In this way, they argue, sola scriptura is largely responsible not only for the separation of Protestants from the Catholic Church, but also for the vast number of schisms between Protestants. 2 But there can be little doubt that sola scriptura is an essential component of historic Protestant theology, and that it is crucial to the justifiability of the sixteenth-century schism and the perpetuation of this schism today.Ĭatholic critics of sola scriptura have argued that sola scriptura is essentially a denial of ecclesial authority, and hence that sola scriptura necessarily leads to a fragmentation in which each person interprets Scripture as seems right in his own eyes. 1 The doctrine may be viewed as a “dangerous idea” by some, or as an exhilarating and liberating one by others. The Catholic Encyclopedia identifies sola scriptura, alongside sola fide and the ministerial priesthood of all believers, as one of the three fundamental principles of Protestantism and nineteenth century Church historian Philip Schaff, in agreement with many Protestant thinkers, describes sola scriptura as the “formal principle” of Protestant theology. Sola scriptura is arguably the most foundational point of disagreement underlying the nearly five-hundred year rift between Catholic and Protestant Christians. Sola Ecclesia: The Church is Autonomous, a Law unto Itself, and Unaccountable Tu Quoque: “The Catholic Position Does Not Avoid Solo Scriptura“ī. The Contradiction Internal to the Sola Scriptura PositionĪ. Direct and Indirect Ultimate Interpretive Authorityī. Why There Is No Principled Difference Between Sola Scriptura and Solo ScripturaĪ. Mathison on Sola Scriptura, and How It Differs from Solo Scriptura Description of Solo Scriptura and What is Wrong with It, According to Mathison In this article we argue that there is no principled difference between sola scriptura and solo scriptura with respect to the holder of ultimate interpretive authority, and that a return to apostolic succession is the only way to avoid the untoward consequences to which both solo scriptura and sola scriptura lead. Solo scriptura is, according to Mathison, an unbiblical position proponents of sola scriptura should uphold the claim that Scripture is the only infallible authority, but should repudiate any position according to which individual Christians are the ultimate arbiters of Scriptural truth. The direct implication of solo scriptura is that each person is his own ultimate interpretive authority.Ĭhristus Pantocrator in the apsis of the cathedral of Cefalù According to Keith Mathison, over the last one hundred and fifty years Evangelicalism has replaced sol a scriptura, according to which Scripture is the only infallible ecclesial authority, with sol o scriptura, the notion that Scripture is the only ecclesial authority.
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