries on the Bible.

See also[edit]

• Sola spiritu
• Scripture interprets Scripture
• Historical-grammatical method (Literal hermeneutic)
• Biblical inerrancy
• Essay: How to choose a Bible
• Revelation, Book of (historical exegesis)
• Apostolic succession

References[edit]

External links[edit]

• Sola Scriptura and the Early Church (the-highway.com)
• Sola Scriptura and the Early Church (bereanbeacon.org)
• Did the Early Church Fathers Believe in Sola Scriptura? (credohouse.org) includes statements carefully selected from early Church Fathers and quoted out of context. An online search of the sources quoted in the article in most instances offers verification of the quotations in their actual context giving their original import and significance.
• The Council of Trent: The Roman Catholic Church Response to the Protestant Demand for Reformation of the Church (1545-1563), By Dr. Herbert Samworth (solagroup.org)
• Is Sola Scriptura a Protestant Concoction? A Biblical Defense of Sola Scriptura, by Dr. Greg Behnsen - Christian Resources (christiantruth.com)