Firstly, sola scriptura meant Scripture was the supreme authority over the church. It did not mean Scripture was the only authority. Luther, Calvin, and the other reformers used other authorities like reason and tradition. They developed arguments using logic (reason) and learned from the writings of past Christians (tradition) as they explored the Bible. Yet the Bible was the supreme authority that ruled reason and tradition because Scripture alone was infallible precisely because it is God’s word. All other authorities (including church leadership) were fallible and must submit to Scripture. As Heinrich Bullinger said: “As God’s word is confirmed by no human authority, so no human power is able to weaken its strength”[Ok god is not the bible but he is the word]The bible is the staff ]god is the shepherd
“Yea, though I walk through
the valley of the shadow of death, ( this life in this world )
I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.”
Psalm 23:4 KJV
It’s both the rod and the staff it both rebukes us as a rod , and also holds us up as a staff there’s no argument that “the Bible is God “ the argument is the bible holds his true word we need to hear and believe and tells us many in the world will distort it and lead people away from what is true
we don’t want to cast away or lose trust in the staff we lean on or we will fall not reject the correction of his rod and be bastard sons without rebuke
the things in scripture are essential and immutable and can save us if we trust in him and hear what he really said