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The Early Church and Sola Scriptura
- 1. The Early Church for Today Reformation 501 Sola Scriptura Part Three
- 2. REVIEW
- 3. The Reformers: Martin Luther “Unless I am convinced by the testimonies of the Holy Scriptures or evident reason (for I believe neither in the pope nor councils alone, since it has been established that they have often erred and contradicted themselves), I am bound by the Scriptures adduced by me, and my conscience has been taken captive by the Word of God, and I am neither able nor willing to recant, since it is neither safe nor right to act against conscience. God help me. Amen.” Martin Luther
- 4. The Reformers: Martin Luther “Martin, there is not one of the heresies which have torn the bosom of the church, which has not derived its origin from the various interpretations of the Scripture. The Bible itself is the arsenal whence each innovator has drawn his deceptive arguments. It was with biblical texts that Pelagius and Arius maintained their doctrines...” John Eck
- 5. The Reformers: Martin Luther Luther and Sola Scriptura “Scripture Alone” is the Ultimate Authority. 1. It is above that of Church Traditions, Hierarchy, Church Fathers, Elders, Councils, Commentators, Interpretations... 2. No one (not even the Pope) has the right to claim to be the Final Interpretive Authority of the Bible.
- 6. The Reformers: Ulrich Zwingli “...to let nothing other than scripture speak.”
- 7. The Reformers: The Anabaptists Scripture is, “the true witness of the Holy Spirit and criterion of our consciences.” Menno Simons
- 8. The Reformers: The Anabaptists Burning books in Munster Germany! Bernard Rothman at Munster, 1534 “For he who holds only to the Scriptures needs no other writings.”
- 9. The Reformers: The English Reformation “That the word of God, written and contained within the canon of the bible, is a true, sound, perfect, and whole doctrine, containing in itself fully all things needful for our salvation.” Confutation
- 10. The Reformers: The English Reformation
- 11. The Reformers: John Calvin “We must speak where the Scripture speaks; we must keep silent where it is silent.” “But whenever a decree of any council is brought forward... be like a provisional judgment...”
- 12. The Reformers: John Calvin Friday Nights in Geneva “Every week, on Fridays, a conference is held in the largest church in which all their ministers and many of the people participate. Here one of them reads a passage from Scripture and expounds it briefly. Another speaks on the matter what to him is according to the Spirit. A third person gives his opinion, and a fourth adds...”
- 13. The Reformers: The Council of Trent CONCERNING THE CANONICAL SCRIPTURES FIRST DECREE “... seeing clearly that this truth and discipline (Gospel) are contained in the written books, and the unwritten traditions... the Holy Ghost dictating, have come down even unto us, transmitted as it were from hand to hand... ...(the council) receives and venerates with an equal affection of piety, and reverence, all the books both of the Old and of the New Testament--seeing that one God is the author of both --as also the said traditions...”
- 14. The Reformers: The Council of Trent CONCERNING THE EDITION & USE OF THE SACRED BOOKS SECOND DECREE “...no one... (is to) interpret the said sacred Scripture contrary to that sense which holy mother Church,--whose it is to judge of the true sense and interpretation of the holy Scriptures...”
- 15. The Reformers: The Council of Trent 1. The Bible and Tradition are Equally Inspired. 2. The Church is the Interpretive Authority of Scripture. 3. No Individual Interpretations contrary to the Church. Sola Roma
- 16. The Reformers: Summary Sola Scriptura: Why?
- 17. Their rejection of the authority of Rome, forced the Reformers to retreat to Scripture Alone in the attempt to regain the Original Apostolic Tradition.
- 18. Their rejection of the authority of Rome, forced the Reformers to retreat to Scripture Alone in the attempt to regain the Original Apostolic Tradition. Also, The Printing Press made Scripture accessible!
- 19. The Reformers: Summary Sola Scriptura: What does it Mean?
- 20. The Reformers: Summary Sola Scriptura: What does it Mean? There are different definitions in use, but... 1. Scripture is the Highest Authority for Christian Teaching and Practice. 2. It should NOT be used to defend Individualistic Readings. 3. Traditions, Interpretations, Commentaries, Church Leaders, Councils... are of value, but are not inspired (in the same way); so they are secondary at best, they are “Provisional”.
- 21. The Reformers: Summary Sola Scriptura: What does it Mean? Scripture is Sufficient. All we need to know for salvation is contained within Scripture. Scripture is Clear. What is essential can be understood without outside sources.
- 23. The Ancient Church Scripture and Sola Scriptura “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.” 2 Timothy 3: 16, 17
- 24. The Ancient Church Scripture and Sola Scriptura “Jesus answered, ‘It is written...’ ‘It is also written...’ ‘For it is written....’” Matthew 4
- 25. The Ancient Church Scripture and Sola Scriptura “Now, brothers and sisters, I have applied these things to myself and Apollos for your benefit, so that you may learn from us the meaning of the saying, ‘Do not go beyond what is written.’Then you will not be puffed up in being a follower of one of us over against the other...” 1 Corinthians 4:6
- 26. The Ancient Church Scripture and Sola Scriptura “So then, brothers and sisters, stand firm and hold fast to the teachings (traditions) we passed on to you, whether by word of mouth or by letter.” 2 Thessalonians 2: 15
- 27. The Ancient Church Scripture and Sola Scriptura “I praise you for remembering me in everything and for holding to the traditions just as I passed them on to you.” 1 Corinthians 11
- 28. The Ancient Church Scripture and Sola Scriptura General Use of Scripture
- 29. General Observations on the Church Fathers’ Hermeneutics ...with Christopher Hall.
- 30. General Observations on the Church Fathers’ Hermeneutics 1. ALL agreed that the Bible was inspired.
- 31. General Observations on the Church Fathers’ Hermeneutics 2. ALL believed that personal disposition and spiritual health affect one’s ability to read Scripture well.
- 32. General Observations on the Church Fathers’ Hermeneutics 3. ALL agreed that once the meaning of Scripture was determined biblical authority summons the reader to obedience.
- 33. General Observations on the Church Fathers’ Hermeneutics 4. ALL agreed that biblical interpretation is a Christian communal endeavor to be practiced in the context of the Church.
- 34. General Observations on the Church Fathers’ Hermeneutics 5. MOST had great respect for the exegetical efforts of other interpreters, even when they disagreed with their conclusions.
- 35. General Observations on the Church Fathers’ Hermeneutics 6. ALL expected to find layers of meaning within the biblical text.
- 36. General Observations on the Church Fathers’ Hermeneutics 7. All appear to have held to reading every passage of Scripture within the context of the entirety of Scripture.
- 37. The Ancient Church Scripture and Sola Scriptura General Use of Scripture Saturation
- 38. The Ancient Church Scripture and Sola Scriptura General Use of Scripture Saturation Authority “What we assert let us prove from Scripture.” Augustine
- 39. The Ancient Church Scripture and Sola Scriptura General Use of Scripture Saturation Authority Allegory
- 40. The Ancient Church Scripture and Sola Scriptura General Use of Scripture Examples Origen (184-253)
- 41. Origen’s Use of the Bible 1. For Origen the Spirit is just as active in the reader as in the writer of Scripture. 2. Inspiration is understood near “dictation”. 3. Every word has a reason.
- 42. John Mt-Mk-Lk Tanakh (Old Testament) Acts Epistles Revelation ChristOrigen’s Hierarchy of the Gospel
- 43. Origen’s Use of the Bible Origen’s Actual Use of Scripture Example: The Road to Emmaus “And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he (Jesus) interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself.”
- 44. Origen’s Use of the Bible What kept Origen from getting off track? 1. The Principle Exegesis must be worthy of God & focused on Christ.
- 46. Origen’s Use of the Bible What kept Origen from getting off track? 1. The Principle Exegesis must be worthy of God & focused on Christ. 2. The Practice Approach Scripture as you would approach God. 3. Hermeneutical Humility He was not individualistic. He worked within the community of the Church. He was exploring, not necessarily declaring.
- 47. Origen’s Use of the Bible Sola Scriptura?
- 48. Origen’s Use of the Bible Sola Scriptura? “When heretics show us the canonical Scriptures, in which every Christian believes and trusts, they seem to be saying: ‘Lo, he is in the inner rooms.’ But we must not believe them, nor leave the original Tradition of the Church, nor believe otherwise than we have been taught by the succession in the Church of God.”
- 49. Origen’s Use of the Bible Sola Scriptura? Because of false teachers... “...we shall endeavor... to point out to those who believe the Holy Scriptures to be no human compositions, but to be written by inspiration of the Holy Spirit, and to be transmitted and entrusted to us by the will of God the Father, through His only-begotten Son Jesus Christ, what appears to us, who observe things by a right way of understanding, to be the standard and discipline delivered to the Apostles by Jesus Christ, and which they handed down in succession to their posterity, the teachers of the Holy Church.”
- 50. Origen’s Use of the Bible “The Teaching of the Church” from De Principliis “The particular points clearly delivered in the teaching of the apostles are... First, That there is one God, who created and arranged all things... Secondly, That Jesus Christ Himself, who came... Thirdly, ...the Holy Spirit was associated in honor and dignity with the Father and the Son... After these points, also the apostolic teaching is that…”
- 51. Origen’s Use of the Bible Sola Scriptura? 1. Rejected individualistic interpretations. 2. Accepted the Succession of Apostolic Tradition within the Churches & Rule of Faith. 3. He accepted local traditions, even differing ones.
- 52. The Ancient Church Scripture and Sola Scriptura General Use of Scripture Examples Origen (184-253) Irenaeus of Lyons (140-202)
- 53. The Ancient Church “We have learned from none others the plan of our salvation, than from those through whom the gospel has come down to us, which they did at one time proclaim in public, and, at a later period, by the will of God, handed down to us in the Scriptures, to be the ground and pillar of our faith.”
- 54. The Ancient Church “Since, however, it would be very tedious, in such a volume as this, to reckon up the successions of all the Churches, we do put to confusion all those who, in whatever manner, whether by an evil self- pleasing, by vainglory, or by blindness and perverse opinion, assemble in unauthorized meetings; (we do this, I say,) by indicating that tradition derived from the apostles, of the very great, the very ancient, and universally known Church founded and organized at Rome by the two most glorious apostles, Peter and Paul; as also (by pointing out) the faith preached to men, which comes down to our time by means of the successions of the bishops. For it is a matter of necessity that every Church should agree with this Church, on account of its preeminent authority.”
- 55. The Ancient Church Sola Scriptura? 1. Rejected individualistic readings. 2. Taught the Succession of Apostolic Tradition within the Church & Rule of Faith as Hermeneutical Tool. 3. Scriptures are the “ground and pillar” of our faith. 4. He recognized Rome as the “preeminent authority”.
- 56. The Ancient Church Scripture and Sola Scriptura General Use of Scripture Examples Origen (184-253) Irenaeus of Lyons (140-202) Cyprian of Carthage (210-258)
- 57. The Ancient Church “Whence is that tradition? Whether does it descend from the authority of the Lord and of the Gospel, or does it come from the commands and the epistles of the apostles? For that those things which are written must be done, God witnesses and admonishes, saying to Joshua the son of Nun: ‘The book of this law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate in it day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein.’”
- 58. The Ancient Church“ “On one man he builds his Church and although he assigns to all the apostles after the resurrection equal power ... nevertheless in order that he might reveal their unity, he ordained by his own authority that the source of that same unity should begin from the one who began the series. The remaining apostles were necessarily also that which Peter was, endowed with an equal partnership both in honor and of power; but the starting point from which they begin is from their unity with him in order that the Church of Christ might be exemplified as one.”
- 59. The Ancient Church“ “Nor ought custom, which had crept in among some, to prevent the truth from prevailing and conquering; for custom without truth is the antiquity of error.”
- 60. The Ancient Church“ “Nor ought custom, which had crept in among some, to prevent the truth from prevailing and conquering; for custom without truth is the antiquity of error.” “You cannot have God as your Father without the Church as your Mother.”
- 61. The Ancient Church“ Sola Scriptura? 1. Rejected Individualistic Churches. 2. All Bishops are Equal. 3. Rome is the Symbol of Unity. 4. He used Scripture to correct Rome.
- 62. The Ancient Church Scripture and Sola Scriptura General Use of Scripture Examples Origen (184-253) Irenaeus of Lyons (140-202) Cyprian of Carthage (210-258) Basil of Caesarea (330-379)
- 63. The Ancient Church “Of the dogmas and messages preserved in the Church, some we possess from written teaching and others we receive from the tradition of the apostles, handed on to us in mystery. In respect to piety, both are of the same force. No one will contradict any of these, no one, at any rate, who is even moderately versed in matters ecclesiastical.”
- 64. The Ancient Church “Of the dogmas and messages preserved in the Church, some we possess from written teaching and others we receive from the tradition of the apostles, handed on to us in mystery. In respect to piety, both are of the same force. No one will contradict any of these, no one, at any rate, who is even moderately versed in matters ecclesiastical.” Sola Scriptura ?
- 65. The Ancient Church To Be Continued
Editor's Notes
- May admit that the Bible does not directly teach sola scriptura, but does so indirectly. NOTE: the servant can be “thoroughly” equipped. Eph 4, “Christ himself gave the apostles… the pastors and teachers, to equip his people… so that the body of Christ may be built up… and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.” No reference to Scripture here. POINT: God gave Both Scripture and Teachers (Church) to Equip.
- Jesus’ Temptation, responding to Satan.
- NIV γέγραπται:” Has been written.” Context is, Don’t get into quarrels over different religious teachers. ESV: “that you may learn by us not to go beyond what is written, that none of you may be puffed up in favor of one against another.” KJV: “that ye might learn in us not to think of men above that which is written, that no one of you be puffed up for one against another.” Not just “man-made doctrines”, but also deducing beyond Scripture.
- “Word of Mouth”, an Oral Tradition. Hold to the Oral Traditions.
- Is Sola Scriptura a Biblical Doctrine? There clearly is an Apostolic Tradition. In both written and unwritten forms.
- Christopher Hall: Associate editor of the Ancient Christian Commentary on Scripture Palio-orthodoxy
- The first five of these points come from Hall. Their view of Inspiration is close to Dictation.
- It is not just an Objective endeavor. This is not Science, it is Organic.
- This is the Authority of Scripture.
- No place for an Individualistic Reading of Scripture. No place for a small group. Origen’s statement on submitting to the “Churches”.
- Justin Martry’s “but there are other godly men…” Hermeneutical Humility
- This observation is not one of Hall’s 5, but he does stress it. This goes against the grain of many moderns. “From out of Egypt I have called…” Song of Songs, From Hebrew commentaries to Jim’s criticism of ancient porn.
- Scripture interprets Scripture. The book of Romans is not to be studied alone. See Origen’s recommendations to his students, continuous reading.
- Majority of Church Leaders quote Scripture from memory & their works are saturated with the Bible. Likely we could reconstruct most of the Bible from the quotes of the Ch Fathers. Origen is said to encourage his students to continuously read through Scriptures several hours a day. Clearly, they lived and breathed the Scriptures. Septuagint, Vulgate, and other translations.
- The Bible is used as the Main, and in most cases the Only Source Book on Spiritual Truth. A Sliding Scale of Authority: Augustine & Origen. Quote: City of God.
- This does not mean that they did not take statements literally. Often, what the Church Fathers referred to as Allegory, Protestants would call Application. They also allegorized when looking for Jesus in the OT.
- Biblical Scholar
- 1. This is kinda Trent’s point. Inspiration vs Illumination; a Modern Distinction. 2. It seemed proper to say “written by God”. 3. You could say Inerrancy, but it would have to be defined according to Origen’s definition. This is why it was important for him to recognize the earliest mss. Six day Creation=allegory. The Fall=allegory. Noah’s ark=historical + allegory.
- Christocentric: Christ is the fulfillment of the gospel. John is the Universal Gospel. See Justin Martyr’s Dialogue with Trypho on Christ as the Key to Scripture.
- Every statement, every word points to Christ. Origen looked for Jesus in ALL of Scripture. Song of Songs included. The ancient Jews also saw the Song as an allegory of Israel and God.
- You do not read the OT w/o the Gospel in mind and heart.
- Homilies on Matthew, 46, 13, 1667 He clearly holds that the Church holds the Tradition of the Apostles. Luther might argue that the Church became corrupt in the 13th century, also… (along with Calvin) as long as the tradition is in harmony with Scripture. https://davidwithun.com/2010/02/09/origen-of-alexandria-sola-scriptura/
- So, what is this Tradition? Is it Scripture itself? Or, why wasn’t it written down in the Bible? First Principles, 4, 1, 9
- Origen’s Rule of Faith (An Interpretive Model) A very brief summary of Christian Teaching. Add to this, Practice (washing feet), and interpretative method (Christ focused).
- 1. Gnostics, Marcion… Each Independent Bible Church ends up with their Individualistic Reading. 2. Interpretive Authority of the Universal Church. (all the churches…, not Rome) As for Traditions, look at the Universal Church. There is a Succession of that Tradition, what of a growing Tradition? He focused his studies on Bible, not Traditions. Was Tradition Equal in Authority to Scripture? That is a question he did not face. The Reformation brought that Question up. 3. Shepherd’s acceptance in Alexandria, but not in Caesarea. He appears to have been able to function without a clear canon. He is NOT supporting Sola Scriptura, nor is he endorsing Trent.
- Pastor-Missionary Against heresies, written due to Gnostic influences in his area.
- Ante-Nicene Fathers (Peabody: Hendriksen, 1995) Vol. 1, Irenaeus, “Against Heresies” 3.1.1, p. 414. [up]
- It takes too long to follow the pedigree of all churches down to the Apostles. Churches without this pedigree (Apostolic Tradition) are not Legitimate. Legitimate means holding to the Tradition. This Tradition comes through the Succession of the bishops. Rome is the “preeminent Authority in this. The Authority to Preserve the Handed-Down Tradition. Rome is recognized as the Center, or Hub. NOT an authority to develop new doctrines, but Preserving the Apostolic Tradition. Luther: But Rome has developed NEW doctrines, i.e. Indulgences, purgatory… Rome failed to preserve the True Faith. Irenaeus did not agree with everything the pope said, Easter Controversy. Ante-Nicene Fathers (Peabody: Hendriksen, 1995) Vol. 1, Irenaeus, “Against Heresies” Bk 3, Chp 3.
- 1. Luther, Calvin, Origen, Irenaeus all rejected Individualistic Reading, also Independent Churches. 4. In his day. To Safeguard and Apply the Apostolic Tradition. Authority: Police may have the authority to arrest lawbreakers, but not to make laws. Judges interpret Law, but do not create Laws. The churches were in communion, but ALL were speaking to Rome, thus Rome had the Universal perspective. R. Catholic claims a Living Tradition, growing. Would Luther be happy with this?
- Novatian in Carthage Bishop Stephan in Rome Debate over rebaptism
- Sounds like Zwingli. But, rebaptism sounds Anabaptist. Ep. 73 ad Pompeium Arguing with Pope Stephen of Rome. Novatians, started another Church… Should those that return be rebaptized? Cyprian said rebaptize.
- On the Unity of the Catholic Church 4–5 1. Peter is the source of Unity, all Apostles are equal in Power. Bishops are Equal! Contra Irenaeus? 2. Peter (Rome) is the source (symbol) of Unity. Not of Power. 3. All Apostles are Equal in Honor and Power. 4. Maybe Peter can be called the First Among Equals. C did recognize Rome as the “Chair of Peter”, (Letter 54, 14)
- Epistle 73 The bishop of Rome is not above Scripture. Tradition needs to be in line with Scripture. But, if Apostolic Tradition is the Bible, then why the One Church?
- But, if Apostolic Tradition is the Bible, then why the One Church? The Church plays some very important role. Why can’t you be a Christian with the Bible Alone? The Church has a Mission that is part of our Salvation! Not just the Result of Salvation. The Church is more than a recipient of God’s Grace! It bestows God’s Grace.
- 1. Groups outside of the Catholic Church (Novatians). 2. In power and Ability. 4. Cyprian is going back to the sources, saying NO to the pope. A Respected Saint that did not hole Rome was the FIA.
- Basil, The Holy Spirit 27: 66 “In respect to piety” Strong respect for the reliability of Tradition.
- Strong respect for the reliability of Tradition. Sola? Not Really. But, this is long before the Hierarchy of Rome and future controversies. There were controversies (Trinity), but they were not resolved by Rome.