Behold, Sola Scriptura!

One key reason behind the rejection of Sola Scriptura is the misunderstanding of what it actually is. Sola Scriptura is the belief that the Bible is the only infallible, and completely sufficient authority, for all things pertaining to salvation, faith, and morals. It is not, as many understand it to be, the complete and total rejection of all other authorities. Indeed, it is not even a rejection of either the power or the authority of the Church. Rather, it puts all other authorities in their correct places.

Romans 13 opens by telling us that there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by Him. If an authority figure exists, its authority comes from God, and thus, by definition, cannot be higher than Him, cannot overrule Him, cannot legitimately disobey Him etc. To understand this, look at the chart in the header image. Every source listed has a degree of authority assigned to it by God. Children are told to obey their parents (Ephesians 6:1; Colossians 3:20). Wives are to submit to their husbands (Ephesians 5:22; Colossians 3:18). We are told to observe what our teachers tell us to observe (e.g. Matthew 23:1-3). We must submit to the government (Romans 13:1-7). And of course, the Church, as we will one day judge angels, must judge things pertaining to this life (1 Corinthians 6:3).

So we have all of these authority figures, but what do we note of them all? None of them are infallible, neither do any of them have absolute authority. Jesus said that we must hate our families in order to be His disciples (Luke 14:26), of course meaning if our parents, or, for you ladies, if your husbands, try to hinder you in your faith, you can, and indeed you must disobey them. Teachers are not infallible either, they will be judged very strictly (James 3:1), not to mention you can actually know more than them if you make the Lord's word your meditation day and night (Psalm 119:97-100; 130). When the government commands you to disobey God, what is the correct response? "We must obey God rather than man" (Acts 5:29). The Church? Not even an Apostle has the right to bring a different message than that which is revealed in scriptures (Galatians 1:8).

We see, then, that all authorities have some kind of flaw that requires us, as those under those authorities, to judge them, and in some cases, disobey them. What court would hear "my parents told me to" as an excuse for breaking the law? Do we imagine, then, the Lord will hold us guiltless for obeying even a Church over Him? My friends, if your Church teaches a tradition, or a dogma, or any kind of doctrine contrary to God's word, not only are you not obligated to observe that, but you actually have no right to.

But what is the testimony of scripture regarding itself? Well, its first testimony of itself is that it comes from God (2 Timothy 3:16). Already, this makes it immutable. This is already the authority, as surely as if it came from God's own lips before your very eyes. But it continues to say scripture "is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness". That about covers everything. You can form correct doctrine, you can reprove and correct false doctrine, and you can be instructed in righteousness. But here's the bit that is so deadly to opponents of Sola Scriptura that I have literally never heard them attempt to address it. In verse 17, Paul concludes "that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work."

Thus we see that in just two verses (which, in my opinion, ought to be merged into one verse), scripture testifies to its own authority, and its own sufficiency. We need nothing else to complete or equip us in our Christian faith. Now, this absolutely does not suit the "me and my Bible under a tree" interpretation. That is not now, nor will it ever be, a thing I teach. In fact, ironically, that would make this entire article a refutation of itself, for I do not claim to be writing scripture, nor do I claim myself to be infallible. But what it does mean is that scripture supersedes even the authorities it identifies as legitimate. Other sources have legitimate authority, but their authority is always limited. They can make errors, and they have no right to enforce those errors. If your parents, your husbands, your teachers, your governments, your churches, tell you anything contrary to scriptures, you must reject it. And if they tell you something that is not necessarily against scripture, but is also not supported by it either, then to quote Jerome, "that which hath not authority from scripture, we may as easily despise as approve". (1)

And so we see that Sola Scriptura, properly understood, is irrefutable. That is not a term I use lightly, but in this particular case, it is appropriate. Those who reject Sola Scriptura must necessarily believe that an authority exists that is equal to, or greater than God. We know that God cannot deny Himself (2 Timothy 2:13), and thus, if you deny Sola Scriptura, what do you say except "I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God; I will also sit on the mount of the congregation On the farthest sides of the north; I will ascend above the heights of the clouds, I will be like the Most High"? Make no mistake: Any claim that rejects Sola Scriptura is the very picture of Satan.

References

1. Jerome - Commentary on Matthew, 398 A.D.