Theononomy: Sola Scriptura

Question 1

Question: What is Sola Scriptura?

Answer 1

Answer: Sola Scriptura is a form of theonomy where Christians believe the Bible alone is the source of Christian moral principles, not the Church.

Question 2

Question: Who typically holds the view of Sola Scriptura and why?

Answer 2

Answer: This view is typically held by Protestants because Martin Luther thought the Catholic Church was corrupt and had deviated from God’s revelation in the Bible for their own political earthly agenda.

Question 3

Question: What was Luther’s method for placing God at the center of religion and ethics again?

Answer 3

Answer: Luther’s method was to return to the Bible as the sole source of Christian moral principles.

Question 5

Question: What is the role of the Church according to Protestant reformers?

Answer 5

Answer: According to Protestant reformers, the Church’s role is merely to preach the Bible and interpret it, but the Church should be subject to correction by the Bible.

Question 6

Question: How does the Protestant view of the Church’s role differ from the Catholic view?

Answer 6

Answer: The Protestant view holds that the Bible alone is the authority, whereas the Catholic view considers sacred tradition and sacred scripture as equally valid.

Question 7

Question: What did Martin Luther say about the authority of Scripture compared to the pope?

Answer 7

Answer: Martin Luther said, “A simple layman armed with Scripture is greater than the mightiest pope without it.”

Question 8

Question: What is the doctrine of the priesthood of all believers?

Answer 8

Answer: It is the doctrine developed by Luther that all people have the status of priest, counteracting the Catholic view that priests have a special spiritual status.

Question 9

Question: How does the priesthood of all believers doctrine affect the role of the Church?

Answer 9

Answer: It lessens the role, value, and authority of the Church by eliminating the need for priests to act as mediators between the people and God.

Question 10

Question: What does 1 Timothy 2:5 say about mediation between God and humanity?

Answer 10

Answer: 1 Timothy 2:5 says that Jesus is the only mediator between God and humanity.

Question 11

Question: From where is the Bible thought to derive its authority?

Answer 11

Answer: The Bible is thought to derive its authority from its discernible excellence as a text and the religious experience of the Holy Spirit’s engagement with the human soul through it.

Question 12

Question: What does John 14:26-27 say about the Holy Spirit?

Answer 12

Answer: John 14:26-27 says, “The Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.”

Question 13

Question: What does the term ‘Ru-ach’ refer to in the context of the Bible?

Answer 13

Answer: ‘Ru-ach’ refers to God’s breath, which was believed to be breathed into the authors of the Bible, directly inspiring them.

Question 14

Question: How does Sola Scriptura view the relationship between the Bible and the Church’s teachings?

Answer 14

Answer: Sola Scriptura views the Bible as the sole authority, with the Church’s teachings subject to correction by the Bible.

Question 15

Question: Why did Luther develop the doctrine of the priesthood of all believers

Answer 15

Answer: Luther developed the doctrine to counteract the Catholic view that priests have a special status and important role in salvation, thus emphasizing the direct relationship between individuals and God.

Question 16

Question: What impact does the belief in Sola Scriptura have on the interpretation of the Bible?

Answer 16

Answer: The belief in Sola Scriptura allows for personal interpretation of the Bible, reducing the authoritative role of the Church in interpreting and teaching scripture.

Question 17

Sola scriptura is not in the Bible.

Answer 17

These quotes suggest that the Bible should be a source of Christian moral principles, but they do not claim it is the only source nor speak against other sources.

It is self-contradictory to believe that all religious knowledge should come from sola scriptura when sola scriptura itself cannot be derived from scripture.

Question 18

Question: When were the books in the New Testament (biblical canon) decided upon, and by whom?

The books in the New Testament (biblical canon) were not decided on until the 4th century

Answer 18

Answer: The books in the New Testament were not decided on until the 4th century by Catholic clergy.

Question 19

Question: What does the late decision on the New Testament canon suggest about the relationship between the Bible and the Church?

The books in the New Testament (biblical canon) were not decided on until the 4th century

Answer 19

Answer: It suggests that the Bible should not be the only source of authority since it grew out of the Church, implying that if the Bible is authoritative, the Church is also authoritative. It also raises questions about why Protestants trust the Catholic clergy’s decisions on what to include in the Bible.

Question 20

Protestants could respond

Answer 20

Protestants could respond that the holy spirit influenced the creation and choosing of the Bible, thus ensuring its validity.

Jesus said “the Holy Spirit, whom the father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you” John 14:26-27.

Question 21

But they only know Jesus said that because…

Answer 21

But they only know Jesus said that because the catholic Church decided to put that part in the Bible!

Furthermore, Catholics also argue that the holy spirit guides their magisterium too.