It is time to rethink Sola Scriptura?
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I know what and why the Reformers invented the theory of Sola Scripture because Scripture can be made what to say especially whenever a Verse makes a declaration that is supporting the entire context of Verses but also can be misused when used singularly.
Wrong… full stop.
The “thing” dividing Christians is a group of self-appointed fools who set themselves up as gods on Earth and have steered people to themselves instead of pointing them to simple devotion to Jesus and humble submission to His teaching.
Protestants didn’t cause the problem.
That is not what they meant, or why they used the term. They meant that God's inspired word is the sole source of authority for what Christians believe. Yes, Scripture can be misused, and that is wrong, but that does not mean the the notion of Sola Scriptura is wrong.
Nearly 100% of recognized Christian denominations profess that their existence, teachings, or leadership are rooted in the Holy Spirit. However, "being led by the Spirit" means very different things across the spectrum, ranging from direct charismatic revelation to institutional preservation. Direct & Ongoing Revelation (Pentecostal / Charismatic): This segment makes up about 27% of all Christians globally. Denominations in this family (such as the Assemblies of God) teach that the Holy Spirit operates actively through spiritual gifts like prophecy, tongues, and direct, daily guidance.
Institutional Tradition (Catholic / Eastern Orthodox): Making up the majority of global Christians, these bodies believe the Spirit guides their leadership through apostolic succession, councils, and the preservation of historic creeds. The Holy Spirit works to protect the church from error, rather than granting individual revelations to members.
Biblical Illumination (Mainline Protestant): These groups (like Methodists or Presbyterians) believe the Spirit's primary work is illuminating the scriptures. They view the Bible as the final authority, guided by the Spirit into correct interpretation.
Cessationist View (Various Evangelicals): Some traditional or reformed evangelicals believe active, supernatural "revelation" from the Spirit ceased with the closing of the biblical canon, meaning the Spirit leads solely through the text of the Bible.
To which Spirit of Unification are you referring?
Every one of the thousands of competing Christianities focus on reading the bible. Has that provided more schism or more unity?Hello! The issue IMHO is not sola scriptura, this is the issue as the bible foretold:
2 Timothy 4:3 For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear.
We are living in these days. The time the Apostle Paul foretold has come.
Many Christians seem to love their favorite celebrity preacher, however if you were to go into a Christian bookstore and get ten books on the same subject written by celebrity pastors, you'll get ten different opinions, on the same subject, quite often obfuscating what the bible clearly says.
'Every word of God is flawless', bible study is wonderful, the key to many doors.
God Bless All
Sacrificial love often means loving those who are different from us. People with different life experiences, different pathologies, different insights and instincts about the Gospel. If we can't love each other, we have no hope of claiming we love our neighbor.
Nah its not. Catholicism is not united and they dont believe in sola scriptura.
Sola Scriptura is the single blade that divided Western Christianity. The Roman Catholic Church rejects sola scriptura ("Scripture alone"). Instead, Catholic theology teaches that divine revelation is built on a three-legged stool of equal, interconnected authorities: Sacred Scripture, Sacred Tradition, and the Magisterium (the Church's teaching authority).
The Eastern Catholics reject sola scriptura. Instead, they hold that Scripture and Sacred Tradition (including liturgies, patristic writings, icons, and ecumenical councils) are two interwoven, authoritative expressions of the same divine revelation. Neither is elevated entirely above the other; rather, they mutually inform one another within the life of the Church.
Yes, and both catholics and orthodox are also divided.
Hello biblestudent. Good to hear from you, I hope you're doing well. I would disagree with your point, IMHO the competing celebrity authors in Christianity don't focus on reading the bible, they may quote an odd bible verse or two out of context, but their main drive is talking about themselves and their own alleged and subjective experiences. If we focussed on the bible, the public reading of scripture, the level of unity in the Church would go through the roof. If for example you look at Psalm 119, the longest Psalm in the bible and the high place it gives to the word, the purity and perfection of God's word and how it can illuminate our path individually and corporately, for example:
Psalm 119:105 Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.
God Be with you
I have recently added a sixth point to my elaborated creed because of its kerygmatic importance:
6. This creed summarizes revelation of the NT Gospel/Truth (Matt. 26:13, John 14:6, Rom. 1:18&25, 2Thes. 2:10-13), which fulfilled the OT revelation (Matt. 5:17, John 19:13, Heb. 7:11-10:1) and culminates the search for salvation by souls who know only general revelation (Rom. 1:20, 2:14-16, Matt. 7:12). Repenting of sin and seeking salvation (Matt. 4:17, 7:7) begins with love of Truth, which is the Way to the Door of eternal life, who is the Lord Jesus (2Thes. 2:10, John 14:6, 1:1-18).
Do y'all understand why point this is significant enough to be appended?
Hello! I hope you're well. There's an example of why something can go so wrong, the three legged stool:
Sacred Scripture- amen and amen, all scripture is God breathed!
Sacred Tradition- Jesus said- 'You nullify the word of God by your tradition that you have handed down' (Mark 7:13). Even the snake that Moses held up in the desert became an idol in time.
Magisterium- Church functionaries making stuff up that quite often directly contradicts itself or Scripture.
If they kept with the Sacred Scripture there would be unity.
God Bless You
The Bible does not teach sola scriptura. It teaches sola the Lord Jesus Christ. Scripture points us to developing a relationship with Jesus Christ for restoration of fellowship and communion with God who is the source of life. The ambiguity of scripture is deliberate, so that we will go to the Father, Son and Holy Spirit for our understanding of how to please Them. The fact that each disciple understands God’s will differently means we have to walk by faith in what we believe God is revealing to us at any time, rather than, through intimidation, conforming religiously to the opinions of other fallible humans concerning God’s will for us.
Enjoy your walk with God by faith, and respect others’ sincere attempts to do the same.
Well GHW, it seems to me if you are declaring a universal christian creed, you would want to recognize your competition. The oldest recognized creed is the Apostle's Creed of the 2nd -5th Century. Nicene Creed 4th century. Athenanasian Creed 5th century, Chalcedonian Creed 5th century. Book of Concord - Lutheran. Westminster, The 39 Articles and the London Baptist Confession..
Perhaps if you contrasted your creed to these creeds it would be helpful to see where your's stands by comparison.
Perhaps if you contrasted your creed to these creeds it would be helpful to see where your's stands by comparison.