Sabbath: By Scripture Alone – Sola Scriptura
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Sabbath Afternoon
Read for This Week’s Study: 1 Cor. 4:1-6; Titus 1:9; 2 Tim. 1:13; Mark 12:10, Mark 12:26; Luke 24:27, Luke 24:44-45; Isa. 8:20.
Memory Text: “For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart” (Hebrews 4:12, NKJV).
The Protestant claim of “Scripture alone” (sola Scriptura) elevated Scripture to the sole standard and decisive source for theology. In contrast to Roman Catholic theology, which emphasized Scripture and tradition, the Protestant faith emphasized the keyword “alone”; that is, Scripture alone is the final authority when matters of faith and doctrine are at issue.
It was the Bible that gave the decisive force and authority to the Protestant Reformation and its revolt against Rome and the errors it had been teaching for centuries. Over against an allegorical interpretation of Scripture, where many different meanings were read into the biblical text, the Protestant Reformers emphasized the importance of a grammatical-historical interpretation of the Bible, which took seriously the grammar and literal meaning of the biblical text.
This week we will look at sola Scriptura in greater detail. We will learn that sola Scriptura implies some fundamental principles of biblical interpretation that are indispensable for a proper understanding of God’s Word. As Protestants, we must maintain the Bible as the ultimate doctrinal authority.
Study this week’s lesson to prepare for Sabbath, May 2.
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I remember attending an Integrated Faith and Learning Seminar some years ago where it was proposed that the Bible should be used as the basis for teaching our subjects. At the time I was teaching computer programming, and in particular COBOL (those of you in the know will be able to date this). I struggled with the notion of using the Bible as the basis for my teaching this subject and was challenged by some of the trivia suggested as suitable for other subjects. I was supposed to produce a paper on the topic and present it at the seminar. Ultimately I had a sudden rush of blood to my head and the idea came to me that it was not what I taught but rather how I taught the subject that mattered.
It was my teaching that mattered, not COBOL. I wrote my paper and received the somewhat grudging admission that perhaps that was the way to treat the issue of teaching career oriented topics. I submitted that our faith ought to direct the way we teach all our education and that was even more important than the content.
Possibly one way of looking at sola-scriptura, is to think more about how we live our beliefs. Is it possible that it is less about what we believe and more about how we live our beliefs?
A question that we need to ask ourselves this week is: Is Scripture a set of facts to be learned, or is it the source of some guiding principles for us in our journey into truth?
If the protestant movement is based on “Scripture alone” (sola Scriptura) why there are so many Christian denominations in the world? Christ prayed for unity of the people, yet, Christians are divided into many groups and denominations. Many Hindus with many gods worship together in one temple. Why do we lack unity that Christ himself prayed for his believers?
Have you grown up with the sibling? Did you get along with that person all the time? Did you agree on all points or saw eye to eye on all the issues? When you communicated with your sibling how did they interpret what you were saying? More often the personal bias, circumstances and reasoning played an important role in the interpretation of the statement. Christian life is a journey we all are at different growth spectrum. In additon, Christians still struggle with pride, selfishness, and stubbornness this leads to new churches and denominations.
Many ask: If the protestant movement is based on “Scripture alone” (sola Scriptura) why are there so many Christian denominations in the world?
To simplify, A – Initially there were two main schools of thought on the nature of God and the Protestants split on radically different views.
B – However people didn’t recognize God’s principle of progressive revelation, so once they had accepted the foundation of truth verified by Bible study and then they discovered and accepted the “present truth” for that time (usually presented by a charismatic preacher) there they stuck. So later when God reveal further present truth, those who accepted it had to break off and start a new group.
The start of Protestantism is what some refer to as the proto-Protestants (Waldensians, Lollards, and Hussites).
1 These were the movements that protested the errors of the Medieval Church before the actual Protestant movement began. Then came Luther and the Protestant Reformation was born.
2 From the Protestant Reformation there emerged two primary camps: first, the Calvinists, who taught God had predetermined all things including the fall of man, who would be redeemed and, in some circles, who would be lost,
3 and, second, the Arminians who taught God had granted humanity freedom to decide between being saved or lost without Him having to “predetermine” their choices.
4 The Calvinist camp was primarily concerned with the “sovereignty” of God which led it to place great emphasis on His power. It gave birth to denominations like the Presbyterians, Congregationalists and Episcopalians.
The Arminian camp was primarily concerned with the love of God and saw the “determinism” of Calvinists as antithetical to that love. It gave birth to denominations like the Methodists, Pentecostals and Wesleyans. Adventism, emerged mostly from the Arminian camp.
1. http://proto-protestantism.blogspot.com.au/p/who-were-proto-protestants.html.
2. Bishop, Paul A., “Martin Luther and the Protestant Reformation,” https://www.hccfl.edu/media/173616/ee2luther.pdf.
3. https://www.calvinistcorner.com/tulip.htm.
4. http://evangelicalarminians.org/the-five-points-of-arminianism-calvinism.
Information! I love this!
We do hear it often enough: Sola Scriptura. The Protestant call in regards to the then prevailing church mixture of scripture and tradition. Sola Scriptura will not produce uniformity, but it should create unity. Making the distinction clear is important to understanding the Latin phrase.
Good afternoon
Do the comments in the lesson mean that we do not rely on the writings of EG White?
Let me know
Thanks
MC
Hi Mags
Your question is related to the focus of this Thursday’s lesson coming up.
Typically, EGW is used to end discussion. After all, if the prophet has spoken (or written), the matter is settled. If you do not mind, let me quote from Friday’s lesson, where EGW writes on this matter:
It appears that this traditional use of the prophet’s words does not align with her expressed intent. There appears to be an expectation that God would provide further prophetic truth and light to the end of time, so that God’s church would continue to grow to fill the whole earth (see Daniel 2:34-35 and 1 Corinthians 13:9-10). I do not think it was God’s intention for the Spirit of prophecy and the testimony of Jesus to end until the return of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. (See Revelation 19 for the context of verse 10;)
Sola Scriptura - a very powerful statement!
What does it imply to the believer? What does it mean to the unbeliever?
The first is blessed by its Light and grows, the other is challenged by the words and what they imply and tries to disprove it.
And there are others that want to change the Light of the scripture to favor their personal interpretation of the truth with the intent that the true light will not shine into the heart of man and set him free.
The believer's heart has been reached and changed by the Holy Spirit. The unbeliever's heart is still hardened against the Truth and therefor, the light can not reveal the truth to him.
I really believe that we 'educated' Christians need to focus more on living our transformation from the darkness into the light, instead of squabbling over the coloration of the Light.
We are at different places in our journey through sanctification. The truth and the light, though, never changes! Our interpretations will always only be a reflection of where we are in our walk of faith and learning.
1.Cor.13:12,13 - Understanding comes slowly. We come from the darkness into the light - it's a process. Instead of judging a person or action based on the light we have received, we are called to focus on charity - love.
Matt.7:1-5 - Faults and shortcomings within ourselves and in our fellow man ought to be dealt with in the same way - with love.
Luke 2:25-52 - We can 'see' that Jesus was chosen to be the Messiah for His people to lead them; that 'the child grew, and waxed strong in spirit, filled with wisdom: and the grace of God was upon him' . . . And that Jesus INCREASED in wisdom and statue, and in favour with God and man.
So, let's boil down the message of the scripture and our faith into its essence:
Matt.22:36-40 - Throughout our journey, we diligently and faithfully focus on loving our God with ALL of our heart, with ALL of our soul and All of our mind, and our neighbor as we want to be loved.
God through the Holy Spirit will do the weeding, the tilling of the soil, the planting of seeds, the watering and the care to have His offspring mature into the image of God as revealed to us through Christ.
This process is to be aided by Sola Scriptura.
'We are at different places in our journey through sanctification. The truth and the light, though, never changes! Our interpretations will always only be a reflection of where we are in our walk of faith and learning'.
Thank you sis.
I like that.
Reminds me of Pro.4:18
'But the path of the just is as a shining light that shineth more and more unto the perfect day'.
Let us follow diligently and joyfully the light on our own path.
Who knows? Some straggling believer may get excited and hopeful about his own journey!
Bridgette, you should contribute more often. Well put!
As an engineer, I deal with technical issues related to installation and maintenance of equipment. I write specifications and contracts in which standards are cited, and provide designs and drawings, all in an effort to obtain this objective: an operating facility. What always amazes me is how something technical, concrete and straightforward can be interpreted in ways the originator never considered.
This is especially true of contracts. And it is for this reason there are lawyers, judges and courts of law. So the answer to the question “Why are there so many denominations if all claim to follow the Bible?” seems obvious. Each person comes to the Bible with different experiences, traditions, cultures and history. All of these inform the process by which the mind processes and interprets the words that are read, so it is no surprise that sincere honest people can read the same translation of the Bible and come from that reading with very different ideas of what the words mean. Hence, the reason there are so many denominations.
How we think determines how we perceive reality, and very importantly, how we understand the word of God. This is why having his Spirit in us is critical to properly understanding his word. This is why Jesus said these words to the religious, “Here you are scouring through the Scriptures, hoping that you will find eternal life among a pile of scrolls. What you don’t seem to understand is that the Scriptures point to Me. Here I am with you, and still you reject the truth contained in the law and prophets by refusing to come to Me so that you can have life.” John 5:39-40, The Voice. The way in which these very religious people thought perverted their view of the Christ.
This is why when I study the Bible, I pray hard that God will fill me with his Spirit to guide me into all truth; that is, the Way, the Truth and the Life. If you know Jesus, you will understand his word. But this can never happen naturally – it must be from the supernatural gracious gift of God. Because “this is eternal life: to know you, the only true God, and the one whom you sent—Jesus the Messiah.” John 17:3 ISV. The eyes of flesh will fail you; you dare not trust your own.
This quote from Friday’s lesson underlines my previous comment:
To comprehend the words God has given us in scripture, we must know him. His words are love and life to us because he is love and life.
This quote from Friday’s lesson underlines my previous comment:
To comprehend the words God has given us in scripture, we must know him. His words are love and life to us because he is love and life.
There is a way which seemeth right unto a man but the end thereof are the ways of death. Pro 14:12
Sola Scriptura- Scripture Alone.
What does this means? What is the scripture used for? Why do we need the scriptures?
Quote from above-As Protestants, we must maintain the Bible as the ultimate doctrinal authority.
As SDA we have a book with the 28 Fundamental doctrinal beliefs of the church. Those beliefs are scriptures from the bible put together under 28 headings and made into a book. That is not the bible but 28 subject headings that the church believes are necessary to be highlighted. The author explained the 28 subject heading in details so others have a wider view of the topic. Are there more than 28 doctrinal beliefs in the bible? Yes? No? If someone says they found more than 28 fundamental doctrine will those be accepted and placed in the book? For example- Angels, nothing is mentioned about Angels in the book. Who are angels and their roll in our life, and the world in general. Aren't Angels important to us? Surely they are.
Do we use this book over the bible? No, but this book is important as a quick study guide. This book prevent us from 'reinventing the wheel'.
The Church Manual- this little book is use to guide members in meetings and the church at large about how meetings should be conducted. It has what we believe written within. Do we use that above the scriptures? No? But we use it anyhow.
Miss EG White books, pamphlets, manuscripts, etc. What is the purpose of her books? She called herself a messenger for God. Anyone can become a messenger for God. Anyone can become his disciple. But he choose some people to do special work for him.
We read in the bible, moderate use of that which is good and total abstinence from that which is bad. But what does that means? Different things to different people. What she did was, further explained what does that means. Not all things that can be eaten are good for us, and those what can be eaten should not be over eaten.
She did not bring her own laws and rules but explained the bible to others so we will go back to the bible as the ultimate decision.
"We read in the bible, moderate use of that which is good and total abstinence from that which is bad."
Chapter and verse please?
Is "By Scripture Alone" how we view the teachings of the church and the basis of the protestant reformation? Or do we live by this rule in our daily life as well?
By Scripture alone only benefits those who live by this rule. It is the essence of Jesus' prayer in Gethsemane: "Not my will, but Thine be done".
Ellen has stated that few members know the Truth for themselves and that many are not able to defend their beliefs from the Bible. Doesn't this solemn thought make this week's lesson of vital importance?
I have not yet seen "Sola Scriptura" or "Scripture Alone," in the scriptures itself.
If it is not in the scriptures, does it not stand to reason that this is some made up teaching?
What If God were to call a prophet today?
His prophetic words would not, could not, be anywhere in the scriptures.
What then do we make of such a calling from God?
Does is not appear that "Sola Scriptura" or "Scripture Alone," limits God's word to that which has already been written down in scripture? Or has God finished speaking to us entirely?
Francis, I believe we do find the principle of "sola Scriptura" in the Word of God, beginning with Moses, in the prophets and supported by the apostles.
Deut 13:1-5, notice that the law of God was to be the measure of truth, not miracles or prophecy.
Isaiah 8:19,20, the Law and Testimony is to be the measure of all other communications. Every prophet was to be tested according to the scriptures, and in time, were added as they were proven to be of God.
1 Thess 5:19-21, from Moses and onward, God was always speaking through prophets(Amos 3:7) yet all are to be proven by the word of God. Even our pastors are to be held to the scrutiny of God's Word as Paul commended the Bereans for doing.
Some say that Martin Luther originated this phrase, yet he wrote and published many books. His only request was that all things be measured and supported by God's Word, including the councils and leaders of the Church. There is to be no authority given to any source of teaching above the Word of God, and this is to be the guide for every individual, for how else would any be safe from deception? Jesus has urged all to "take heed lest any deceive you!", and also taught that we are to live "by every word that proceeds from God". Every one of us will stand before God's judgment, and must know for ourselves the Truth. We are safe if we follow the "Lamp for our feet and Light for our path".
[Moderator Comment: Thursday's lesson will cover this point. Sola Scriptura does not mean the end of inspiration. It means everyone who is truly inspired will lead you to the Bible and not away.]
I see what you are saying.
but look at this: Jesus answered, "It is written: 'Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.'"
My belief is that "every word that comes from the mouth of God." is not limited to that which has been written down in the scriptures.
(otherwise, we have a bigger EGW problem than can be imagined)
"I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh, and your sons and your daughters shall
prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions"
Could this happen again? And if it did would that not also be the Word of God, and not found already written down in Scriptures?
Are we saying that The Lord has spoken his last words to us and that all God has to say is contained within the current canon of scripture?
I say boldly, NO!!
God will speak again at his appointed time, and what is spoken will be consistent with scripture but will not be contained in the cannon.
I think the problem here is that we tend to believe that the current canon of scripture was initiated and ended by God.
That is why we have such problems with Ellen G White.
How is it possible that one who was inspired by the same Holy Spirit who inspired Isaiah, Jeremiah, Danial, Amos, Joel, John, Paul, and Matthew could somehow find that her inspired prophecies (not commentaries) are a "lesser light?"
The answer is because we believe that God acted to end the current cannon.
Now having voiced my opinion, I would like to hear from Adventist scholars concerning the ending of the cannon, and the role of God in bringing his Word to and end.
I totally agree, and was only expressing that this is supported in scripture, and will include all that is found in harmony with it, even if not from the same era or bound in the same cover. Every voice after Moses started outside of “scripture” until proven in harmony with it.
So simply you belive that EGW writings should be canonized eventhogh she says it's a lesser light?How many of us will stop being an SDA if one evidently convinces us against her writings? Sola Scritura must lead us to Sola Jesus.Its a pity that EGW writings bid us to focus on Jesus and pur pulpits focus on her.
We cant canonize any other writing.EGW didnt ask for that she emplores that we focus on the Jesus in the scriptures.Plus the bible is clear that no one can add to it.Why advocate for canonization of her writings?
Revelation 22:18 King James Version (KJV)
18 For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book
Sola scriptura is a simple phrase, which stands for three critical truths that are found in the Bible:
the Bible is the supreme authority, Isa 8:20, 2Tim 3:15-17, 2Peter 1:19-21
contains sufficient knowledge for salvation, 2Peter 1:3-4, John 20:3-4
and is clear enough for lay people to understand the basics. John 1:7-9, John 3:16, gospel summarized in Matt 5:3-9, Ps 23
All three are essential to the life of God’s people.
The 5 solas of the Protestant Reformation:
Each was intended to represent an important distinction compared with teachings claimed in Catholic doctrine.
Sola scriptura ("by Scripture alone")
Sola fide ("by faith alone")
Sola gratia ("by grace alone")
Solus Christus or Solo Christo ("Christ alone" or "through Christ alone")
Soli Deo gloria ("glory to God alone")