Why am I writing this?
I’ve heard my perspectives on Sola Scriptura, the idea that the Bible is the ultimate and only infallible rule of faith for Christians, and I want to bring all the arguments together. Ultimately, I want to come to the Biblical perspective on this topic.
What Am I Not Saying?
I am not saying that any/all traditions are bad. Every Christian denomination has traditions that are not commanded by the Bible to be held. The issue is when traditions contradict the Scriptures. This could be anything from Churches forcing people to donate (2 Corinthians 9:7), to justifying certain sins as okay, to preaching a different gospel altogether.
Summary
The Old and New Testament make frequent reference to the Scriptures, holding them as the standard for teaching and for correction. It is true that while the prophets/apostles were living on Earth, we were expected to listen to them orally. Once they passed, we still held to their teachings, as they were preserved for us in texts/scrolls.
For the Christian today, Scripture tells us repeatedly to hold fast to the traditions taught by the apostles:
- 1 Corinthians 11:2 - Now I commend you because you remember me in everything and maintain the traditions even as I delivered them to you.
- 2 Thessalonians 2:15 - So then, brothers, stand firm and hold to the traditions that you were taught by us, either by our spoken word or by our letter.
- 2 Thessalonians 3:6 - Now we command you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you keep away from any brother who is walking in idleness and not in accord with the tradition that you received from us.
- 2 Timothy 2:2 - and what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men, who will be able to teach others also.
What’s often missed in this discussion is that the traditions we should hold to are the ones we know are from the apostles. How do we know what the apostles taught? By reading what has been preserved and traced back to the apostles, contained in Scripture. Any tradition that would go against what the apostles taught should be examined carefully and if found contrary to apostolic teaching, abandoned.
Why is holding to the apostles’ teaching so important? Because Scripture repeatedly warns us that people will try to distort the truth to lead people astray, even people among the Church gathering:
- Acts 20:28-31 - Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the church of God, which he obtained with his own blood. I know that after my departure fierce wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock; and from among your own selves will arise men speaking twisted things, to draw away the disciples after them. Therefore be alert, remembering that for three years I did not cease night or day to admonish every one with tears.
- Romans 16:17-18 - I appeal to you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and create obstacles contrary to the doctrine that you have been taught; avoid them. For such persons do not serve our Lord Christ, but their own appetites, and by smooth talk and flattery they deceive the hearts of the naive.
- Galatians 1:8-9 - But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be accursed. As we have said before, so now I say again: If anyone is preaching to you a gospel contrary to the one you received, let him be accursed.
- 1 Timothy 6:3-5 - If anyone teaches a different doctrine and does not agree with the sound words of our Lord Jesus Christ and the teaching that accords with godliness, he is puffed up with conceit and understands nothing. He has an unhealthy craving for controversy and for quarrels about words, which produce envy, dissension, slander, evil suspicions, and constant friction among people who are depraved in mind and deprived of the truth, imagining that godliness is a means of gain.
- 2 Peter 3:15-18 - And count the patience of our Lord as salvation, just as our beloved brother Paul also wrote to you according to the wisdom given him, as he does in all his letters when he speaks in them of these matters. There are some things in them that are hard to understand, which the ignorant and unstable twist to their own destruction, as they do the other Scriptures. You therefore, beloved, knowing this beforehand, take care that you are not carried away with the error of lawless people and lose your own stability. But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity. Amen.
- 1 John 4:1 - Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world.
- Jude 3-4 - Beloved, although I was very eager to write to you about our common salvation, I found it necessary to write appealing to you to contend for the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints. For certain people have crept in unnoticed who long ago were designated for this condemnation, ungodly people, who pervert the grace of our God into sensuality and deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ.
Scripture functions as a check against such false teachers, as we can look to Scripture to test each doctrine that we are presented with. If it aligns with the apostles and prophets, keep it! If it is not contrary to their teaching, no problems! If it goes against what the Bible teaches, go with the Bible.
Another interesting observation you’ll see is that the anti-Sola Scriptura side does not quote anything from the Old Testament. On the support side, you’ll see many instances of holding to what the prophets have said all throughout the Hebrew Scriptures.
Verses Supporting This View
The following verses are from the ESV translation:
And now, O Israel, listen to the statutes and the rules that I am teaching you, and do them, that you may live, and go in and take possession of the land that the Lord, the God of your fathers, is giving you. You shall not add to the word that I command you, nor take from it, that you may keep the commandments of the Lord your God that I command you. Your eyes have seen what the Lord did at Baal-peor, for the Lord your God destroyed from among you all the men who followed the Baal of Peor. But you who held fast to the Lord your God are all alive today. See, I have taught you statutes and rules, as the Lord my God commanded me, that you should do them in the land that you are entering to take possession of it. Keep them and do them, for that will be your wisdom and your understanding in the sight of the peoples, who, when they hear all these statutes, will say, ‘Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people.’ For what great nation is there that has a god so near to it as the Lord our God is to us, whenever we call upon him? And what great nation is there, that has statutes and rules so righteous as all this law that I set before you today?”
Deuteronomy 4:1-8
“Everything that I command you, you shall be careful to do. You shall not add to it or take from it.”
Deuteronomy 12:32
“And when he sits on the throne of his kingdom, he shall write for himself in a book a copy of this law, approved by the Levitical priests. And it shall be with him, and he shall read in it all the days of his life, that he may learn to fear the Lord his God by keeping all the words of this law and these statutes, and doing them, that his heart may not be lifted up above his brothers, and that he may not turn aside from the commandment, either to the right hand or to the left, so that he may continue long in his kingdom, he and his children, in Israel.”
Deuteronomy 17:18-20
Be strong and courageous, for you shall cause this people to inherit the land that I swore to their fathers to give them. Only be strong and very courageous, being careful to do according to all the law that Moses my servant commanded you. Do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may have good success wherever you go. This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.
Joshua 1:6-8
And all the people gathered as one man into the square before the Water Gate. And they told Ezra the scribe to bring the Book of the Law of Moses that the Lord had commanded Israel. So Ezra the priest brought the Law before the assembly, both men and women and all who could understand what they heard, on the first day of the seventh month. And he read from it facing the square before the Water Gate from early morning until midday, in the presence of the men and the women and those who could understand. And the ears of all the people were attentive to the Book of the Law. And Ezra the scribe stood on a wooden platform that they had made for the purpose. And beside him stood Mattithiah, Shema, Anaiah, Uriah, Hilkiah, and Maaseiah on his right hand, and Pedaiah, Mishael, Malchijah, Hashum, Hashbaddanah, Zechariah, and Meshullam on his left hand. And Ezra opened the book in the sight of all the people, for he was above all the people, and as he opened it all the people stood. And Ezra blessed the Lord, the great God, and all the people answered, “Amen, Amen,” lifting up their hands. And they bowed their heads and worshiped the Lord with their faces to the ground. Also Jeshua, Bani, Sherebiah, Jamin, Akkub, Shabbethai, Hodiah, Maaseiah, Kelita, Azariah, Jozabad, Hanan, Pelaiah, the Levites, helped the people to understand the Law, while the people remained in their places. They read from the book, from the Law of God, clearly, and they gave the sense, so that the people understood the reading.
Nehemiah 8:1-8
Blessed is the man
who walks not in the counsel of the wicked,
nor stands in the way of sinners,
nor sits in the seat of scoffers;
but his delight is in the law of the Lord,
and on his law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree
planted by streams of water
that yields its fruit in its season,
and its leaf does not wither.
In all that he does, he prospers.
Psalm 1:1-3
The law of the Lord is perfect,
reviving the soul;
the testimony of the Lord is sure,
making wise the simple;
the precepts of the Lord are right,
rejoicing the heart;
the commandment of the Lord is pure,
enlightening the eyes;
the fear of the Lord is clean,
enduring forever;
the rules of the Lord are true,
and righteous altogether.
More to be desired are they than gold,
even much fine gold;
sweeter also than honey
and drippings of the honeycomb.
Moreover, by them is your servant warned;
in keeping them there is great reward.
Psalm 19:7-11
Your word is a lamp to my feet
and a light to my path.
I have sworn an oath and confirmed it,
to keep your righteous rules.
I am severely afflicted;
give me life, O Lord, according to your word!
Accept my freewill offerings of praise, O Lord,
and teach me your rules.
I hold my life in my hand continually,
but I do not forget your law.
The wicked have laid a snare for me,
but I do not stray from your precepts.
Your testimonies are my heritage forever,
for they are the joy of my heart.
I incline my heart to perform your statutes
forever, to the end.
Psalm 119:105-112
Look on my affliction and deliver me,
for I do not forget your law.
Plead my cause and redeem me;
give me life according to your promise!
Salvation is far from the wicked,
for they do not seek your statutes.
Great is your mercy, O Lord;
give me life according to your rules.
Many are my persecutors and my adversaries,
but I do not swerve from your testimonies.
I look at the faithless with disgust,
because they do not keep your commands.
Consider how I love your precepts!
Give me life according to your steadfast love.
The sum of your word is truth,
and every one of your righteous rules endures forever.
Psalm 119:153-160
Surely I am too stupid to be a man.
I have not the understanding of a man.
I have not learned wisdom,
nor have I knowledge of the Holy One.
Who has ascended to heaven and come down?
Who has gathered the wind in his fists?
Who has wrapped up the waters in a garment?
Who has established all the ends of the earth?
What is his name, and what is his son’s name?
Surely you know! Every word of God proves true;
he is a shield to those who take refuge in him.
Do not add to his words,
lest he rebuke you and you be found a liar.
Proverbs 30:2-6
For the Lord spoke thus to me with his strong hand upon me, and warned me not to walk in the way of this people, saying: “Do not call conspiracy all that this people calls conspiracy, and do not fear what they fear, nor be in dread. But the Lord of hosts, him you shall honor as holy. Let him be your fear, and let him be your dread. And he will become a sanctuary and a stone of offense and a rock of stumbling to both houses of Israel, a trap and a snare to the inhabitants of Jerusalem. And many shall stumble on it. They shall fall and be broken; they shall be snared and taken.” Bind up the testimony; seal the teaching among my disciples. I will wait for the Lord, who is hiding his face from the house of Jacob, and I will hope in him. Behold, I and the children whom the Lord has given me are signs and portents in Israel from the Lord of hosts, who dwells on Mount Zion. And when they say to you, “Inquire of the mediums and the necromancers who chirp and mutter,” should not a people inquire of their God? Should they inquire of the dead on behalf of the living? To the teaching and to the testimony! If they will not speak according to this word, it is because they have no dawn. They will pass through the land, greatly distressed and hungry. And when they are hungry, they will be enraged and will speak contemptuously against their king and their God, and turn their faces upward. And they will look to the earth, but behold, distress and darkness, the gloom of anguish. And they will be thrust into thick darkness.
Isaiah 8:11-22
And the vision of all this has become to you like the words of a book that is sealed. When men give it to one who can read, saying, “Read this,” he says, “I cannot, for it is sealed.” And when they give the book to one who cannot read, saying, “Read this,” he says, “I cannot read.” And the Lord said:
“Because this people draw near with their mouth
and honor me with their lips,
while their hearts are far from me,
and their fear of me is a commandment taught by men,
therefore, behold, I will again
do wonderful things with this people,
with wonder upon wonder;
and the wisdom of their wise men shall perish,
and the discernment of their discerning men shall be hidden.”
Isaiah 29:11-14
Thorns shall grow over its strongholds,
nettles and thistles in its fortresses.
It shall be the haunt of jackals,
an abode for ostriches.
And wild animals shall meet with hyenas;
the wild goat shall cry to his fellow;
indeed, there the night bird settles
and finds for herself a resting place. There the owl nests and lays
and hatches and gathers her young in her shadow;
indeed, there the hawks are gathered,
each one with her mate.
Seek and read from the book of the Lord:
Not one of these shall be missing;
none shall be without her mate.
For the mouth of the Lord has commanded,
and his Spirit has gathered them.
He has cast the lot for them;
his hand has portioned it out to them with the line;
they shall possess it forever;
from generation to generation they shall dwell in it.
Isaiah 34:13-17
The grass withers, the flower fades,
but the word of our God will stand forever.
Isaiah 40:8
Thus says the Lord of hosts: “Do not listen to the words of the prophets who prophesy to you, filling you with vain hopes. They speak visions of their own minds, not from the mouth of the Lord. They say continually to those who despise the word of the Lord, ‘It shall be well with you’; and to everyone who stubbornly follows his own heart, they say, ‘No disaster shall come upon you.’” For who among them has stood in the council of the Lord
to see and to hear his word,
or who has paid attention to his word and listened?
Behold, the storm of the Lord!
Wrath has gone forth,
a whirling tempest;
it will burst upon the head of the wicked.
The anger of the Lord will not turn back
until he has executed and accomplished
the intents of his heart.
In the latter days you will understand it clearly. “I did not send the prophets,
yet they ran;
I did not speak to them,
yet they prophesied.
But if they had stood in my council,
then they would have proclaimed my words to my people,
and they would have turned them from their evil way,
and from the evil of their deeds.
Jeremiah 23:16-22
And the tempter came and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become loaves of bread.” But he answered, “It is written,
“‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”
Matthew 4:3-4
When the disciples reached the other side, they had forgotten to bring any bread. Jesus said to them, “Watch and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees.” And they began discussing it among themselves, saying, “We brought no bread.” But Jesus, aware of this, said, “O you of little faith, why are you discussing among yourselves the fact that you have no bread? Do you not yet perceive? Do you not remember the five loaves for the five thousand, and how many baskets you gathered? Or the seven loaves for the four thousand, and how many baskets you gathered? How is it that you fail to understand that I did not speak about bread? Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees.” Then they understood that he did not tell them to beware of the leaven of bread, but of the teaching of the Pharisees and Sadducees.
Matthew 16:5-12
The same day Sadducees came to him, who say that there is no resurrection, and they asked him a question, saying, “Teacher, Moses said, ‘If a man dies having no children, his brother must marry the widow and raise up offspring for his brother.’ Now there were seven brothers among us. The first married and died, and having no offspring left his wife to his brother. So too the second and third, down to the seventh. After them all, the woman died. In the resurrection, therefore, of the seven, whose wife will she be? For they all had her.” But Jesus answered them, “You are wrong, because you know neither the Scriptures nor the power of God. For in the resurrection they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are like angels in heaven. And as for the resurrection of the dead, have you not read what was said to you by God: ‘I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob’? He is not God of the dead, but of the living.” And when the crowd heard it, they were astonished at his teaching.
Matthew 22:23-33
And the Pharisees and the scribes asked him, “Why do your disciples not walk according to the tradition of the elders, but eat with defiled hands?” And he said to them, “Well did Isaiah prophesy of you hypocrites, as it is written, “‘This people honors me with their lips,
but their heart is far from me;
in vain do they worship me,
teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.’ You leave the commandment of God and hold to the tradition of men.” And he said to them, “You have a fine way of rejecting the commandment of God in order to establish your tradition! For Moses said, ‘Honor your father and your mother’; and, ‘Whoever reviles father or mother must surely die.’ But you say, ‘If a man tells his father or his mother, “Whatever you would have gained from me is Corban”’ (that is, given to God)— then you no longer permit him to do anything for his father or mother, thus making void the word of God by your tradition that you have handed down. And many such things you do.”
Mark 7:5-13
And Pharisees came up and in order to test him asked, “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife?” He answered them, “What did Moses command you?” They said, “Moses allowed a man to write a certificate of divorce and to send her away.” And Jesus said to them, “Because of your hardness of heart he wrote you this commandment. But from the beginning of creation, ‘God made them male and female.’ ‘Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.’ So they are no longer two but one flesh. What therefore God has joined together, let not man separate.”
Mark 10:2-9
There were seven brothers; the first took a wife, and when he died left no offspring. And the second took her, and died, leaving no offspring. And the third likewise. And the seven left no offspring. Last of all the woman also died. In the resurrection, when they rise again, whose wife will she be? For the seven had her as wife.” Jesus said to them, “Is this not the reason you are wrong, because you know neither the Scriptures nor the power of God? For when they rise from the dead, they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are like angels in heaven. And as for the dead being raised, have you not read in the book of Moses, in the passage about the bush, how God spoke to him, saying, ‘I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob’? He is not God of the dead, but of the living. You are quite wrong.”
Mark 12:20-27
“The poor man died and was carried by the angels to Abraham’s side. The rich man also died and was buried, and in Hades, being in torment, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham far off and Lazarus at his side. And he called out, ‘Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus to dip the end of his finger in water and cool my tongue, for I am in anguish in this flame.’ But Abraham said, ‘Child, remember that you in your lifetime received your good things, and Lazarus in like manner bad things; but now he is comforted here, and you are in anguish. And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been fixed, in order that those who would pass from here to you may not be able, and none may cross from there to us.’ And he said, ‘Then I beg you, father, to send him to my father’s house— for I have five brothers—so that he may warn them, lest they also come into this place of torment.’ But Abraham said, ‘They have Moses and the Prophets; let them hear them.’ And he said, ‘No, father Abraham, but if someone goes to them from the dead, they will repent.’ He said to him, ‘If they do not hear Moses and the Prophets, neither will they be convinced if someone should rise from the dead.’”
Luke 16:22-31
Moreover, some women of our company amazed us. They were at the tomb early in the morning, and when they did not find his body, they came back saying that they had even seen a vision of angels, who said that he was alive. Some of those who were with us went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said, but him they did not see.” And he said to them, “O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer these things and enter into his glory?” And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself.
Luke 24:22-27
“And the Father who sent me has himself borne witness about me. His voice you have never heard, his form you have never seen, and you do not have his word abiding in you, for you do not believe the one whom he has sent. You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is they that bear witness about me, yet you refuse to come to me that you may have life. I do not receive glory from people. But I know that you do not have the love of God within you. I have come in my Father’s name, and you do not receive me. If another comes in his own name, you will receive him. How can you believe, when you receive glory from one another and do not seek the glory that comes from the only God? Do not think that I will accuse you to the Father. There is one who accuses you: Moses, on whom you have set your hope. For if you believed Moses, you would believe me; for he wrote of me. But if you do not believe his writings, how will you believe my words?”
John 5:37-47
The Jews answered him, “It is not for a good work that we are going to stone you but for blasphemy, because you, being a man, make yourself God.” Jesus answered them, “Is it not written in your Law, ‘I said, you are gods’? If he called them gods to whom the word of God came—and Scripture cannot be broken— do you say of him whom the Father consecrated and sent into the world, ‘You are blaspheming,’ because I said, ‘I am the Son of God’?
John 10:33-36
“I have given them your word, and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. I do not ask that you take them out of the world, but that you keep them from the evil one. They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth. As you sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world. And for their sake I consecrate myself, that they also may be sanctified in truth. I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me.”
John 17:14-21
Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; but these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.
John 20:30-31
And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.
Acts 2:42
Now these Jews were more noble than those in Thessalonica; they received the word with all eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so.
Acts 17:11
Now a Jew named Apollos, a native of Alexandria, came to Ephesus. He was an eloquent man, competent in the Scriptures. He had been instructed in the way of the Lord. And being fervent in spirit, he spoke and taught accurately the things concerning Jesus, though he knew only the baptism of John. He began to speak boldly in the synagogue, but when Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they took him aside and explained to him the way of God more accurately. And when he wished to cross to Achaia, the brothers encouraged him and wrote to the disciples to welcome him. When he arrived, he greatly helped those who through grace had believed, for he powerfully refuted the Jews in public, showing by the Scriptures that the Christ was Jesus.
Acts 18:24-28
Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the church of God, which he obtained with his own blood. I know that after my departure fierce wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock; and from among your own selves will arise men speaking twisted things, to draw away the disciples after them. Therefore be alert, remembering that for three years I did not cease night or day to admonish every one with tears.
Acts 20:28-31
So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.
Romans 10:17
Let each of us please his neighbor for his good, to build him up. For Christ did not please himself, but as it is written, “The reproaches of those who reproached you fell on me.” For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.
Romans 15:2-4
I appeal to you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and create obstacles contrary to the doctrine that you have been taught; avoid them. For such persons do not serve our Lord Christ, but their own appetites, and by smooth talk and flattery they deceive the hearts of the naive.
Romans 16:17-18
I have applied all these things to myself and Apollos for your benefit, brothers, 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.
1 Corinthians 4:6
I speak as to sensible people; judge for yourselves what I say.
1 Corinthians 10:15
Or was it from you that the word of God came? Or are you the only ones it has reached? If anyone thinks that he is a prophet, or spiritual, he should acknowledge that the things I am writing to you are a command of the Lord. If anyone does not recognize this, he is not recognized.
1 Corinthians 14:36-38
But we have renounced disgraceful, underhanded ways. We refuse to practice cunning or to tamper with God’s word, but by the open statement of the truth we would commend ourselves to everyone’s conscience in the sight of God.
2 Corinthians 4:2
But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be accursed. As we have said before, so now I say again: If anyone is preaching to you a gospel contrary to the one you received, let him be accursed.
Galatians 1:8-9
So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord.
Ephesians 2:19-21
Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving. See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ.
Colossians 2:6-8
Do not despise prophecies, but test everything; hold fast what is good.
1 Thessalonians 5:20-21
So then, brothers, stand firm and hold to the traditions that you were taught by us, either by our spoken word or by our letter.
2 Thessalonians 2:15
Let the elders who rule well be considered worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in preaching and teaching. For the Scripture says, “You shall not muzzle an ox when it treads out the grain,” and, “The laborer deserves his wages.”
1 Timothy 5:17-18
- Luke 10:5-7 - “Whatever house you enter, first say, ‘Peace be to this house!’ And if a son of peace is there, your peace will rest upon him. But if not, it will return to you. And remain in the same house, eating and drinking what they provide, for the laborer deserves his wages. Do not go from house to house.”
If anyone teaches a different doctrine and does not agree with the sound words of our Lord Jesus Christ and the teaching that accords with godliness, he is puffed up with conceit and understands nothing. He has an unhealthy craving for controversy and for quarrels about words, which produce envy, dissension, slander, evil suspicions, and constant friction among people who are depraved in mind and deprived of the truth, imagining that godliness is a means of gain.
1 Timothy 6:3-5
Follow the pattern of the sound words that you have heard from me, in the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus.
2 Timothy 1:13
But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.
2 Timothy 3:14-17
Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world.
Hebrews 1:1-2
knowing this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture comes from someone’s own interpretation. For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.
2 Peter 1:20-21
But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing upon themselves swift destruction. And many will follow their sensuality, and because of them the way of truth will be blasphemed. And in their greed they will exploit you with false words. Their condemnation from long ago is not idle, and their destruction is not asleep.
2 Peter 2:1-3
And count the patience of our Lord as salvation, just as our beloved brother Paul also wrote to you according to the wisdom given him, as he does in all his letters when he speaks in them of these matters. There are some things in them that are hard to understand, which the ignorant and unstable twist to their own destruction, as they do the other Scriptures. You therefore, beloved, knowing this beforehand, take care that you are not carried away with the error of lawless people and lose your own stability. But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity. Amen.
2 Peter 3:15-18
But you have been anointed by the Holy One, and you all have knowledge. I write to you, not because you do not know the truth, but because you know it, and because no lie is of the truth. Who is the liar but he who denies that Jesus is the Christ? This is the antichrist, he who denies the Father and the Son. No one who denies the Son has the Father. Whoever confesses the Son has the Father also. Let what you heard from the beginning abide in you. If what you heard from the beginning abides in you, then you too will abide in the Son and in the Father.
1 John 2:20-24
I write these things to you about those who are trying to deceive you. But the anointing that you received from him abides in you, and you have no need that anyone should teach you. But as his anointing teaches you about everything, and is true, and is no lie—just as it has taught you, abide in him.
1 John 2:26-27
Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world. By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you heard was coming and now is in the world already. Little children, you are from God and have overcome them, for he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world. They are from the world; therefore they speak from the world, and the world listens to them. We are from God. Whoever knows God listens to us; whoever is not from God does not listen to us. By this we know the Spirit of truth and the spirit of error.
1 John 4:1-6
Jude 3-4
Beloved, although I was very eager to write to you about our common salvation, I found it necessary to write appealing to you to contend for the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints. For certain people have crept in unnoticed who long ago were designated for this condemnation, ungodly people, who pervert the grace of our God into sensuality and deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ.
Verses Used Against This View
These verses are also from the ESV translation:
“And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.”
Matthew 16:18-19
- Opposition’s Claim: The Church is built on Peter, so we don’t just follow Scripture, we also follow what the apostles taught, A.K.A. Tradition!
- Context:
- Matthew 16:5-12 - When the disciples reached the other side, they had forgotten to bring any bread. Jesus said to them, “Watch and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees.” And they began discussing it among themselves, saying, “We brought no bread.” But Jesus, aware of this, said, “O you of little faith, why are you discussing among yourselves the fact that you have no bread? Do you not yet perceive? Do you not remember the five loaves for the five thousand, and how many baskets you gathered? Or the seven loaves for the four thousand, and how many baskets you gathered? How is it that you fail to understand that I did not speak about bread? Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees.” Then they understood that he did not tell them to beware of the leaven of bread, but of the teaching of the Pharisees and Sadducees.
- Matthew 16:13-17 - Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” And they said, “Some say John the Baptist, others say Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” Simon Peter replied, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” And Jesus answered him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven.”
- Matthew 16:21-23 - From that time Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised. And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him, saying, “Far be it from you, Lord! This shall never happen to you.” But he turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a hindrance to me. For you are not setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things of man.”
- Matthew 16:5-12 - When the disciples reached the other side, they had forgotten to bring any bread. Jesus said to them, “Watch and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees.” And they began discussing it among themselves, saying, “We brought no bread.” But Jesus, aware of this, said, “O you of little faith, why are you discussing among yourselves the fact that you have no bread? Do you not yet perceive? Do you not remember the five loaves for the five thousand, and how many baskets you gathered? Or the seven loaves for the four thousand, and how many baskets you gathered? How is it that you fail to understand that I did not speak about bread? Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees.” Then they understood that he did not tell them to beware of the leaven of bread, but of the teaching of the Pharisees and Sadducees.
- I actually agree with the opposition’s claim, that we follow what the apostles taught. The thing is, what’s the only way we can know what the apostles taught? By reading Scripture, specifically the New Testament writings.
- There’s a non-sequitur that’s applied when using this verse against sola scriptura, that if this verse teaches that Peter’s the foundation of the Church (this is addressed below but granting for the sake of argument here), then that same infallible teaching/binding authority is extended past the apostles to their disciples. There are verses that talk about the Holy Spirit being given to others by the laying on of hands, but none that also transfer this infallible teaching authority. Rather, we see many verses encouraging Christians to hold to what was taught by the apostles.
- Acts 2:42 - And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.
- 1 Corinthians 11:2 - Now I commend you because you remember me in everything and maintain the traditions even as I delivered them to you.
- 2 Thessalonians 2:15 - So then, brothers, stand firm and hold to the traditions that you were taught by us, either by our spoken word or by our letter.
- 2 Thessalonians 3:6 - Now we command you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you keep away from any brother who is walking in idleness and not in accord with the tradition that you received from us.
- 2 Timothy 1:13 - Follow the pattern of the sound words that you have heard from me, in the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus.
- 2 Timothy 2:2 - and what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men, who will be able to teach others also.
- 2 Timothy 3:14-17 - But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.
- To the Catholic reading this verse, I’ll address the “Church is built on Peter” here briefly. The context of verses 16 and 17 tell us what “this rock” is, Peter’s confession that was revealed to him by the Father, as Catholic Catechisms 424 and 442 also support below. Additionally, just a few verses later, Jesus rebuked Peter saying “Get behind me, Satan! You are a hindrance to me. For you are not setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things of man.” We also have Peter in his own letters calling himself “a fellow elder” and acknowledging Christ as the living stone, the cornerstone, the rock of offense.
- 1 Peter 2:2-8 - Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation, now that you have tasted that the Lord is good. As you come to Him, the living stone, rejected by men but chosen and precious in God’s sight, you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. For it stands in Scripture:
“See, I lay in Zion a stone,
a chosen and precious cornerstone;
and the one who believes in Him
will never be put to shame.”
To you who believe, then, this stone is precious. But to those who do not believe,
“The stone the builders rejected
has become the cornerstone,”
and,
“A stone of stumbling
and a rock of offense.”
They stumble because they disobey the word—and to this they were appointed.
- 1 Peter 5:1 - As a fellow elder, a witness of Christ’s sufferings, and a partaker of the glory to be revealed, I appeal to the elders among you:
- CCC 424 - Moved by the grace of the Holy Spirit and drawn by the Father, we believe in Jesus and confess: 'You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.' On the rock of this faith confessed by St. Peter, Christ built his Church.
- CCC 442 - Such is not the case for Simon Peter when he confesses Jesus as "the Christ, the Son of the living God", for Jesus responds solemnly: "Flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven." Similarly Paul will write, regarding his conversion on the road to Damascus, "When he who had set me apart before I was born, and had called me through his grace, was pleased to reveal his Son to me, in order that I might preach him among the Gentiles..." "And in the synagogues immediately [Paul] proclaimed Jesus, saying, 'He is the Son of God.'" From the beginning this acknowledgment of Christ's divine sonship will be the centre of the apostolic faith, first professed by Peter as the Church's foundation.
- CCC 881 - The Lord made Simon alone, whom he named Peter, the "rock" of his Church. He gave him the keys of his Church and instituted him shepherd of the whole flock. "The office of binding and loosing which was given to Peter was also assigned to the college of apostles united to its head." This pastoral office of Peter and the other apostles belongs to the Church's very foundation and is continued by the bishops under the primacy of the Pope.
- 1 Peter 2:2-8 - Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation, now that you have tasted that the Lord is good. As you come to Him, the living stone, rejected by men but chosen and precious in God’s sight, you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. For it stands in Scripture:
“Truly, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.”
Matthew 18:18
- Opposition Claim: Whatever is bound on Earth by the Church leaders shall be bound in heaven, and whatever the Church leaders loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven!
- Context:
- Matthew 18:1-4 - At that time the disciples came to Jesus, saying, “Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” And calling to him a child, he put him in the midst of them and said, “Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.”
- Matthew 18:15-17 - “If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained your brother. But if he does not listen, take one or two others along with you, that every charge may be established by the evidence of two or three witnesses. If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church. And if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector.”
- Matthew 18:19-20 - “Again I say to you, if two of you agree on earth about anything they ask, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven. For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them.”
- Matthew 18:1-4 - At that time the disciples came to Jesus, saying, “Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” And calling to him a child, he put him in the midst of them and said, “Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.”
- The non-sequitur hear is attributing this paragraph to the Church leaders. From the context we gather two things:
- The addressed audience, as verse 1 states, is the disciples.
- Verse 20 gives us a hint as two who these statements apply to. It could either remain as just the disciples, or to any that would gather in Jesus’ name.
Then Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples, “The scribes and the Pharisees sit on Moses’ seat, so do and observe whatever they tell you, but not the works they do. For they preach, but do not practice.”
Matthew 23:1-3
- Opposition’s Claim: We’re still supposed to observe whatever the Church leaders tell us, despite any bad works/hypocrisy.
- Context:
- Matthew 23:13-15 - “But woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you shut the kingdom of heaven in people’s faces. For you neither enter yourselves nor allow those who would enter to go in. Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you travel across sea and land to make a single proselyte, and when he becomes a proselyte, you make him twice as much a child of hell as yourselves.”
- The Greek word for proselyte is προσήλυτον (prosēlyton - Strong’s 4339), translating to Proselyte, convert. Many translations opt for convert here.
- The Greek word for proselyte is προσήλυτον (prosēlyton - Strong’s 4339), translating to Proselyte, convert. Many translations opt for convert here.
- Matthew 23:23 - “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you tithe mint and dill and cumin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faithfulness. These you ought to have done, without neglecting the others.”
- Matthew 23:29-33 - “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you build the tombs of the prophets and decorate the monuments of the righteous, saying, ‘If we had lived in the days of our fathers, we would not have taken part with them in shedding the blood of the prophets.’ Thus you witness against yourselves that you are sons of those who murdered the prophets. Fill up, then, the measure of your fathers. You serpents, you brood of vipers, how are you to escape being sentenced to hell?”
- Matthew 22:23-33 - The same day Sadducees came to him, who say that there is no resurrection, and they asked him a question, saying, “Teacher, Moses said, ‘If a man dies having no children, his brother must marry the widow and raise up offspring for his brother.’ Now there were seven brothers among us. The first married and died, and having no offspring left his wife to his brother. So too the second and third, down to the seventh. After them all, the woman died. In the resurrection, therefore, of the seven, whose wife will she be? For they all had her.”
But Jesus answered them, “You are wrong, because you know neither the Scriptures nor the power of God. For in the resurrection they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are like angels in heaven. And as for the resurrection of the dead, have you not read what was said to you by God: ‘I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob’? He is not God of the dead, but of the living.” And when the crowd heard it, they were astonished at his teaching.
- Matthew 23:13-15 - “But woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you shut the kingdom of heaven in people’s faces. For you neither enter yourselves nor allow those who would enter to go in. Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you travel across sea and land to make a single proselyte, and when he becomes a proselyte, you make him twice as much a child of hell as yourselves.”
- If we were to apply the opposition’s claim to Christians, verses 13-15 and 33 would seem to contradict that, saying that the scribes and Pharisees shut the kingdom of heaven in peoples faces, not entering themselves nor allowing others to either. Much more, if they make a convert, they make him twice as much a child of hell as themselves. Towards the end of these rebukes, Jesus says to this same theme, “You serpents, you brood of vipers, how are you to escape being sentenced to hell?”
- Despite saying that the scribes and Pharisees sit on Moses’ seat, Jesus still rebukes them for not upholding the weightier matters of the law, as seen in verse 23. In the prior chapter, Jesus similarly proved the Sadducees wrong from the Scriptures, saying in verse 22:29 “You are wrong, because you know neither the Scriptures nor the power of God.”
This tells us that even those in authority here on earth are still held to the Scriptures, as that is where the law is preserved after Moses’ time. - With the context in mind, we see that despite recognizing the scribes, Pharisees, and Sadducees’ positions of authority, they are still held to the Scriptures for both correction from error and rebuke for not doing what they should.
“Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
Matthew 28:19-20
- Opposition’s Claim: Christ commissioned the apostles to teach all He commanded, and promised His ongoing presence with them—implying an enduring, authoritative teaching office in the Church beyond the written text.
- The Greek word for I have commanded is ἐνετειλάμην (eneteilamēn - Strong’s 1781) and is in the aorist (complete/past) tense.
- It’s important to know the tense used when Jesus told the disciples to teach all that He commanded them. Since this is in the past/complete tense, it would make no sense to say that Jesus’ ongoing presence with the disciples implies an expansion of commands to teach.
(For the Pharisees and all the Jews do not eat unless they wash their hands properly, holding to the tradition of the elders, and when they come from the marketplace, they do not eat unless they wash. And there are many other traditions that they observe, such as the washing of cups and pots and copper vessels and dining couches.)
Mark 7:3-4
- Opposition’s Claim: Scripture itself acknowledges “traditions” as a real category of religious practice; therefore, tradition alongside written Scripture is not inherently illegitimate.
- Context:
- Mark 7:1-2 - Now when the Pharisees gathered to him, with some of the scribes who had come from Jerusalem, they saw that some of his disciples ate with hands that were defiled, that is, unwashed.
- Mark 7:5-13 - And the Pharisees and the scribes asked him, “Why do your disciples not walk according to the tradition of the elders, but eat with defiled hands?” And he said to them, “Well did Isaiah prophesy of you hypocrites, as it is written,
“‘This people honors me with their lips,
but their heart is far from me;
in vain do they worship me,
teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.’
You leave the commandment of God and hold to the tradition of men.”
And he said to them, “You have a fine way of rejecting the commandment of God in order to establish your tradition! For Moses said, ‘Honor your father and your mother’; and, ‘Whoever reviles father or mother must surely die.’ But you say, ‘If a man tells his father or his mother, “Whatever you would have gained from me is Corban”’ (that is, given to God)— then you no longer permit him to do anything for his father or mother, thus making void the word of God by your tradition that you have handed down. And many such things you do.”
- Mark 7:1-2 - Now when the Pharisees gathered to him, with some of the scribes who had come from Jerusalem, they saw that some of his disciples ate with hands that were defiled, that is, unwashed.
- I agree that traditions can be a real category of religious practice. The issue is when a tradition contradicts or voids Scripture. That is exactly what Jesus rebukes the Pharisees for regarding this tradition, that they rejected the commandment of God in order to establish their tradition. This is not the only case either, as Jesus later says in verse 13, “And many such things you do.”
“The one who hears you hears me, and the one who rejects you rejects me, and the one who rejects me rejects him who sent me.”
Luke 10:16
- Opposition’s Claim: Jesus identifies receiving the apostles’ message with receiving Him—so apostolic/Church teaching carries divine authority, not merely human opinion.
- Context:
- Luke 10:1-2 - After this the Lord appointed seventy-two others and sent them on ahead of him, two by two, into every town and place where he himself was about to go. And he said to them, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.”
- Luke 10:8-12 - “Whenever you enter a town and they receive you, eat what is set before you. Heal the sick in it and say to them, ‘The kingdom of God has come near to you.’ But whenever you enter a town and they do not receive you, go into its streets and say, ‘Even the dust of your town that clings to our feet we wipe off against you. Nevertheless know this, that the kingdom of God has come near.’ I tell you, it will be more bearable on that day for Sodom than for that town.”
- Luke 10:17-20 - The seventy-two returned with joy, saying, “Lord, even the demons are subject to us in your name!” And he said to them, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. Behold, I have given you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall hurt you. Nevertheless, do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.”
- Luke 10:1-2 - After this the Lord appointed seventy-two others and sent them on ahead of him, two by two, into every town and place where he himself was about to go. And he said to them, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.”
- I agree that Jesus identifies receiving the apostles’ message with receiving Him. The context also identifies what this message is, that the kingdom of God has come near and those who reject it will have a worse judgement/punishment than Sodom, Tyre, and Sidon. Verse 16 relates this rejection of the message/the apostles with rejecting Jesus and Him who sent Jesus. The context also reveals who this specific authority is given to, His disciples the seventy-two others the Lord appointed.
- This verse and the context do not extend this authority beyond the preaching of the gospel, treading on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy. To say that this same authority applies to any “successors” of this specified group, or that it also applies to other teachings/commands would be to go beyond what Luke 10 teaches here.
“I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come.”
John 16:12-13
- Opposition’s Claim: The Spirit’s guidance into “all the truth” implies a continuing, Spirit-guided teaching authority in the Church, not a “Scripture only” mechanism.
- Context:
- John 16:17 - So some of his disciples said to one another, “What is this that he says to us, ‘A little while, and you will not see me, and again a little while, and you will see me’; and, ‘because I am going to the Father’?
- John 13:21-22 - After saying these things, Jesus was troubled in his spirit, and testified, “Truly, truly, I say to you, one of you will betray me.” The disciples looked at one another, uncertain of whom he spoke.
- John 13:29-30 - Some thought that, because Judas had the moneybag, Jesus was telling him, “Buy what we need for the feast,” or that he should give something to the poor. So, after receiving the morsel of bread, he immediately went out. And it was night.
- John 15:7-8 - “If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples.”
- John 21:24 - This is the disciple who is bearing witness about these things, and who has written these things, and we know that his testimony is true.
- John 16:17 - So some of his disciples said to one another, “What is this that he says to us, ‘A little while, and you will not see me, and again a little while, and you will see me’; and, ‘because I am going to the Father’?
- The context of this passage is the Last Supper with Jesus’ disciples, and by chapter 13, Judas had left the group. Jesus thus scopes this guiding into all the truth to those 11 disciples, not to a continuing office beyond them.
- This distinction of sourcing truth from the apostles was widely used to help recognize what writings God inspired as Scripture. Those who were eyewitnesses or sourced information from the eyewitnesses (Mark and Luke for example) were considered credible as being Scripture, among other factors of course. John considered it this way when he wrote “we know that his testimony is true”.
- This distinction of sourcing truth from the apostles was widely used to help recognize what writings God inspired as Scripture. Those who were eyewitnesses or sourced information from the eyewitnesses (Mark and Luke for example) were considered credible as being Scripture, among other factors of course. John considered it this way when he wrote “we know that his testimony is true”.
- Since the apostles were guided into all truth, we should ground ourselves to their teaching. Where do we find this teaching from the apostles today? In Scripture.
Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you.” And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you withhold forgiveness from any, it is withheld.”
John 20:21-23
- Opposition’s Claim: Jesus grants the apostles Spirit-empowered authority (including forgiving/withholding), supporting an authoritative Church office rather than each believer being their own final authority.
- I agree that Jesus granted the apostles Spirit-empowered authority, but I do not see where this same authority is passed down to an authoritative Church office after the apostles.
- The notion that each believer is their own final authority is a straw-man of the Sola Scriptura position. There are authorities such as elders and deacons as 1 Timothy 3 and others define for us. However the final, infallible authority is Scripture, so if anyone is teaching something contradictory to Scripture, then we go with Scripture.
Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; but these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.
John 20:30-31
- Opposition’s Claim: John explicitly notes not everything is written, so divine revelation is not exhausted by what is recorded in Scripture.
- I agree, divine revelation—the “many other signs in the presence of the disciples—is not exhausted by what is recorded in John. The implication that these verses are talking about further doctrinal divine revelation would be to go beyond the text, seeing that verse 30 scopes what was not written, many other signs.
Now there are also many other things that Jesus did. Were every one of them to be written, I suppose that the world itself could not contain the books that would be written.
John 21:25
- Opposition’s Claim: Since Jesus did “many other things” not written down, Christians should not assume all authoritative teaching is contained in Scripture alone.
- The Greek word for did is ἐποίησεν (epoiēsen - Strong’s 4160), translating to “to make”, “to do”, “to act”, “to cause”, “to work”
- Context:
- John 21:4-8 - Just as day was breaking, Jesus stood on the shore; yet the disciples did not know that it was Jesus. Jesus said to them, “Children, do you have any fish?” They answered him, “No.” He said to them, “Cast the net on the right side of the boat, and you will find some.” So they cast it, and now they were not able to haul it in, because of the quantity of fish. That disciple whom Jesus loved therefore said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on his outer garment, for he was stripped for work, and threw himself into the sea. The other disciples came in the boat, dragging the net full of fish, for they were not far from the land, but about a hundred yards off.
- John 21:24 - This is the disciple who is bearing witness about these things, and who has written these things, and we know that his testimony is true.
- John 21:4-8 - Just as day was breaking, Jesus stood on the shore; yet the disciples did not know that it was Jesus. Jesus said to them, “Children, do you have any fish?” They answered him, “No.” He said to them, “Cast the net on the right side of the boat, and you will find some.” So they cast it, and now they were not able to haul it in, because of the quantity of fish. That disciple whom Jesus loved therefore said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on his outer garment, for he was stripped for work, and threw himself into the sea. The other disciples came in the boat, dragging the net full of fish, for they were not far from the land, but about a hundred yards off.
- Given the context of the fishing miracle and the Greek word being used for actions, not teachings, I don’t see how this verse itself implies that authoritative teaching is outside of what the apostles wrote.
- The verse prior hints to where we can find the true teachings of Jesus that we should follow. John says that “we know that his testimony is true”, speaking of his writings. This apostolic teaching authority is seen throughout Scripture (and listed throughout this document) and we are obliged to adhere to it. Since there are no apostles living today, we look to what we have of their teaching, Scripture.
And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.
Acts 2:42
- Opposition’s Claim: The earliest Church is described as devoted to the apostles’ teaching (a living body of instruction), not “Scripture alone.”
- Since the earliest Church existed while the apostles were still living, they had direct access to the apostles. Churches afterwards, like today, are still called to be devoted to the apostles’ teaching, which are found in Scripture.
So Philip ran to him and heard him reading Isaiah the prophet and asked, “Do you understand what you are reading?” And he said, “How can I, unless someone guides me?” And he invited Philip to come up and sit with him.
Acts 8:30-31
- Opposition’s Claim: Scripture often requires guidance/interpretation; therefore, an authoritative teacher/Church is needed to rightly understand it.
- Context:
- Acts 8:32-25 - Now the passage of the Scripture that he was reading was this:
“Like a sheep he was led to the slaughter
and like a lamb before its shearer is silent,
so he opens not his mouth.
In his humiliation justice was denied him.
Who can describe his generation?
For his life is taken away from the earth.”
And the eunuch said to Philip, “About whom, I ask you, does the prophet say this, about himself or about someone else?” (35) Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning with this Scripture he told him the good news about Jesus.
- Acts 8:32-25 - Now the passage of the Scripture that he was reading was this:
- I agree that some Scriptures often needs guidance to understand. However, the principal in this interpretation, as verse 35 denotes, is still the Scripture. All interpretations should start from and be based on it.
But some men came down from Judea and were teaching the brothers, “Unless you are circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved.” And after Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and debate with them, Paul and Barnabas and some of the others were appointed to go up to Jerusalem to the apostles and the elders about this question. So, being sent on their way by the church, they passed through both Phoenicia and Samaria, describing in detail the conversion of the Gentiles, and brought great joy to all the brothers. When they came to Jerusalem, they were welcomed by the church and the apostles and the elders, and they declared all that God had done with them. But some believers who belonged to the party of the Pharisees rose up and said, “It is necessary to circumcise them and to order them to keep the law of Moses.” The apostles and the elders were gathered together to consider this matter. And after there had been much debate, Peter stood up and said to them, “Brothers, you know that in the early days God made a choice among you, that by my mouth the Gentiles should hear the word of the gospel and believe. And God, who knows the heart, bore witness to them, by giving them the Holy Spirit just as he did to us, and he made no distinction between us and them, having cleansed their hearts by faith. Now, therefore, why are you putting God to the test by placing a yoke on the neck of the disciples that neither our fathers nor we have been able to bear? But we believe that we will be saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus, just as they will.” And all the assembly fell silent, and they listened to Barnabas and Paul as they related what signs and wonders God had done through them among the Gentiles.
Acts 15:1-12
- Opposition’s Claim: Doctrinal disputes were settled by the apostles and elders gathered in council—an early model for authoritative Church councils rather than independent private interpretation.
- I agree that having the believers gather together to tackle doctrinal disputes is modeled for us in the Bible. However, it is a stretch to imply any infallibility in a council that does not contain any of the apostles. As mentioned previously, only the apostles were given that “leading into all truth” (A.K.A. infallibility).
Now I commend you because you remember me in everything and maintain the traditions even as I delivered them to you.
1 Corinthians 11:2
- Opposition’s Claim: Paul explicitly commends maintaining the “traditions” he delivered—supporting binding apostolic Tradition alongside Scripture.
- The keyword here is apostolic tradition. This is a recurring theme, but of course we are to keep the traditions taught by the apostles. Where do we find these traditions that can be traced back to what the apostles taught? In Scripture. Therefore it is not “apostolic tradition alongside Scripture”, it’s “apostolic tradition found in Scripture”.
And God has appointed in the church first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing, helping, administrating, and various kinds of tongues.
1 Corinthians 12:28
- Opposition’s Claim: God established ordered offices in the Church (including “teachers”), implying a divinely given structure for teaching and governance.
- Context:
- 1 Corinthians 12:18-20 - But as it is, God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as he chose. If all were a single member, where would the body be? As it is, there are many parts, yet one body.
- 1 Corinthians 12:29-31 - Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? Do all possess gifts of healing? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret? But earnestly desire the higher gifts.
And I will show you a still more excellent way.
- 1 Corinthians 12:18-20 - But as it is, God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as he chose. If all were a single member, where would the body be? As it is, there are many parts, yet one body.
- I actually agree that there are ordered “offices”, or members of the body of Christ as the context puts it, implying that God given structure. Notice what’s higher than the teachers: the apostles and prophets. If the apostles and prophets are in a higher office than teachers, then they have authority over any teachers to come after them. How can teachers be held accountable to the apostles and prophets? By their writings contained in Scripture.
For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures,
1 Corinthians 15:3
- Opposition’s Claim: The gospel is something “received” and “delivered” (handed on), indicating an authoritative apostolic transmission that is not limited to later written texts.
- Keyword: apostolic transmission. In the time of the apostles, they of course were preaching and teaching, as they were guided into all truth. Nowadays, we have the apostles’ writings/dictations of their teaching, in Scripture.
- Paul also emphasizes Scripture’s importance here, grounding his teaching “in accordance with the Scriptures”, repeating the phrase in the next verse as well.
And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ,
Ephesians 4:11-13
- Opposition’s Claim: Christ gives the Church ongoing “shepherds and teachers” for unity and maturity—implying a continuing, authoritative teaching ministry.
- Context:
- Ephesians 4:14-16 - so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes. Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.
- Ephesians 4:19-22 - They have become callous and have given themselves up to sensuality, greedy to practice every kind of impurity. But that is not the way you learned Christ!— assuming that you have heard about him and were taught in him, as the truth is in Jesus, to put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires,
- Ephesians 4:14-16 - so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes. Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.
- The Church does have ongoing Shepards and teachers, but the text does not imply any infallibility to these later teachers. Rather, the context of the same chapter tells us that Christ is the head of the whole body of Christ and that the truth is in Jesus.
Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving. See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ.
Colossians 2:6-8
- Opposition’s Claim: Paul distinguishes human tradition from what is “according to Christ,” implying there is also a legitimate apostolic tradition (not condemned here).
- Context:
- Colossians 2:1-4 - For I want you to know how great a struggle I have for you and for those at Laodicea and for all who have not seen me face to face, that their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love, to reach all the riches of full assurance of understanding and the knowledge of God’s mystery, which is Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. I say this in order that no one may delude you with plausible arguments.
- Colossians 2:1-4 - For I want you to know how great a struggle I have for you and for those at Laodicea and for all who have not seen me face to face, that their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love, to reach all the riches of full assurance of understanding and the knowledge of God’s mystery, which is Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. I say this in order that no one may delude you with plausible arguments.
- I agree that there is an apostolic tradition, but where is it found? Is it in the teachings of those after the apostles (early church fathers) or is it in Christ and His apostles? According to this verse, legitimate teaching is rooted in Christ.
And we also thank God constantly for this, that when you received the word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men but as what it really is, the word of God, which is at work in you believers.
1 Thessalonians 2:13
- Opposition's Claim: Paul describes the oral preaching of the apostles as "the word of God" itself — not a written text, but a spoken message received as divine. This shows that God's word was transmitted through living apostolic preaching, not Scripture alone.
- This is a false dichotomy. Yes at the time of the apostles, they were teaching orally first. These teachings were then recorded Scripture so that local churches could know what the apostolic teaching is. This teaching has been preserved for us today as well, so we should accept it as the word of God.
So then, brothers, stand firm and hold to the traditions that you were taught by us, either by our spoken word or by our letter.
2 Thessalonians 2:15
- Opposition's Claim: Paul explicitly commands believers to hold to traditions delivered both by spoken word and by letter, placing oral apostolic tradition on equal footing with written Scripture — directly undermining a "written text only" framework.
- Who’s tradition should we hold to, whether transmitted orally or by letter? The verse tells us: “hold to the traditions that you were taught by us”. Of course when the apostles were alive, they could teach their traditions by word of mouth. However today, we only have what the apostles wrote, so we should hold to the traditions taught by the apostles.
- This passage in no way implies that we should hold to traditions taught by others, especially if they would have us depart from traditions taught by the apostles, recorded in Scripture.
Now we command you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you keep away from any brother who is walking in idleness and not in accord with the tradition that you received from us.
2 Thessalonians 3:6
- Opposition's Claim: Paul grounds his command in "the tradition you received from us," showing that apostolic tradition carries binding, authoritative weight in governing how Christians live — not Scripture alone.
- This is another false dichotomy. Apostolic tradition and teaching of course carries binding, authoritative weight in governing how Christians live; this is the exact position of sola scriptura, that the Scriptures are the highest authority that we base our beliefs and life on, as it is the only infallible rule of faith for Christians. The apostles are no longer with us, so we go to their writings to learn what the apostolic traditions are; these writings are found in Scripture.
I hope to come to you soon, but I am writing these things to you so that, if I delay, you may know how one ought to behave in the household of God, which is the church of the living God, a pillar and buttress of the truth.
1 Timothy 3:14-15
- Opposition's Claim: Paul calls the Church — not Scripture — "the pillar and buttress of the truth," indicating that the Church is the guardian and foundation of truth, and therefore holds authority in defining and preserving correct doctrine.
- The Greek word for pillar is στῦλος (stylos - Strong’s 4769), translating to (when used figuratively as is here) support.
- The Greek word for buttress is ἑδραίωμα (hedraiōma - Strong’s 1477), translating to foundation, support, pillar.
- There’s a big difference between being the ‘foundation of truth’ and being the ‘foundation/support of the truth’. This verse is not saying that the Church itself is the truth, but that the Church is the support of the truth.
Command and teach these things. Let no one despise you for your youth, but set the believers an example in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity. Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to exhortation, to teaching.
1 Timothy 4:11-13
- Opposition's Claim: Paul instructs Timothy to command, teach, exhort, and set an example — functions of a living teaching office — demonstrating that authoritative doctrine flows through ordained ministers, not through the text alone.
- Context:
- 1 Timothy 4:1-3 - Now the Spirit expressly says that in later times some will depart from the faith by devoting themselves to deceitful spirits and teachings of demons, through the insincerity of liars whose consciences are seared, who forbid marriage and require abstinence from foods that God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth.
- 1 Timothy 4:6-7 - If you put these things before the brothers, you will be a good servant of Christ Jesus, being trained in the words of the faith and of the good doctrine that you have followed. Have nothing to do with irreverent, silly myths. Rather train yourself for godliness;
- 1 Timothy 4:16 - Keep a close watch on yourself and on the teaching. Persist in this, for by so doing you will save both yourself and your hearers.
- 1 Timothy 6:3-5 - If anyone teaches a different doctrine and does not agree with the sound words of our Lord Jesus Christ and the teaching that accords with godliness, he is puffed up with conceit and understands nothing. He has an unhealthy craving for controversy and for quarrels about words, which produce envy, dissension, slander, evil suspicions, and constant friction among people who are depraved in mind and deprived of the truth, imagining that godliness is a means of gain.
- 1 Timothy 4:1-3 - Now the Spirit expressly says that in later times some will depart from the faith by devoting themselves to deceitful spirits and teachings of demons, through the insincerity of liars whose consciences are seared, who forbid marriage and require abstinence from foods that God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth.
- Paul does instruct Timothy, and the elders, to teach, but the context roots this teaching in “the words of the faith and of the good doctrine that you have followed” and “the sound words of our Lord Jesus Christ and the teaching that accords with godliness”. Paul warns that people will go against this established teaching by “devoting themselves to deceitful spirits and teachings of demons, through the insincerity of liars whose consciences are seared”. This shows us that while this “teaching office” is set up for the Church, such teaching is grounded in what we have of the apostolic teaching, Scripture.
and what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men, who will be able to teach others also.
2 Timothy 2:2
- Opposition's Claim: Paul establishes a clear chain of transmission — from himself to Timothy to faithful men to others — modeling a succession of authoritative teaching that extends beyond the apostolic generation through appointed teachers.
- Context:
- 2 Timothy 1:13 - Follow the pattern of the sound words that you have heard from me, in the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus.
- 2 Timothy 2:14-15 - Remind them of these things, and charge them before God not to quarrel about words, which does no good, but only ruins the hearers. Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.
- 2 Timothy 3:14-17 - But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.
- 2 Timothy 1:13 - Follow the pattern of the sound words that you have heard from me, in the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus.
- Paul does not establish a “chain of transmission”, he reaffirms the source of sound teaching that Timothy and others are to hold to. Paul repeatedly exhorts Timothy to follow and continue in the sounds words he heard from Paul. Later Paul also adds all Scripture to this category of sources to hold to. 2 Timothy in no way implies that later teachers are to follow teachings that come from anyone other than Paul or the Scriptures.
For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the basic principles of the oracles of God. You need milk, not solid food, for everyone who lives on milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, since he is a child. But solid food is for the mature, for those who have their powers of discernment trained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil.
Hebrews 5:12-14
- Opposition's Claim: The author rebukes his audience for needing someone to teach them, implying that mature Christian understanding requires ongoing instruction from qualified teachers — not independent private reading of Scripture.
- I agree that Scripture sets up an office of teaching. The dispute is whether or not this teaching office stands on its own, or if it is under the authority of Scripture and the apostolic teaching.
knowing this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture comes from someone’s own interpretation.
2 Peter 1:20
- Opposition's Claim: Peter explicitly states that Scripture does not come from private interpretation, meaning individuals cannot be their own final authority in understanding it — an authoritative teaching body is therefore needed to interpret it correctly.
- The Greek word for interpretation is ἐπιλύσεως (epilyseōs - Strong’s 1955), translating to interpretation, explanation
- Context:
- 2 Peter 1:16-19 - For we did not follow cleverly devised myths when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty. For when he received honor and glory from God the Father, and the voice was borne to him by the Majestic Glory, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased,” we ourselves heard this very voice borne from heaven, for we were with him on the holy mountain. And we have the prophetic word more fully confirmed, to which you will do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts,
- 2 Peter 1:21 - For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.
- 2 Peter 1:16-19 - For we did not follow cleverly devised myths when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty. For when he received honor and glory from God the Father, and the voice was borne to him by the Majestic Glory, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased,” we ourselves heard this very voice borne from heaven, for we were with him on the holy mountain. And we have the prophetic word more fully confirmed, to which you will do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts,
- This verse is commonly taken out of its context. 2 Peter 1:20 tells us that no prophecy of Scripture originates by the will of man or one’s interpretation/explanation, but rather Scripture is produced by God speaking through men as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit. This verse in no way speaks of individuals reading the Scriptures and interpreting it, it merely rules out individuals producing/creating Scripture by their own explanation.
Consider also that our Lord’s patience brings salvation, just as our beloved brother Paul also wrote you with the wisdom God gave him. He writes this way in all his letters, speaking in them about such matters. Some parts of his letters are hard to understand, which ignorant and unstable people distort, as they do the rest of the Scriptures, to their own destruction.
2 Peter 3:15-16
- Opposition's Claim: Peter acknowledges that Paul's letters are difficult to understand and warns that unstable people distort them to their own destruction — demonstrating the need for an authoritative Church to provide correct interpretation and guard against error.
- Context:
- 2 Peter 3:17-18 - You therefore, beloved, knowing this beforehand, take care that you are not carried away with the error of lawless people and lose your own stability. But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity. Amen.
- 2 Peter 3:17-18 - You therefore, beloved, knowing this beforehand, take care that you are not carried away with the error of lawless people and lose your own stability. But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity. Amen.
- The opposition claim’s conclusion is not the same conclusion that Peter comes to after this passage. Peter does not write anything like “Therefore we have established an office of the Church to guide you infallibly in such matters.” Rather he writes “You therefore, beloved, knowing this beforehand, take care that you are not carried away with the error of lawless people and lose your own stability. But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.” Peter’s mention that there are some parts of Paul’s letters are twisted serves as a warning/encouragement to grow in the grace and knowledge of Jesus Christ, so that we are not carried away with their errors.
2 John 12
I have many things to write to you, but I would prefer not to do so with paper and ink. Instead, I hope to come and speak with you face to face, so that our joy may be complete.
- Opposition's Claim: John preferred face-to-face communication over written correspondence, suggesting that the fullness of apostolic teaching was never meant to be confined to written texts alone.
- I agree that John preferred face-to-face communication. As Paul talks about in these other verses, that we should hold to the apostolic traditions, whether taught by letter or orally. The apostles are no longer with us today, so the only traditions that we can trace back to the apostles are what have been written in their writings. Where are their writings? In Scripture.
3 John 13-14
I have many things to write to you, but I would prefer not to do so with pen and ink. Instead, I hope to see you soon and speak with you face to face.
- Opposition's Claim: Like 2 John, the apostle again expresses preference for direct spoken communication over writing, reinforcing that the living voice of apostolic authority carries weight beyond what is committed to text.
- Just like the John 2 verse, I agree that John preferred face-to-face communication. As Paul talks about in these other verses, that we should hold to the apostolic traditions, whether taught by letter or orally. The apostles are no longer with us today, so the only traditions that we can trace back to the apostles are what have been written in their writings. Where are their writings? In Scripture.
How To Change My Mind
As I mentioned in the beginning of this document, I want the Biblical perspective on this. In order to convince me that I’m wrong on this topic, I’d need the following (in order of significance)
- An explanation of all (or at least most) of the verses in support by
- Using the context of the verse and the rest of the Bible
- Bringing up the Greek/Hebrew word
- Then from either/both of those, make your case
- A refutation of my explanations of the verses against. I’ve used a similar framework that I just listed to explain these verses.
More to explore
Browse the other apologetic writings, or start with the full Gospel presentation.
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