Foundations of Faith 8 - SOLA SCRIPTURA

 Notes summarised from

1. The Study: "Foundations of Faith : A Journey Through the Catechism of the Catholic Church" (Core message Video - session 2)
2. Notes from "Overview of Catholic Theology", Rev Fr Michael Chan 

SOLA SCRIPTURA, "BY BIBLE ALONE"

The Bible has been at the heart of the Catholic faith from the very beginning. 

But in the 1500s, a new approach to the Bible emerged in some circles in Europe. 

Martin Luther and other leaders from the Protestant Reformation called for Scripture to be the only source for knowing God's revelation, the only way we come to know God's plan and His revelation of Himself. '

This approach to the Bible came to be known as sola scriptura, which in Latin means by Scripture alone. 

"SCRIPTURE ALONE" ITSELF IS NOT BIBLICAL

The whole idea of sola scriptura itself is unbiblical. 

There are no biblical texts that say we should go to the Bible alone when the scriptures talk about where we want to turn to know God's plan, to know Jesus's teachings.

The bible tells us we also need to turn to the Sacred Tradition of the Church. 

We can see this in Paul's letter to the Thessalonians. 

2 Thessalonians 2:15: 

So then, brethren, stand firm and hold to the traditions which you were taught by us, either by word of mouth or by letter.

"SCRIPTURE ALONE" ITSELF IS UNHISTORICAL

No one taught sola scriptura until the advent of the Protestant Reformation. 

Scripture is to be read in light of sacred tradition and in light of the teachings of the Church and the Magisterium. 

The reformation took Scripture out of its original context.   

"SCRIPTURE ALONE" ITSELF IS UNWORKABLE

Martin Luther said that we should go to Scripture alone to know God's plan, to know his revelation. 

But even in his own lifetime, there were others taking Luther's principle of sola scriptura, disagreeing with each other and forming different denominations. 

This continued throughout the centuries to the point that today there are thousands of different Protestant reformations that all have their roots back at this principle of sola scriptura, all disagreeing with each other on some fundamental point that they need to start a new denomination. 

So today thousands and thousands of different Protestant denominations, all based on sola scriptura, but only one holy Catholic Church that reads scripture in light of Sacred Tradition and the role of the Magisterium interpreting Sacred Scripture. 

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