At this website by various means we seek to defend life, to encourage Christian faith, to promote Catholic tradition, to edify Marriage in its link to the Creator, to encourage families and individuals, and to support missionary disciples of Jesus. G.S.
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The Origin of The False Doctrine of Sola Scriptura...
Driving the Last Nail in the Coffin of Sola
Scriptura.
https://bobstanley.tripod.com/sorigin.htm
Martin Luther (1483-1546) is to be given the credit for inventing the false
doctrine of Sola Scriptura (Bible Only or Bible Sufficiency). He had separated
himself from the authority of the Papacy and the Magisterium, and thereby so
doing lost all authority regarding Church matters. He then turned to the Bible,
a book, as the sole source of authority. Can a book ever be a sole source of
authority? Can the Constitution of the United States stand alone without an
authoritative body to interpret it? What authoritative body is there to resolve
disputes between opposing interpretations of the laws written within it? How
long would this country have lasted if the founding fathers had not had the
foresight to establish a Supreme Court, which has the final word in the interpretation
of the Law of the Land? This country would have been split into factions right
from the very beginning.
Isn't this exactly what happened to Protestantism? Luther separated from the
Catholic Church in 1521 and immediately there were squabbles between him,
Zwingli, his fellow reformer from Switzerland, and Thomas Munzer. In that same
year, Munzer broke away and formed the Anabaptists. John Calvin separated in
1536 and formed Calvinism. John Knox parted company and formed the
Presbyterians in 1560. John Smith started the Baptists in 1609, and John and
Charles Wesley started Methodism in 1739. From the moment they separated
themselves from the Catholic Church, Protestantism lost the 'Supreme Court' of
Bible interpretation, the Papacy and the Magisterium, and they lost all of the
authority given to those two offices by GOD Himself.
See the files regarding 'Authority
<http://members.tripod.com/~BobStanley/auth.htm>', and 'Magisterium
<http://members.tripod.com/~BobStanley/mag.htm>', elsewhere on this
website.
The splits continue on to this very day, as there are now over 33,800*
differing non-Catholic denominations, none of which can claim authority in the
interpretation of the Law of GOD, Holy Scripture. It has become so bad that the
sects are feuding amongst themselves and are further splitting internally.
There are scores of splinters in the Baptists alone, and several splinters in
all of the other major Protestant sects. It is every man for himself in Bible
interpretation for Protestantism.
If it feels good for you, it must be
OK....but be prepared to suffer the consequences. There is no unity in what
Martin Luther started. If anything, he made a large part of the Body of Christ
impotent. It is easy to see the work of satan here, as it is HIS plan to divide
and conquer. See Matt 12:25 for Satan's plan, and John 10:16 for the plan of
Jesus Christ. *World Christianity Encyclopedia, April 2001, a Protestant
publication.
Now what do you suppose is the root cause of all of this chaos? It was the
implementation of the false doctrine of Sola Scriptura, and with it, the
private interpretation of Holy Scripture (forbidden in 2Pet 1:20 and 2Pet
3:16). Now, all of Protestantism can interpret the "Constitution of GOD's
Law", the Holy Bible, as they see fit, bringing upon themselves splits,
disunity, infighting, and chaos. Yes indeed, it would be a strange thing if GOD
had given us an infallible Book, and had failed to give us an authoritive,
infallible interpreter for it. Now you and I both know that GOD would never do
this.
Martin Luther was a prolific writer and held many views in opposition to the
Catholic Church. On Nov 1, 1517, Luther took 95 theses, which he authored, and
nailed them to the door of the Castle Church in Wittenburg Germany. The
Catholic Church responded by demanding that Luther retract the statements of
his which were in conflict with Church teaching.
The very earliest mention of the false
doctrine of Sola Scriptura was by Martin Luther as he was questioned in the
Synod of Augsburg (Germany) in October 1518. In his appeal to the Council,
Luther placed the Bible and his interpretation of it, above the Pope. Even so
he admitted the authority of the Synod and of the Bible were equivalent, only
in the hope that the Synod would give him a favorable decision.
In the Leipzig
Disputation in July 1519, Luther went a step further and declared that
Scripture ranked above a Church Council, and that Ecumenical Councils had
already erred in matters of faith. As a result he was branded a heretic. There
seems to be a contradiction here, as Luther was a Catholic Augustinian Monk,
and therefore was well aware that it was Catholic Church Councils* which
finalized the canons <http://members.tripod.com/~BobStanley/canon.htm> of
both the Old and the New Testaments. Now at Leipzig, he declared that the
product of the Councils ranked above the Councils themselves.
Luther was warned by the Church in June 1520, in the Papal Bull "Exsurge
Domine". The Church did everything it could to reconcile with him but he
refused, thus setting the stage for his self ex-communication. He was formally
ex-communicated on January 3, 1521 through the Papal Bull 'Decet Romanum
Pontificem'.
A secular Council called the "Diet of Worms" was convened by the
Catholic Emperor Charles V in April 1521, and Luther was again asked if he was
going to retract, or maintain, the ideology of his many books. Luther stood
firm. An Edict issued by this Council in May 1521, branded Luther as a heretic
and an outlaw.
Sources for this section are: 'Martin Luther, His Life, and His Work', by
Hartmann Grisar, a German Jesuit, 6
volumes, 1930 Vol 4: pgs 388-389. 'Church History', by Fr. John Laux, M.A.,
1930, Pgs 420-434
*Council of Rome, 382
*Council of Hippo, 393
*Council of Carthage III, 397
*Council of Carthage IV, 419
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Since Luther had separated himself from the
authority of the Catholic Church, he could no longer claim all of the beauty of
Church Tradition. Tradition is also contrary to 'his' idea of Sola Scriptura,
and so he had to condemn tradition as 'unbiblical', despite the many verses in
support of holding traditions such as, "So then, brethren, stand firm and
hold the traditions that you have learned, whether by WORD or by letter of
ours." 2Thess 2:15
Martin Luther was a Catholic priest who
started Protestantism, thus making himself the first Protestant. It is
interesting that he wrote in his Commentary on St. John, "We are compelled
to concede to the Papists that they have the Word of GOD, that we received it
from them, and that without them we should have no knowledge of it at
all." Now for someone who humbled himself by admitting that he took the
'Word of GOD' from the Catholic Church, he still proceeded to 'modify' it
without having any authority to do so.
Luther is the one who, on his own
'authority', removed 7 books from their rightful place in the Old Testament,
and placed them in an appendix. They had references in them which did not agree
with 'his' teaching, mainly 2 Maccabees and Purgatory
<http://members.tripod.com/~BobStanley/purg.htm>. He also wanted to
remove the last four books of the New Testament, Hebrews, James, Jude, and
Revelations, and he succeeded in removing them from their rightful place and
put them into an additional unnumbered appendix.
Here is a quote from a Lutheran scholar:
Heinrich Bornkamm's LUTHER AND THE OLD TESTAMENT, Trans. by Eric W. and Ruth C.
Gritsch. Edited by Victor I Gruhn. Philadelphia: Fortress Press, 1969. page
189:
"He did not make his distaste
evident through his arrangement for printing, although he characterized the
last four writings of the New Testament (Hebrews, James, Jude, Revelation) as
inferior by not numbering them in the Table of Contents, just as the Old Testament
Apocrypha, and by separating them from the main writings of the New Testament
by a clear space.(394)"
The footnote, number 394, reads as follows:
"394 From the New Testament of September, 1522, to the last edition of the
Bible in 1546..." So what do we know? Luther included the four books,
Hebrews, James, Jude, and Revelations, in his NT, but only in an unpaginated
appendix, clearly separated from the rest of the NT. We know that this
continued from the first printing of Luther's NT until he died in 1546, and
then his Bible was reconfigured by his followers. James 2:24 must have proved
an embarassment to him in his teaching of 'Sola Fides', as it says, "You
see that by works a man is justified, and NOT by faith ONLY." Also, James
2:26 says, "Faith without works is dead." Luther added the word
'alone' to his translation of Romans 3:28 because that verse also contradicted
his teaching of 'Sola Fides', "For we reckon that a man is justified by
faith alone independently of the works of the law." See Proverbs 30:6
Throughout all of Scripture we are
admonished, not to add to, or to take away from Holy Scripture. Here are some
of the verses which warn against doing this, Deut 4:2, 11:32, 12:32(13:1), Psa
12:6-7,33:4, Psa 50:16-17, 107:10-11, 119:57,139-140, Prov 5:7, *30:5-6, Jer
23:36, Gal 1:8-9, 1Pet 1:24-25, 2Pet 3:15-16, and of course the verses we are
all familiar with from the last paragraph of the Bible, Rev 22:18-19... "I
testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book. If anyone
shall add to them, GOD will add unto him the plagues that are written in this
book. And if anyone shall take away from the words of the book of this
prophecy, GOD will take away his portion from the tree of life, and from the
holy city, and from the things that are written in this book."
Martin Luther removed seven books
<http://members.tripod.com/~BobStanley/deuter.htm> from the Old
Testament. He did take away from the Words of GOD. The entire books which he
alone removed from their rightful place in Holy Scripture and placed in an
appendix are, Baruch, Judith, Tobit, Wisdom, Sirach, and 1 and 2 Maccabees.
Later, these books were removed entirely from Protestant bibles. As recounted
above, he did the same with four books of the New Testament. These books had been
in all Bibles for over 1100 years. Who had the authority to remove them? Did
Martin Luther? Did any other single person?
Martin Luther rejected all authority of the Church and declared that the Bible
was the sole authority. Nowhere in Scripture is it written that Scripture
itself is the 'Sole Authority', nor does it say it is 'Self Sufficient', (see
'For Whom the Bell <http://members.tripod.com/~BobStanley/knell.htm>
Tolls', elsewhere on this website). He did take away from the Words of GOD. Isa
22:20-22, Prov 11:14, 24:6, *Matt 18:17, Luke 10:16, 2Cor 10:8, *1Tim 3:15, Heb
13:17
Martin Luther added the word 'alone' to Romans 3:28. He did add to the Words of
GOD. Martin Luther condemned Church tradition as unbiblical (since he could no
longer claim it) thereby negating scores of verses. He did take away from the
Words of GOD. 2Thess 2:15 Martin Luther declared good works were useless for
salvation. He did take away from the Words of GOD. James 2:24-26
Martin Luther wrote a series of pamphlets in which he declared that the
Priesthood and the Episcopal Office must be done away with. He did take away
from the Word of GOD, which clearly established the Episcopal Office and the
Priesthood. Acts 6:5,14:22,20:28, Tit 1:5, James 5:14.
So there we have it. Martin Luther is guilty as charged of all of the
violations listed above. He is the first Protestant, and the founder of
Protestantism. He is the same person who declared the Bible is the GOD given
'Sole Rule of Authority', and is therefore to be believed. He has violated his
own teaching by both 'Adding To', and 'Taking Away' from the Word of GOD. No
one can deny that he did these things, as they are recorded in history books,
and in Church records. His actions reek of Heresy and Hypocrisy, and all of
Protestantism owes its heritage to the deeds of this one man.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Martin Luther had many ideas contrary to Catholic and Biblical teaching. Among
them are...
- Rejection of all authority of the Papacy
and of the Magisterium.
- Sola Scriptura, scripture alone as the only
authority on religious matters.
- Sola Fides, faith without works.
- Good works are useless for salvation.
- Justification by faith alone.
- Man has no free will.
Protestants have tried to show that Sola Scriptura did exist from the time of
the Church Fathers. I have been given five references by Protestants, all of
which I will discuss next. But before doing so, I will have to say that the
false doctrine of Sola Scriptura binds its believers to the Bible and to the
Bible only. I have been told repeatedly that if it is not in the Bible, it
simply did not happen or it is not to be believed. I am forced to remark then,
that according to their own rules, the writings of Church Fathers presented to
me by them are not to be believed, as I cannot find them in the Bible. If that
is the case, then why did they present them to me in the first place? Aren't
they breaking their own rules by doing so? Isn't there a double standard here?
Some Protestants of today would rather use
the words 'Bible Sufficiency', rather than the more familiar 'Sola Scriptura'.
The reason for this is that 'Sola Scriptura' is never mentioned in the writings
of the Church Fathers, but 'Bible Sufficiency' is. This is nothing but a ploy
to try and show the legitimacy of 'Sola Scriptura' from early Church writings.
Let us first examine the word 'sufficient' with a dictionary... 'Being as much
as needed. An adequate amount or quantity'. Does that mean Bible alone? No! Let
us see what the Bible itself says, "Many other signs also Jesus worked in
the sight of His disciples, WHICH ARE NOT WRITTEN IN THIS BOOK. But these are
written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of GOD, and that
believing you may have life in His Name." John 20:30-31 "There are,
however, many other things that Jesus did; but if every one of these should be
written, NOT EVEN THE WORLD ITSELF, I THINK, COULD HOLD THE BOOKS THAT WOULD
HAVE TO BE WRITTEN." John 21:25 Obviously Holy Scripture has said very
clearly, that everything is NOT in Holy Scripture.
Here are the 5 examples as presented to me. My replies are in blue...
Augustine ("De bono viduitatis",
[The Advantage of Widowhood]2): "What more shall I teach you than what we
read in the apostle? For holy Scripture fixes the rule for our doctrine, lest
we dare to be wiser than we ought . . . Therefore, I should not teach you
anything else except to expound to you the words of the Teacher."
This example does not refer to the "Sufficiency
of Scripture" at all, but to the "Authority of Scripture". Where
are the words which say "Bible Only"? The Apostles taught to hold the
traditions too, as I have already pointed out. Also the "Words of the
Teacher" say to keep the traditions. See John 15:20, "Remember the
Word that I have spoken to you". Where is the reference to Sola Scriptura?
Augustine ("De unitate ecclesiae", [on the Unity of the Church]3):
"Let us not hear, this I say, this you say; but thus says the Lord. Surely
it is the books of the Lord on whose authority we both agree and which we both
believe. There let us seek the Church, there let us discuss our case." He
goes on: "Neither dare one agree with catholic bishops if by chance they
err in anything, with the result that their opinion is against the canonical
Scriptures of God."
I do not see anything in this segment that even
remotely refers to "Bible Only". Again it references the 'Authority
of Scripture'. Hmmm, the third sentence says to take your case (differences of
opinion) to the Church. This sentence does indicate that the Church has the
final authority, does it not? See Matt 18:15-18. All that the last sentence
says is, "do not agree with a Bishop who is in error". Where is the
reference to Sola Scriptura?
Augustine "Contra litteras Petiliana", (Against the Letters of
Petiliana) Bk.3, ch.6: "If anyone preaches either concerning Christ or
concerning His church or concerning any other matter which pertains to our
faith and life; I will not say, if we, but what Paul adds, if an angel from heaven
should preach to you anything besides what you have received in the Scriptures
of the Law and the Gospels, let him be anathema."
This is only a repeat of Gal 1:8-9 which warns against
preaching another Gospel. Mormons should heed this one as it does not apply to
Catholics. However, it would apply to Protestants who deny keeping the
traditions. That is preaching another Gospel. Where is the reference to Sola
Scriptura?
Protestant references to writings of St. Augustine,
for support of Sola Scriptura, fall so short that they are simply non-exixtent.
Since Protestants like to reference St. Augustine, then I have a few references
from him for them:
"I should not believe the Gospel except as moved by the AUTHORITY of the
CATHOLIC CHURCH." Against the Letter of Mani 5,6, 397 A.D. "But in
regard to those observances which we carefully attend and which the whole world
keeps, and which derive not from Scripture BUT FROM TRADITION, we are given to
understand that they are recommended and ordained to be kept either by the
Apostles themselves or by plenary COUNCILS, THE AUTHORITY OF WHICH IS QUITE
VITAL TO THE CHURCH." Letter of Augustine to Januarius 54,1,1, 400 A.D.
"I believe that this practice comes from apostolic tradition, just as so
many other practices NOT FOUND IN THEIR WRITINGS nor in the councils of their
successors, but which, because they are kept by the whole Church everywhere,
are believed to have been commended and handed down by the Apostles
themselves." St. Augustine, Baptism 1,12,20, 400 A.D. "What they
found in the Church they kept; what they learned, they taught; what they
received from the fathers, they handed on to the sons." St. Augustine,
Against Julian, 2,10,33, 421 A.D.
"Since by Christ's favor we are CATHOLIC Christians:" St. Augustine,
Letter to Vitalis, 217,5,16, 427 A.D.
"By the same word, by the same Sacrament you were born, but you will not
come to the same inheritance of eternal life, unless you return to the CATHOLIC
CHURCH." St. Augustine, Sermons, 3, 391 A.D.
"This Church is holy, the one Church, the true Church, the Catholic
Church, fighting as she does against all heresies. She can fight, but she
cannot be beaten. All heresies are expelled from her, like the useless loppings
pruned from a vine. She remains fixed in her root, in her vine, in her love.
The gates of hell shall NOT conquer her." St. Augustine, Sermon to
Catechumens, on the Creed, 6,14, 395 A.D.
From the samplings of St. Augustine (354-430), which I have shown here, if I
were a Protestant, and was determined to remain one, I would make sure I would
not ever quote from him again. There are references to many more quotes from
many Church Fathers, following this section.
Athanasius ("Contra Gentes and De Incarnatione", [Against Peoples
Opinion About the Incarnation] Oxford, p. 2): "For indeed the holy and God
breathed Scriptures are self-sufficient for the preaching of the truth."
If the Protestants read this as 'Sola Scriptura', then
I will have to remark that they should change the title to 'Sola Some of
Scriptura', as they rejected 7 books of the Old Testament, and the verses which
pertain to keeping of the traditions. Again, this section refers to the
Authority of Scripture and not Scripture only. Catholics have never disputed
the authority of Scripture, only the Protestant claim that it is the 'sole'
authority.
Athanasius ("Ad Episcopos AEgyptiae" [To the Bishops of Egypt] in
NPNF, Series II, IV:225): " . . . holy Scripture is of all things most
sufficient for us."
This is the only line
that was given to me from a very lengthy writing. Following is all of part 4 of
this writing, and the line quoted to me is in red at the end.
Athanasius... AD EPISCOPOS AEGYPTIAE...TO THE BISHOPS OF EGYPT
4. IT PROFITS NOT TO RECEIVE PART OF SCRIPTURE, AND REJECT PART.
For whence do Marcion and Manichaeus
receive the Gospel while they reject the Law? For the New Testament arose out
of the Old, and bears witness to the Old; if then they reject this, how can
they receive what proceeds from it? Thus Paul was an Apostle of the Gospel,
'which God promised afore by His prophets in the holy Scriptures[3]:' and our
Lord Himself said, 'ye search the Scriptures, for they are they which testify
of Me[4].'
How then shall they confess the Lord unless they first search the
Scriptures which are written concerning Him? And the disciples say that they
have found Him, 'of whom Moses and the Prophets did write[5].' And what is the
Law to the Sadducees if they receive not the Prophets[6]? For God who gave the
Law, Himself promised in the Law that He would raise up Prophets also, so that
the same is Lord both of the Law and of the Prophets, and he that denies the
one must of necessity deny the other also.
And again, what is the Old Testament
to the Jews, unless they acknowledge the Lord whose coming was expected
according to it? For had they believed the writings of Moses, they would have
believed the words of the Lord; for He said, 'He wrote of Me[7].' Moreover,
what are the Scriptures to him of Samosata, who denies the Word of God and His
Incarnate Presence[9], which is signified and declared both in the Old and New
Testament? And of what use are the Scriptures to the Arians also, and why do
they bring them forward, men who say that the Word of God is a creature, and
like the Gentiles 'serve the creature more than' God 'the Creator[1]?'
Thus
each of these heresies, in respect of the peculiar impiety of its invention,
has nothing in common with the Scriptures. And their advocates are aware of
this, that the Scriptures are very much, or rather altogether, opposed to the
doctrines of every one of them; but for the sake of deceiving the more simple
sort (such as are those of whom it is written in the Proverbs, 'The simple
believeth every word[2]),' they pretend like their 'father the devil[3]' to
study and to quote the language of Scripture, in order that they may appear by
their words to have a right belief, and so may persuade their wretched
followers to believe what is contrary to the Scriptures.
Assuredly in every one
of these heresies the devil has thus disguised himself, and has suggested to
them words full of craftiness. The Lord spake concerning them, that 'there
shall arise false Christs and false prophets, so that they shall deceive
many[4].' Accordingly the devil has come, speaking by each and saying, 'I am
Christ, and the truth is with me;' and he has made them, one and all, to be
liars like himself. And strange it is, that while all heresies are at variance
with one another concerning the mischievous inventions which each has framed,
they are united together only by the common purpose of lying[5]. For they have
one and the same father that has sown in them all the seeds, of falsehood.
Wherefore the faithful Christian and true disciple of the Gospel, having grace
to discern spiritual things, and having built the house of his faith upon a
rock, stands continually firm and secure from their deceits. But the simple
person, as I said before, that is not thoroughly grounded in knowledge, such an
one, considering only the words that are spoken and not perceiving their
meaning, is immediately drawn away by their wiles.
Wherefore it is good and
needful for us to pray that we may receive the gift of discerning spirits, so
that every one may know, according to the precept of John, whom he ought to
reject, and whom to receive as friends and of the same faith. Now one might
write at great length concerning these things, if one desired to go rate
details respecting them; for the impiety and perverseness of heresies will
appear to be manifold and various, and the craft of the deceivers to be very
terrible.
But since holy Scripture is of all things
most sufficient[6] for us, therefore
recommending to those who desire to know more of these matters, to read the
Divine word, I now hasten to set before you that which most claims attention,
and for the sake of which principally I have written these things.
This quote given to me when taken in context is funny,
as what does the first sentence say, which is the theme of the whole part? IT
PROFITS NOT TO RECEIVE PART OF SCRIPTURE AND REJECT PART. I have already
discussed the parts rejected by Protestants, so to whom does this paragraph
fit? Where does it say 'Holy Scripture ONLY is of all things sufficient for us?
Again it addresses Authority of Scripture, not Sola Scriptura.
Repeatedly, the Protestants like to quote Athanasius to once again 'prove' Sola
Scriptura existed in his time, and once again, they have 'proven' that this
Church Father never did write anything promoting Sola Scriptura. But he did
write some very interesting words against it. "But what is also to the
point, let us note that the very TRADITION, teaching and faith of the CATHOLIC
CHURCH from the beginning, WHICH THE LORD GAVE, was preached by the Apostles,
and was preserved by the Fathers. On this was the Church founded; and if anyone
departs from this, he neither is nor any longer ought to be called a
Christian." St. Athanasius, Letters to Serapion of Thmuis, 1,28, 359 A.D.
My point being made, need I say more? As I have previously said about another
Church Father, if I were a Protestant, I would be careful about quoting from
Saint Athanasius (296-373) also.
Here are a few quotes from other Church
Fathers since Protestants like to quote them... Saint Ignatius of Antioch (d
110) is an Apostolic Church Father, meaning he knew at least some of the
Apostles.
"Wherever the
Bishop appears, let the people be there; just as wherever Jesus Christ is,
there is the Catholic Church." Letter to the Smyrneans 8:1
"In like manner let everyone respect the deacons as they would respect
Jesus Christ, and just as they respect the Bishop as a type of the Father, and
the presbyters as the Council of GOD and college of Apostles. Without these, it
cannot be called a Church." Letter to the Trallians 3:1
Saint Clement of Rome, is another Apostolic Church Father, and he had this to
say...
"Owing to the sudden and repeated calamities and
misfortunes which have befallen us, we must acknowledge that we have been
somewhat tardy in turning our attention to the matters in dispute among you,
beloved; and especially that abominable and unholy sedition, alien and foreign
to the elect of GOD, which a few rash and self-willed persons have inflamed to
such madness that your venerable and illustrious name, worthy to be loved by
all men, has been greatly defamed." Letter to the Corinthians, Address, 80
A.D..
"Accept our counsel and you will have nothing to regret." Letter to
the Corinthians 58:2, 80 A.D.
Saint John Chrysostom (354-407)...
"Therefore, brethren, stand fast and hold the
traditions which you have been taught, whether by word or by our letter. From
this it is clear that they did not hand down everything by letter, but there
was much also that was not written. Like that which was written, the unwritten
too is worthy of belief. So let us regard the tradition of the Church as worthy
of belief. Is it a tradition? Seek no further." Homilies on the Second
Epistle to the Thessalonians 4:2, 398-404 A.D..
------------------------------------------------------------------------
The following references to the writings of the Church Fathers, refute every one of Martin Luther's heresies as I
have recounted in this document.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Authority..........
*Ignatius, Letter Ephesians 5:3. J38a,b,43,44,47,48,49,58a
*Ignatius, Letter to the Smyrneans 8:1. J65
Tertullian, Against Marcion 4:5:1. J341
**Augustine, Against the Letter of Mani 5:6. J1581
Augustine, Against Faustus 33:6+. J1607, *J1631
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Canon of the NT........
*Athanasius, 39th Festal Letter J791
Eusebius, History of the Church 3:25:1. J656
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Canon of the OT........
*Damasus, Decree of Damasus 2. J910t 382AD
Athanasius, 39th Festal Letter J791
Jerome, Galeatic or Helmeted Prolog Pro Gal. J1397 391AD
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Canon of the OT and the NT...
*Damasus, Decree of Damasus 2. J910t 382AD
Rufinus, The Apostles Creed 35:al:37 J1344
Augustine, Christian Instruction 2:8:13. J1585
*Innocent I, Letter to Exsuperius 6:7:13. J2015b 405AD
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Free Will..........
*Justin Martyr, First Apology 43. J123.
Theophilus of Antioch, To Autolycus 2:27. J184
Athanasius, Discourse Against Arians 3:6. J775
Gregory of Nyssa, Great Catechism 31. J1034
Chrysostom, On Hebrews 12:3:5. J1219
Ambrose, Commentary on Luke 10:60. J1309
Jerome, Against Jovinian 2:3+. J1380, J1404, J1405
Pelagius, Free Will, Grace of Christ 4:5. J1413
Julian of Eclanum, Eight Books to Florus 5:41. J1416
Augustine, Letter to Valentine 215:4. J1455, J1495, J1560
Augustine, Questions to Simplician 1:2:12. J1572-1573
Augustine, Spirit and the Letter 3:5+. J1729 J1735 J1742
Augustine, Homilies on John 26:2+. J1821, J1926, J1942
Augustine, Grace and Original Sin 1:25:26. J1854
Augustine, Admonition and Grace 11:32. J1955, J1972
Prosper of Aquitaine, Grace of GOD 18:3. J2038
Cyril of Alexandria, Commentary on John 13:18. J2113
Damascene, Source of Knowledge 3:3:20. J2367
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Infallible Church...
Irenaeus, Against Heresies 3:4:1. *J213
Tertullian, Demurrer Against Heretics 28:1. J295
Augustine, Against Letter of Mani 5:6. J1581
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Infallible Pope.....
Tertullian, Demurrer Against Heretics 23:10. J294, 200AD
Cyprian, Letter to Cornelius 59:55:14. J580, 252AD
*Augustin, Sermons 131:10+. *J1507, *J1892
*Peter Chrysologus, Letter to Eutyches 25:2. J2178
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Tradition...
Polycrates, Letter to Victor of Rome 5:24:1. J190a
*Irenaeus, Against Heresies 1:10:2, 2:9:1. J192,198,209
Irenaeus, Against Heresies 3:3:2, J210-213,226,242,257
Irenaeus, Letter to Florinus 5:20:4. J264
*Tertullian, Demurrer Against Heretics 19:3. J291-296,*298
Tertullian, The Veiling of Virgins 2:1. J328a,329
Tertullian, Against Marcion 4:5:1+. J341,371
Hippolytus, Against Heresy of Noetus 17. J394
Origen, Fundamental Doctrines 1:preface:2,4. J443,445,785
Athanasius, Letters to Serapion 1:28. J782
Foebad of Agen, Against Arians 22. J898
Basil The Great, Transcript of Faith 125:3. J917
Basil The Great, The Holy Spirit 27:66. J954
Basil The Great, Faith 1. J972
Gregory of Nyssa, Against Eunomius J1043 Epiphanius,
Against All Heresies 61:6,73:34. J1098,1107
Chrysostom, On Romans 1:3. J1181
*Chrysostom, On Second Thessalonians 4:2. J1213
*Jerome, Dialogue between Luciferian & Christian 8. J1358
*Augustine, Letter to Januarius 54:1:1,3. J1419,1419a
*Augustine, Against Letter of Mani 5:6. J1581
*Augustine, Baptism 2:7:12, 4:24:31. J1623,1631
*Augustin, Literal Interpretation Genesis 10:23:39. J1705
*Augustin, City of GOD 16:2:1. J1765
*Augustin, Against Julian 1:7:30, 2:10:33. J1898-1900
Innocent I, Letter to Council of Carthage 29:1. J2015f
Theodoret of Cyr, Letter to Florentius 89. J2142
*Vincent of Lerins, The Notebooks 2:1, 9:14. J2168,2169
*Vincent of Lerins, The Notebooks 20:25, 22:27. J2172-2175
Gregory I, Homilies on Ezechiel 2:4:12. J2329
Damascene, Homilies 10:18. J2390
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Works Needed........
Ambrose, Letter to Constantus 2:16. J1247
Augustine, Questions to Simplician 1:2:2,6. J1569-1570
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Some final notes on Sola Scriptura from its
inventor and the founder of Protestantism... Martin Luther looked around and
saw the damage that Sola Scriptura and 'private interpretation' of Holy
Scripture was doing to his 'reformation', and made the following remarks...
"This one will not hear of Baptism, and that one denies the sacrament,
another puts a world between this and the last day: some teach that Christ is
not God, some say this, some say that: there are as many sects and creeds as
there are heads. No yokel is so rude but when he has dreams and fancies, he
thinks himself inspired by the Holy Ghost and must be a prophet" De Wette
III, 61. quoted in O'Hare, THE FACTS ABOUT LUTHER, 208.
"Noblemen, townsmen, peasants, all classes understand the Evangelium
better than I or St. Paul; they are now wise and think themselves more learned
than all the ministers." Walch XIV, 1360. quoted in O'Hare, Ibid, 209.
"We concede -- as we must -- that so much of what they [the Catholic
Church] say is true: that the papacy has God's word and the office of the
apostles, and that we have received Holy Scriptures, Baptism, the Sacrament,
and the pulpit from them. What would we know of these if it were not for
them?" Sermon on the gospel of St. John, chaps. 14 - 16 (1537), in vol. 24
of LUTHER'S WORKS, St. Louis, Mo.: Concordia, 1961, 304.
All of this and much more was said by the founder of Sola Scriptura, just a
short time later, as he surveyed the damage it had caused, and was continuing
to cause. By this time, Zwingli, had run in this direction, Munzer in that
direction, Calvin in yet another direction, all of them scattering the sheep
and taking their flocks with them. Luther had let the cat out of the bag and he
was helpless to put it back in. He had started something that he was powerless
to stop. "Once you open the door to error, you cannot close it." How
true. Luther had set a prime example.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Some other interesting remarks made by Martin Luther...
The Blessed Virgin Mary... "The great thing is none other than that she
became the Mother of God; in which process so many and such great gifts were
bestowed upon her that no one is able to comprehend them. Thereupon follows all
honor, all blessedness, and the fact that in the whole race of men only one
person is above all the rest, one to whom no one else is equal. For that reason
her dignity is crowded into a single phrase when we call her the Mother of God;
no one can say greater things of her or to her, even if he had as many tongues
as leaves and blades of grass, as the stars in heaven and sands on the
seashore. It must also be meditated in the heart what it means to be the Mother
of God." - Die Erklarung des
Magnificat - 1521.
The first Protestant loved and honored the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Mother of
GOD. Why haven't all of the rest of Protestantism followed his example in
honoring her?
------------------------------------------------------------------------
The fruits of Sola Scriptura...
"But when He, the Spirit of Truth, has come, He
will teach you all the truth. For He will not speak on His own authority, but
whatever He will hear he will speak, and the things that are to come He will
declare to you." John 16:13
Most non-Catholic sects declare that the Holy Spirit is 'teaching' them the
truth. However, there can be only one truth. Since the advent of Sola Scriptura
and individual interpretation of Scripture, how can the Holy Spirit be in each
of the thousands of sects, teaching all of them opposing viewpoints? It is to
be noted that all of the following denominations teach from the same Bible, so
why the differences in teaching?
1. How can the Holy Spirit tell the Lutherans the Eucharist is the true
presence of Christ, and then tell the Baptists it is only a symbol?
2. How can the Holy Spirit tell the Methodists it is alright to have female
ministers, and then tell the Baptists it is unbiblical?
3. How can the Holy Spirit tell the Seventh Day Adventists that Saturday is the
day of worship, and then tell the Presbyterians the day of worship is Sunday
and not Saturday?
4. How can the Holy Spirit tell the Lutherans that the Blessed Virgin Mary was
and remains always virgin, and then tell the Baptists she had other children?
5. How can the Holy Spirit tell the Baptists, 'once saved always saved', and
then tell the Church of Christ that Sola Fides is unscriptural?
6. How can the Holy Spirit tell Episcopalians to baptize infants and then tell
Pentecostals infant baptism is invalid?
7. How can the Holy Spirit tell Mormons that the Holy Trinity is three separate
persons, and then tell Methodists the Trinity is three persons in one GOD?
I could go on and on with the differences between non-Catholic sects, but I
think you get the point. It takes only a minimum of common sense to realize
that the Holy Spirit could not be speaking to each and everyone of those
thousands of non-Catholic sects in the opposing ways of which I have sampled
here. However, I was recently reminded that common sense is not so common
anymore. It is easy to see that the 'fruits of Sola Scriptura' are not from
GOD. There is no 'one fold and one shepherd' in Protestantism. Opposing
teachings in these denominations is rampant, all caused by the false doctrine
of Sola Scriptura and its accompanying 'individual interpretation' of Holy
Scripture. Which, if any, of these sects is being taught all of the truth, as promised by Jesus Christ in John
16:13?
"And we are witnesses of these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom GOD has given to all who
obey Him." Acts 5:32
Okay, GOD Himself has thrown down the
gauntlet...TO ALL WHO OBEY HIM. So who obeys
the will of GOD? Is it the Lutherans who say
the Holy Eucharist is the 'True Presence' of Jesus Christ incarnate, or is it the Baptists who say, 'It is only a
symbol'? Is it those who say we have to worship on Saturday or is it those who
say worship on Sunday? Is it those who say baptize infants or those who say not
to?
------------------------------------------------------------------------
I challenge anyone to show me legitimate proof in writing, a genuine historical
document, which describes the false doctrine of Sola Scriptura and which
predates that which I have shown in this writing.
I Further challenge anyone to explain to me how Sola Scriptura could have
possibly existed before the printing press. Before that time (1450) it took one
monk up to 20 years of his labor to hand copy one Bible. The cost of each was
prohibitive and when 95% of the populace was illiterate and could not even read
a Bible, then please tell me how it could possibly work? The answer is of
course, it did not, and it could not possibly work, and thereby did not exist.
Sola Scriptura is not Scriptural, is not historical, and is not workable. Since
I have shown its very beginning during the reformation, then that classifies it
as a man made tradition, and subject to condemnation by Jesus Christ Himself as
shown in Mark 7:8.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Last Nail Has Been Driven It is Finished... John 19:30
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Written
by Bob Stanley, May 1, 1999 Updated on June 24, 2001
Invaluable
assistance has been given to me by Tim Brennan in the historical research of
this file. Thank you.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
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