Secondly, I speak to you again, the reader who happens upon this debate in search of a discussion of the issues. Please make sure that you examine this issue with the gravity that it deserves and consider both the arguments that I present as well as the ones my opponent presented. He and I both cite sources which are worthy of examination, and I encourage you to avail yourself of them. This issue of the role of Scripture affects a great deal with regards to the way we conduct ourselves, and our opinion of it determines our subsequent theology. If the Bible be insufficient, then we will look past its pages for something more. If it be the sole infallible authority, then we will make ourselves submissive to it in all matters that Scripture addresses. If the Bible is insufficient, and we think it's sufficient, then we will miss a part of God's special revelation to man. If Scripture is fully sufficient, and we think it to being insufficient, then we are submitting ourselves to something fallible and corruptible which can and often does lead us from the God-inspired Truth.

Again, I state my conclusion, and the argument I have pled for throughout the course of this debate: Scripture is the sole, infallible rule of faith for all matters of doctrine and practice. It needs neither an infallible interpreter nor a body of ambiguous Tradition to stand in the position that God has given it through His breath of inspiration. No other rule of faith has been presented by my opponent to cast doubt on my assertion.

My Opponent's Failure to Demonstrate Another Rule of Faith

In order for Sola Scriptura to be demonstrated as truth, two things have to be noted: That Scripture is sufficient to serve as the sole infallible rule of faith, and that no other rule of faith exists which has the same inspiration and can perform the same offices as Scripture can. However, I did not see any demonstration from my opponent of another rule of faith.

Now, I note that it was asserted several times that it is my burden to prove Sola Scriptura, not his burden to disprove it. This may or may not be right in the context of this debate. Some could argue one way, some another, but it wasn't discussed in the terms of our debate. However, I would think that it makes for a very dull debate if there is not a counterpoint to the point. My opponent did make some statements and offer rebuttals, but I got the general feeling he didn't feel a need to present his case.

Amongst the arguments that my opponent did cite came a central challenge: His feeling that Sola Scriptura is unbiblical and unhistorical. I shall offer my final comments on these charges.

The Common Objections Cited by My Opponent

Not a Biblical Doctrine:

My opponent's main argument against Sola Scriptura was what he felt to be the absence of Scriptural merit for the practice, indeed stating that the doctrine of Scripture alone is unbiblical. However, what he fails to see is what the whole principle of Scripture alone is in the first place. Sola Scriptura is a hermeneutic method, a way of approaching and interpreting Scripture. I stated from the beginning of the debate what Sola Scriptura is and isn't (and recommend the wonderful treatment on this issue by James R White in The Roman Catholic Controversy and David King in Holy Scripture: The Ground and Pillar of Our Faith, Volume I), however it would seem this explanation went relatively unnoticed. I ask the reader to refer back to my opening statement for my definitional presentation.

In this light, my opponent's assertions hold no water, as it is very evident in Scripture that this hermeneutic of Scriptural sufficiency was employed.

The Gospel of Matthew

Studying the New Testament, we find one of the evidences of the Sola Scriptura hermeneutic in the Bible: that of the Gospel of Matthew. Throughout the book, Matthew appeals to the Hebrew Scriptures as evidence that Christ fulfills the Messianic prophecies. These instances include, but are not limited to, such verses as Matthew 2:5-6; 17-18; 3:3.

Mat 2:5 They said to him, "In Bethlehem of Judea; for this is what has been written by the prophet: 6 'AND YOU, BETHLEHEM, LAND OF JUDAH, ARE BY NO MEANS LEAST AMONG THE LEADERS OF JUDAH; FOR OUT OF YOU SHALL COME FORTH A RULER WHO WILL SHEPHERD MY PEOPLE ISRAEL.'"

Mat 2:17 Then what had been spoken through Jeremiah the prophet was fulfilled: 18 "A VOICE
WAS HEARD IN RAMAH, WEEPING AND GREAT MOURNING, RACHEL WEEPING FOR HER CHILDREN; AND SHE REFUSED TO BE COMFORTED, BECAUSE THEY WERE NO MORE."

Mat 3:3 For this is the one referred to by Isaiah the prophet when he said, "THE VOICE OF ONE
CRYING IN THE WILDERNESS, 'MAKE READY THE WAY OF THE LORD, MAKE HIS PATHS STRAIGHT!'"

Matthew makes his appeal through Scripture.

Christ and The Sola Scriptura Hermeneutic

Christ also affirms the hermeneutic of Sola Scriptura through his words. His words constantly call those who He admonishes to the authority and words of Scripture, and holds them responsible to know and obey it. "It is written�" appears in such verses as Matthew 4:4, 7, 10; 11:10; 21:13; 26:24, 31; John 6:45; 8:17. In Matthew 15:6 Jesus admonishes the Pharisees for "nullifying the word of God" (NIV) because they have contradicted and cancelled out the message of Scripture for the sake of their Tradition.

In Matthew 22:29, Jesus calls the Sadducees on their lack of Scriptural knowledge.

Mat 22:29 But Jesus answered and said to them, "You are mistaken, not understanding the Scriptures nor the power of God. And elsewhere Jesus cites the Scriptures to His followers and to others to reveal to them what must happen, why, and to explain the kingdom of heaven to them.

What must be noted is that Christ never establishes a point nor makes an appeal to those to whom He speaks by referring to any nebulous body of Tradition. Also, he does not state one must refer to a body of infallible interpreters. Christ makes His appeals through Scripture.

The Bereans

Another Scriptural example of the Sola Scriptura hermeneutic is in the Bereans.

Act 17:10 The brethren immediately sent Paul and Silas away by night to Berea, and when they
arrived, they went into the synagogue of the Jews. 11 Now these were more noble-minded than those in Thessalonica, for they received the word with great eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see whether these things were so.

Once again, the Sola Scriptura hermeneutic is employed in Scripture. The Bereans search the Scriptures to see if the message Paul and Silas are preaching is the Truth. And not only is this mentioned, but they are also commended for their actions.

The Apostle Paul

The most explicit verse in Scripture for Scriptural sufficiency is found in 2 Timothy, which is one of the Apostle Paul's final writings before being put to death. In it Paul gives us this pearl:

2 Ti 3:16 All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for
training in righteousness; 17 so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.

I have explained and defended the exegesis of this passage several times in this debate, so I will refrain from further comment. But this summarizes why Scripture is sufficient (because it is divinely inspired or God-breathed), what Scripture is profitable for (the functions it serves), and how this then makes the man of God adequate ("complete" as the ASV, BBE, ISV, NKJV, and RSV render it or "perfect" as the Douay-Reims and KJV translate it) for every good work.

These examples do not exhaust the case for Sola Scriptura from the Bible, but they are enough to show the high esteem that Scripture has been held to. And the absence of a body of tradition resembling the Roman Catholic concept of Tradition demonstrates the principle of Sola Scriptura is indeed Scriptural.

My opponent and his camp are searching for the words, "You are to use Scripture alone" in the Biblical evidence we cite, and dismissing us when we tell them that there is so much more to this issue. But while we find evidences throughout the Scriptures of a Sola Scriptura hermeneutic, an establishment of the authority of Scripture and assertion of its clarity and sufficiency, we do not find any evidence of the Roman Catholic hermeneutic of Scripture + Tradition interpreted by an infallible human authority. My opponent, it seems, has an uphill battle to demonstrate his hermeneutic from Scripture.

Not Historic:

My opponent also contends that the early church did not practice Sola Scriptura. I believe it is often the case that a Roman Catholic apologist who looks back into Church history brings with him his preconceived notions, rather than letting the Fathers speak for themselves. He attempts to establish his point with the mere mention of words, as though people like Irenaeus and Athanasius had Rome in mind when saying the words "catholic" and "tradition". This is largely because the Roman Catholic is reliant upon the words of the Fathers in order to create a case for their antiquity. So they bring their burden, misconstrue the words of our brethren who have gone before us, and they stake a claim on the words of fallible men.

Two things must be stated for the Protestant and his view of the writings of the early Church. First of all, the Protestant should not disrespect or show disdain towards what those who ran the race before us stated. One should study church history, and learn about our predecessors. But, secondly, they should and do put the Fathers in their proper perspective. Men like Irenaeus and Athanasius were godly men. But they were just that: men. Their words hold no inspiration and cannot serve us as a gauge of orthodoxy. Only the words of the Lord can serve this office, for Scripture is what "is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness"

Does this mean we concede the case of history to Rome? Hardly. The hermeneutic of Sola Scriptura is very evident in the writings of the Fathers. They did affirm such things as the sufficiency of Scripture, the perspicuity of Scripture, the authority of Scripture, the self-interpreting nature of Scripture, and the private reading and interpretation of Scripture. (Holy Scripture: The Ground and Pillar of Our Faith, Volume III) Here are a few examples:

One Evidence of the Sufficiency of Scripture:

(After reciting the list of canonical books of Scripture: ) 6. These are fountains of salvation, that they who thirst may be satisfied with the living words they contain. In these alone is proclaimed the doctrine of godliness. Let no man add to these, neither let him take ought from these. For concerning these the Lord put to shame the Sadducees, and said, 'Ye do err, not knowing the Scriptures.' And He reproved the Jews, saying, 'Search the Scriptures, for these are they that testify of Me.'
~ Athanasius - NPNF2, Vol. IV, Letters of Athanasius I, Festal Letters, Letter 39

One Evidence of the Perspicuity of Scripture:

(Speaking of the heretics:) When, however, they are confuted from the Scriptures, they turn round and accuse these same Scriptures, as if they were not correct, nor of authority, and [assert] that they are ambiguous, and that the truth cannot be extracted from them by those who are ignorant of tradition. For [they allege] that the truth was not delivered by means of written documents but viva voce.
~ Irenaeus - ANF: Vol. I. Against Heresies 3.2.1.

One Evidence of the Self-Interpreting Nature of Scripture:

"Come, now, tell me how that passage (in the Epistle) to the Thessalonians--which, because of its clearness, I should suppose to have been written with a sunbeam--is understood by our heretics, who shun the light of Scripture: "And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly." And as if this were not plain enough, it goes on to say: "And may your whole body, and soul, and spirit be preserved blameless unto the coming of the Lord." [1 Thess 5:23]
~ Tertullian - ANF: Vol. III, On the Resurrection of the Flesh, Chapter 47.

And I could cite many more examples. (Please see Holy Scripture, Volume III by David King and William Webster for more).

When the Fathers are read in their proper context, we see that the Roman Catholic is in more of a pickle than the Protestant would be, as becomes evident when the tables are turned and the Roman Catholic is asked to find the Marian dogmas in the history of the Church.

The Case for Sola Scriptura

Restating the Case for Biblical Sufficiency

Now, bringing all of these concepts to mind, and seeing the arguments that I had presented before (which I encourage you to read the whole debate to study my evidences for these assertions), my case can be summarized as such:

1. Scripture is sufficient because of its inspiration.

2. Scripture is sufficient because of its functions.

3. Scripture alone is sufficient because no other rule of faith exists which has the same level of inspiration as Scripture does, or can perform the same functions that Scripture can do.

4. The authority of the apostles is still with us today, but in the form of the Scriptures which they were commissioned to write, not in a vague concept of Oral Tradition or apostolic succession.

5. Scripture does not allude to or commission an infallible human interpreter. In fact, Jesus held people responsible to know Scripture for themselves.

6. While tradition is mentioned in Scripture, the Roman Catholic concept of Tradition has no Scriptural backing.

7. No tradition is stated to having the same level of inspiration or performing the same things as Scripture is.

8. Tradition in the Roman Catholic sense is so nebulous anyways as to be hard to define. And, in fact, Rome has hesitated to define it concretely.

9. Tradition, in the Roman Catholic sense cannot be tied directly to the Apostles anyway.

10. Evidence for the hermeneutic of Sola Scriptura is very evident in Scripture.

11. Evidence for the hermeneutic of Sola Scriptura is evident in the writings of the early Church as well.

In Conclusion

All who read this debate will come to it with an idea in mind. And the propensity we have is to read this presupposition into the evidence, rather than letting the evidence speak for itself.

I implore you to study these arguments brought forth to you honestly, and with an open mind and heart. Because, ultimately, my friend�you will be held responsible for how you handle the truth presented to you.

Sola Scriptura, Sola Fide, Sola Gratia, Solus Christos, Soli Deo Gloria

Julie Staples