Since we are in Thessaloniki today, just a few miles from Berea (which I have visited a number of times), I thought I’d share my argument which turns the PROTEST-ant idea of “Sola Scriptura” on its head. You know, many Protestants appeal to the Bereans as proof of their false doctrine. Regarding the Bereans, it just ain’t so.
Here is my article “Why the Bereans Rejected Sola Scriptura” which was published in THIS ROCK Magazine a while ago.
When you read this article you will discover that the Bereans were actually Catholic in their view of Scripture, tradition and authority.
Since it was the Thessalonians who were more like the “Bible-alone” folks, I think all the Fundamentalist churches that call themselves “Berean Bible Church” should change their name to “Thessalonian Bible Church” 🙂
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The Baptists in 1689 placed in their Confession of Faith:
The sufficiency of Scripture is clearly asserted, but it is a sufficiency carefully defined. No one claims the Bible is an omnipedia of all knowledge. Nor does anyone claim the Bible can tell you, specifically, what color fabric to place upon the pews of your new church building. But all things that are “necessary” for God’s “own glory, man’s salvation, faith and life, is either expressly set down or necessarily contained in Holy Scripture.” How like the words of Augustine:
Again the article is the same straw man attack on Sola Scriptura – the Word of God, by people who are against God. Your article asserts that the Bereans actually condemn the position of sola scriptura! You cite Acts 17:1-9, ” The Thessalonians rejected Paul and his message, and, after denouncing him, they became jealous that others believed.” Yet, where does the text say this? The text says nothing about rejecting Paul’s message. Luke says, “But the Jews, becoming jealous and taking along some wicked men from the market place, formed a mob and set the city in an uproar.”
The motivation of the Jew’s action is plainly jealousy, nothing more. Of course they did not embrace the message: if they had, they would not have been jealous! Why make a point of this?
Steve,
Thank you for this post. It is very timely. Today I spent two hours with a friend who did everything he could to undermine the priesthood, the eucharist, and the authority of the church. Much of the discussion involved the Bereans. It is not a coincidence that you posted this today. Thank you for your witness and for giving me strength to witness.
Fr Walter Nagle
Hi Joel,
You say, The motivation of the Jew’s action is plainly jealousy, nothing more. Of course they did not embrace the message: if they had, they would not have been jealous! Why make a point of this?
That doesn’t make sense. Let’s look at the text.
Acts 17:
10 And the brethren immediately sent away Paul and Silas by night unto Berea: who coming thither went into the synagogue of the Jews. 11 These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.
Now, ask yourself, “why were the Bereans more noble than the Thessalonicans? The answer:
in that they received the word with all readiness of mind,
You might ask me, “Which word? Scripture is also called the word.” The answer:
The word the Apostles preached.
You might continue, “How do you know it isn’t the Scripture?” The answer:
Because they searched in the Scripture to find the Apostles word therein.
Here is what goes right past Protestants. They don’t even see it because of their presuppositions against the Traditions of Christ.
1st. The Apostles were Teaching. That is the Tradition we call “Magisterium”.
2nd. I repeat, the Apostles were Teaching. That means they were passing down the Traditions of Christ by Word. That is simply called, “Sacred Tradition”.
3rd. The Bereans looked up the Sacred Tradition in Scripture.
That is the Catholic Teaching of passing down the Faith of Jesus Christ by handing down Tradition, Scripture. That is what is depicted in the Berean episode. Not Scripture alone.
Sincerely,
De Maria
So let me see if I understand: The doctrine of Sola Scriptura states that we should believe only those doctrines which are in the Bible; the doctrine of Sola Scriptura is found nowhere in the Bible; so…???
The Sarge:
So let me see if I understand: The doctrine of Sola Scriptura states that we should believe only those doctrines which are in the Bible; the doctrine of Sola Scriptura is found nowhere in the Bible; so…???
De Maria said the scripture contain Catholic doctrine so we must believe in Sola scriptura. We must also find whether un-biblical doctrines of Tradition found in the CCC need to castigated out.
JOEL: STEVE RAY HERE. YOU ARE GETTING TEDIOUS AND OBVIOUSLY RUNNING OUT OF GAS. YOU CAN NEVER CONCEDE ONE POINT OR YOUR WHOLE HOUSE OF CARSS COMES TUMBLING DOWN.
Hi Joel,
You said to The Sarge:
De Maria said the scripture contain Catholic doctrine
Correct.
so we must believe in Sola scriptura.
Huh? You mean after all the times that I’ve repeatedly said that Sola Scriptura is a false doctrine which contradicts not only Scripture, but itself, you come to the conclusion that I said we must believe Sola?
We must also find whether un-biblical doctrines of Tradition found in the CCC need to castigated out
There are not any un-biblical doctrines in the Catholic Church. There are several anti-Biblical doctrines in Protestantism.
Sincerely,
De Maria
To Joel,
The Bible never stated that it is the final/sole rule of authority. It even points out that the Church has the final say. So you see the Bible does not teach sola scriptura. It is a man made tradition which is un-biblical.
To understand and accept the truth you have the be intellectual and not emotional, that is how you will come to the knowledge of the fullness of truth.
God Bless!
When it is said of the noble Bereans that they went home a nd searched the scriptures, they were talking of Old Testament scripture (scrolls), the very text Paul was probably referencing. This article is empty.
Catholics do not search the scriptures well because they find there no support for the majority of their doctrines. I trust the documents written by the Apostles for the 1st 100 years. The “traditions” they spoke of in the Bible were those written down, and passed on from church to church by word of mouth and by Paul’s letters. We have them, we know what they say, we know what they believed, know that anyone who believed differently was rebuked, and we know what they did, including how the Lord’s supper was administered and taken. “Traditions” does not refer to anything said by someone 1000’s of years later. The 1st century church looked nothing like the Catholic church of today nor for thousands of years, for the church began to fall into error quickly, until the Reformation, which was an attempt to reform Catholic corruption and abuses towards common people. You set up a straw man when you argue against Sola Scriptura. Protestants, protesting the gross abuses by what is now the Catholic church, do not hold Sola Scripture as a doctrine, it is merely a description of devotion to God’s word and a rejection of Catholic fantasies that have evolved over the centuries.
STEVE RAY HERE: Wow my friend. Are you ever ignorant of Church history! Especially the 1st century! You are also very poorly informed of your own doctrine of sola Scriptura and Luther’s teaching (who’s traditions you’ve accepted). You may want to read my book Crossing the Tiber. It will help remove the fog in your head and the blinders from your eyes.
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