The doctrine of the “Bible alone” or the “Bible is the only source of authority”
Deny’s the divine tradition: Christ teaching the apostles in person.
Deny’s the power of the Holy Spirit: to guide the apostles into all truth, Jn 16:13 and to governing the church. And be witnesses for Christ. Acts 1:8
Deny’s the apostolic tradition:
Authority to define scripture:
Authority to interpret scripture:
Authority to teach the entire divine revelation.
Denys the authority other than the “Bible alone! Including
Divine authority
Apostolic authority
angelic authority
Civil authority
Parental authority
Restricts the divine revelation and the word of God to scripture alone.
Provides no authority to know what is scripture.
Provides no authority to know what is not scripture.
Provides no authority to safeguard and protect scripture from errors.
Provides no authority to teach scripture without error.
Provides no authority to interpret scripture.
Reasons to oppose the doctrine of the “Bible alone”
Blind or illiterate and cannot read scripture. (Most people before the 20th century were illiterate)
Rare & Expensive (even after the printing press)
Faith comets by hearing not reading.
The Bible alone does not teach the doctrine of the “Bible alone”.
Biblical reference to authority other than the Bible alone.
Matt 16:18-19
Matt 18:18
Matt 28:18-20
Matt 18:17
Jn 20:21-23
Acts 2:42
Acts 8:31
1 Tim 3:15
When God called abram, Moses, the prophets, John the Baptist, and apostles it was not by the “Bible alone” Lk 3:2 the word of God came to John in the wilderness… a book did not fall out of the sky.
There is no list of scripture in scripture!
How does a person know what books, chapters, and verses are scripture and which ones are not?
The word of God is not limited to the “Bible alone”!
The word of God came to Abraham, to Moses, the prophets, and to John the Baptist in the wilderness (Lk3:2) but it did not come by the Bible, or the “Bible alone” not by any book, chapter, or verse!
Scripture all scripture is inspired, all the books and chapters of the canonical scripture authorized by Christ and His church!
The teaching authority of the apostles is the God breathed word of God!
Jn 20:23 He breathed on them (the apostles) and said receive the Holy Spirit…
Lk 10:16 he who hears you (the apostles) hears me. (Hears the word of God)
Jn 20:21 as the father sent me, I send you.
Acts 2:42 the doctrine of the apostles is the word of God!
Matt 28:18-20
18 And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.
19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:
20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.
1 cor 11:23 For I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you, that the Lord Jesus the same night in which he was betrayed took bread:
1 Jn 1:3 That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ
1 Jn 1:5 This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.
(The apostles received the word of God and handed it down to us, partly in the scripture)
2 Thessalonians 2:15
Therefore, brethren, stand fast, and hold the traditions which ye have been taught, whether by word, or our epistle.
All scripture is inspired! 2 Tim 3:16
(Not only 66 books with missing chapters)
2 John 1:12
Having many things to write unto you, I would not write with paper and ink: but I trust to come unto you, and speak face to face, that our joy may be full.
Did the apostle John possess the truth? Or only when He wrote it down did it become the truth?
Is what He taught only mere human tradition of men? But what He wrote was the inspired word?
Why is there joy complete in the person of the apostle?
The doctrine of the “Bible alone”
or that the church believes by the “Bible alone” is a heresy!
The truth is revealed by God thru Christ and taught by His church with the unity of the spirit and obedience of faith! Jude 1:3 Matt 28:19
One shepherd & on flock!
Jn 10:16
Scripture challenge!
Show me from or in “the Bible alone”?
1) a list (not contents) of the Ten Commandments.
2) what things is Lk 1:49 referring to.
3) what Christ commanded his apostles in Matt 28:20
4) a list of scripture (books chapters) in scripture?
Not in Bible not important
Acts 8 the eunuch had scripture, God sent an apostle to teach him!
Lk 3:2 the word of God came unto John in the wilderness, a book did not fall out of the sky!
Jn 21:25 many more things than those in scripture!
2 Jn 1:12 the apostle in person makes their joy complete not scripture!
Essential doctrine:
Some doctrines are necessary and some are not is error, it is unlawful and forbidden to reject a truth revealed by God, who can neither deceive or be deceived.
Examples of oral tradition! (Teaching)
Peter speaks at Pentecost acts 2
Paul speaks at Athens acts
Even Christ teaching the divine revelation to His apostles in person.
WHEN???
When did it become divine revelation?
When did it become the inspired word of God?
When it was Spoken by Christ to His apostles?
When it was taught by the apostles?
When it was Written down decades latter?
When it was canonized by the supreme Roman pontiff in 381?
When did it become the inspired word of God?
If only when written down (Bible alone) then when it was spoken it should have been rejected as mere human tradition or the tradition of men, and therefore they would not possess the truths revealed by God and could not write scripture!
If you believe the false doctrine of the “Bible alone is the only authority” then you must reject the authority of Christ and His apostles!
It is an error to believe that the office or authority of the apostles ended with the apostle John and public revelation, revelation was complete with the apostle John but the teaching authority or office of the apostles must continue till the return of Jesus Christ! Matt 28:19-20 I am with you (the apostles) unto the end of the world.
Tongues of fire at Pentecost represent the light of divine Truth and the fire of divine Love!
The apostles possessed the Authority of Jesus Christ and the power of the Holy Spirit in their persons! Acts 1:8 2 Jn 1:12
Questions about the doctrine of the “Bible alone” or the “Bible is our only authority”?
How can we know what is scripture?
How can we know what is not scripture?
How can we safeguard and protect scripture from errors?
Who has authority to teach scripture without error?
Where does scripture say: “the Bible alone”?
Why does scripture support tradition? The teaching authority of the apostles?
Who has authority to Authentically interpret scripture?
Where does it say the word of God is limited to the “Bible alone”?
Why does scripture teach the authority of Christ in His church in the persons of the apostles?
AKA The Apostolic Tradition (teaching)
