Exchange with a Baptist on Sola Scriptura, Part 1

The Gutenberg Bible

Hello Father,

I am Mr. W.C.'s wife, I saw your tirade on facebook and I am shocked to see a Catholic priest behave in such a way. I understand your anger, I too was once a Catholic who defended the Catholic faith with burning passion. I thought I would kill for my religion if needed. But I was blinded by the lies, deceit and politics of Catholicism.

I have many questions for you, but for now may I just ask you one? If Sola Scriptura is unbiblical, what gives you the authority to such claim? If the Bible is not the only authority, what makes you say that the other authorities you claim to be authorities too alongside the bible are indeed authorities? Who gave them the authority to become authorities?I think that is a fairly simple question and I hope to receive a fairly simple and polite response from you as well.

Sincerely,

Mrs. H.C.

Hello Mrs. C.,

I think before you refer to my refutation of your husband's comments you should also look at the tirades he made on a very simple devotional statement made by Ms. C.N. He claimed that the lady presents a different Gospel. His attacks on the Catholic Faith on that Facebook account especially uncalled for is unworthy of a Christian. I simply refuted his claims.

Now, if you thought you would kill for your religion then you were not properly immersed yourself in the Catholic Faith. Because it is never the teaching of the Church to kill for our faith unless it is for a just war or for self-defence or for last resort.

“I understand your anger...” You do not understand it at all because I’m not angry at your husband but I am angry at the way he treated a lady, Ms. N., who meant no harm and suddenly accused of presenting a different Gospel which she never did.

“But I was blinded by the lies, deceit and politics of Catholicism.” I think this is a product of your own delusions rather than the truth of what the Catholic Church really is. Please give me the name of your affiliated religion and I can easily list down their own laundry of so-called lies, deceit and politics.... for instance of the Baptist Churches.

Now to answer your questions:

If Sola Scriptura is unbiblical, what gives you the authority to such claim?

1. THE AUTHORITY OF JESUS WHO NEVER TAUGHT AND PRACTICE SOLA SCRIPTURA. Will you please give me a chapter and verse where Jesus teach and practice Sola Scriptura. Explicit and Categorical citation please.

2. THE AUTHORITY OF THE APOSTLES WHO NEVER TAUGHT SOLA SCRIPTURA. Please be so kind to tell me who among the Apostles taught and practice Sola Scriptura.

3. THE CONTRADICTION OF YOUR CLAIM FOR SOLA SCRIPTURA. If the Bible Alone is the sole authority then the Bible must state it Clearly, Categorically, Explicitly. But none of that sort. It means your position is self-defeating. The Bible itself crushes Sola Scriptura.

If the Bible is not the only authority, what makes you say that the other authorities you claim to be authorities too alongside the bible are indeed authorities?

It is indeed an authority because:

1. JESUS ESTABLISHED AND FOUNDED IT: THE CHURCH and

2. ST. PAUL CLEARLY, CATEGORICALLY AND EXPLICITLY REFERRED TO IT AS “THE PILLAR AND GROUND OF TRUTH” [1 Timothy 3:15]. If Sola Scriptura is a truth of faith St. Paul should have stated: “THE BIBLE ALONE IS THE PILLAR AND GROUND OF TRUTH”.

Who gave them the authority to become authorities?

1. The One who gave the Authority to the CHURCH is JESUS. The Lord Jesus founded the Church. Will you deny that Authority?

2. St. Paul says that the Church is the Pillar and Ground of Truth. Will you deny that statement?

3. St. Paul says that the Church is THE BODY OF CHRIST. So, the Bible is the Word of God while the Church is the Body of the Lord. If the Word of Jesus is an Authority, is His Body also an Authority or not?

Now, I have an additional question for you. WHO IS THE HUMAN PERSON WHO INVENTED THE PROTESTANT DOGMA OF SOLA SCRIPTURA?

Indeed, your questions are simple and I have given simple answers to your simple questions. I hope you will also give me simple answers to my simple questions.

I hope this letter will not appear impolite for you. Because if non Catholics feel it their obligation to question the Catholic faith, it is also our pleasure to answer and to question your faith as well. It would have been better if you posted on that same link so that the readers will see if you can really prove from the Bible your Dogma of Sola Scriptura.

In Christ Jesus,

Fr. Abe Arganiosa, CRS