EIGHT (8) REASONS SOLA SCRIPTURA IS WRONG

By: JB Brown

REASON 1:
Sola Scriptura says that we can only rely on the authority of the Bible no tradition is allowed
or accepted. But where did the Bible come from? Who put the bible together? Where does it
say in the Bible, which books belong in the Bible? If it was the tradition of the Catholic Church
who compiled the bible, then does the Protestant doctrine of Sola Scriptura fail?

REASON 2:
Sola Scriptura says that only what is clearly taught in Scripture can be accepted; nor is a
Magisterium (Teaching Office) needed because the important facts of the bible are plainly
visible to the individual believer. So where in the bible does it clearly teach (chapter and verse)
Sola Scriptura that the bible is the sole source of authority and oral tradition is not to be
accepted? If the teaching is not crystal clear, isnt that a major contradiction of the Sola
Scriptura doctrine?

REASON 3:
Sure, there are bible verses that say It is written; and others talk about the importance of
Scripture (and we agree 100%)

2 TIMOTHY 3:16
All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching

JOHN 20:31
These are written that you may believe

QUESTION FOR PROTESTANT:

But how can you IGNORE OTHER VERSES THAT EQUALLY teach the importance of Spoken
Tradition?

LUKE 10:16
Whoever LISTENS TO YOU LISTENS TO ME.

1 THESSALONIANS 2:13
And for this reason, we too give thanks to God unceasingly, that, in RECEIVING THE WORD OF
GOD FROM HEARING US, you received not a human word but, as it truly is, the word of God,
which is now at work in you who believe.

2 THESSALONIANS 2:15
Therefore, brothers, stand firm and hold fast to the TRADITIONS that you were TAUGHT, either
by ORAL STATEMENT OR BY A LETTER OF OURS.

2 TIMOTHY 1:13
Take as your norm the SOUND WORDS THAT YOU HEARD FROM ME, in the faith and love that
are in Christ Jesus.

2 TIMOTHY 2:2
And what you HEARD from me through many witnessed entrust to faithful people who will
have the ability to teach others as well.

Are these verses in regards to ORAL TRADITION not equally as VALID AND IMPORTANT as to the
Holy Scripture?

ANSWER:
You simply cannot accept the PRO-SCRIPTURE verses alone and reject the PRO-TRADITION
verses. It is not an either/or, but both/and. The Bible says we must accept BOTH SCRIPTURE
AND TRADITION.

REASON 4:
The collection, or canon, of books known as THE BIBLE did not exist for nearly the first 400
years of Christianity. If Sola Scriptura, or Bible Alone, is to be the only acceptable method of
authority for Christian believers, then HOW DID THE CHRISTIANS PRACTICE THEIR FAITH FOR
THE FIRST 400 YEARS OF CHRISTIANITY?

REASON 5:
The printing press was not introduced in Europe until the 1440s. Prior to the printing press, all
manuscripts were handwritten and extremely expensive as it took years of manual labor to
complete just a single copy of the Bible. Therefore, most people did not have a bible; nor could
most people before the Modern Era could even read. If Sola Scriptura was to be the only
acceptable method of authority, HOW COULD CHRISTIANS REALISTICALLY PRACTICE THEIR
FAITH? Moreover, HOW DO CHRISTIANS AROUND THE WORLD THAT DOES NOT YET HAVE A
BIBLE TRANSLATED INTO THEIR LANGUAGE PRACTICE THEIR FAITH?

REASON 6:
The Nicene Creed, a profession of faith from the Early Church in 381 AD, doesnt mention
Scripture as the believers only true faith. On the contrary, it states: We believe in one HOLY
CATHOLIC AND APOSTOLIC CHURCH. If Sola Scriptura was the practice of the Early Church,
dont you think they would have mentioned it?

REASON 7:
The Bible clearly says that the Church must be UNITED AND BE ONE (1 Corinth 1:10; John 17:22-
23). However, with no Magisterium to unite and teach the faithful, IT LEAVES EACH
PROTESTANT BELIEVER TO DECIDE WHAT HE OR SHE THINKS IS RIGHT which has led to over
40,000 + different Protestant denominations. In stark contrast, there is only ONE CATHOLIC
CHURCH.

REASON 8:
The Church created the Bible; the Bible did not create the Church.

TAKE NOTE:
The Catholic position is NOT that Tradition is superior to Scripture; nor do these statements
minimize in any way the importance of Scripture. It is not one source of authority over the
other; but that BOTH SCRIPTURE AND TRADITION ARE EQUAL IN THEIR AUTHORITY.