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Does anyone know where in the Bible it says that the Bible is our only source of authority?

The Bible does not depend on human approval or confirmation.

The Psalmist said:

'For ever, O LORD, thy word is settled in heaven' (Psalm 119.89).

1 Peter speaks of the Word of God as the means by which Christians are 'begotten by the word of God which liveth and abideth for ever'.

The Lord Jesus said in His prayer of John 17, in verse 17: 'Thy word is truth'.

Such far reaching statements hardly indicate that God's Word is dependent on the sanction or agreement of mere mortals.

Quote from: jainfl on Mon Oct 05, 2009 - 19:41:45
Does anyone know where in the Bible it says that the Bible is our only source of authority?

Yes, I do and so does anyone else who has ever read the Bible beyong looking up verses "git up a sermon."

Do you know of any Scripture or historical scholarship which says otherwise and can explain why they ran out of Scripture upon which the whole Christian Discipline (School of the Bible is built)?

What would like to add and for what purpose?

b:

I decline to argue with you. The Scriptures, in what they say about themselves, and in their effect as the inspired Word on the hearts and minds and lives of believers down the centuries, have an authority beyond others.

Only the Word of God by the Holy Spirit can have a positive effect on unbelievers. But wasting words on doubts is just futile, period, on something so self-evident.

May you find mercy.

Here's one:
(2Ti 3:16)  All Scripture is God-breathed, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness,

(2Ti 3:17)  that the man of God may be perfected, thoroughly furnished to every good work.


It is the word of God that for this.  Thus, God says that it alone is sufficient and complete.  Hence, nothing else is needed.  It's kind of funny, but the psychologists, "Christian" psychologists, don't believe that the Word of God is enough, and they will even tell you this.  Novel, for how is it that God needs us?  Or how is it that God needs carnal, worldly man to add to His Word in order to help people?  Does God lack?  Is God limited?  Is He stupid that He wouldn't give enough to us in His Word, or that He couldn't tell us in it?  Or is it at all possible that man can say anything whatsoever better than God said it?  Or that he knows anything even in the minutest degree that God doesn't know about the heart and soul and mind and emotions and withhold from us so that we are lacking without it?  Were they there when God made man?  Were they they when God formed the mind?  Were they there when God made the spirit, the soul?  What on earth do they know about it that God doesn't, and that He hasn't dealt with in His Word?  The crass blindness and extreme arrogance of "Christian" psychology is astounding -- it is a direct derivative of seculare psychology (study of spirit by damned men).  btw, I was raised in it and trained in it, but have seen it to supplant and supercede the Word of God for those who will not accept that same Word.  And yet they will get quite nasty about it.  O well. 

And the stuff will hit the fan over this post, unless I'm mistaken.  "professing themselves to be wise, they became FOOLS".

Matt 4:4 But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.

John 5:39 Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.

Isa 8:20 To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them.

2 Tim 3:15 And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.
16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
17 That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.

Luke 8:21 And he answered and said unto them, My mother and my brethren are these which hear the word of God, and do it.

Luke 11:28 But he said, Yea rather, blessed are they that hear the word of God, and keep it.

Rom 10:17 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

Eph 6:17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:

1Thes 2:13 For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe.

Heb 4:12 For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.
13 Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do.

1 Pet 1:23 Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.
24 For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away:
25 But the word of the Lord endureth for ever. And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you.

I Jn 2:14 I have written unto you, fathers, because ye have known him that is from the beginning. I have written unto you, young men, because ye are strong, and the word of God abideth in you, and ye have overcome the wicked one.

Rev 20:4 And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years.

Quote from: son of God on Mon Oct 05, 2009 - 21:01:36
Here's one:
(2Ti 3:16)  All Scripture is God-breathed, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness,

Actually this verse indicates the opposite.  Even if Paul were telling us what Scripture is, i.e., exactly what books it contains, rather than simply what it does Paul exercised extra-Scriptural authority, thus negating the Bible alone doctrine.

The material in quotes is what I know of the basic sola scriptura beliefs.

"The Bible is the only complete, inspired, inerrant and infallible authority on the Christian faith.

Quote from: jainfl on Mon Oct 05, 2009 - 19:41:45
Does anyone know where in the Bible it says that the Bible is our only source of authority?

The answer is quite simple - it doesn't say any such thing.

The Bible does not depend on human approval or confirmation.

The Psalmist said:

'For ever, O LORD, thy word is settled in heaven' (Psalm 119.89).

1 Peter speaks of the Word of God as the means by which Christians are 'begotten by the word of God which liveth and abideth for ever'.

The Lord Jesus said in His prayer of John 17, in verse 17: 'Thy word is truth'.

Such far reaching statements hardly indicate that God's Word is dependent on the sanction or agreement of mere mortals.



Quote from: jainfl on Today at 07:41:45 PM
Does anyone know where in the Bible it says that the Bible is our only source of authority?

Quote from: farouk on Mon Oct 05, 2009 - 22:36:09
The Bible does not depend on human approval or confirmation.

The Psalmist said:

'For ever, O LORD, thy word is settled in heaven' (Psalm 119.89).

1 Peter speaks of the Word of God as the means by which Christians are 'begotten by the word of God which liveth and abideth for ever'.

The Lord Jesus said in His prayer of John 17, in verse 17: 'Thy word is truth'.

Such far reaching statements hardly indicate that God's Word is dependent on the sanction or agreement of mere mortals.



Quote from: jainfl on Today at 07:41:45 PM
Does anyone know where in the Bible it says that the Bible is our only source of authority?

Do you believe that spiritual birth is a result of the scriptures?

j:

Peter 1:23 "Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever."

Quote from: jiggyfly on Tue Oct 06, 2009 - 04:40:42

Quote from: farouk on Mon Oct 05, 2009 - 22:36:09
The Bible does not depend on human approval or confirmation.

The Psalmist said:

'For ever, O LORD, thy word is settled in heaven' (Psalm 119.89).

1 Peter speaks of the Word of God as the means by which Christians are 'begotten by the word of God which liveth and abideth for ever'.

The Lord Jesus said in His prayer of John 17, in verse 17: 'Thy word is truth'.

Such far reaching statements hardly indicate that God's Word is dependent on the sanction or agreement of mere mortals.



Quote from: jainfl on Today at 07:41:45 PM
Does anyone know where in the Bible it says that the Bible is our only source of authority?

Do you believe that spiritual birth is a result of the scriptures?

PS: This thread, which was in the Theology section, was for some reason moved to the Roman Catholic section.

But the Bible is not dependent on the patronage of the Roman Catholic church, or any other. The final authority of the Word of God is a matter for all professing believers.

Quote from: farouk on Mon Oct 05, 2009 - 22:36:09
The Bible does not depend on human approval or confirmation.

True. But you cannot get away from the fact that humans wrote the books and declared the canon.  The Bible did not write itself.

QuoteThe Psalmist said:

'For ever, O LORD, thy word is settled in heaven' (Psalm 119.89).

1 Peter speaks of the Word of God as the means by which Christians are 'begotten by the word of God which liveth and abideth for ever'.

The Lord Jesus said in His prayer of John 17, in verse 17: 'Thy word is truth'.

Such far reaching statements hardly indicate that God's Word is dependent on the sanction or agreement of mere mortals.

Exactly. The Psalmist, Peter, etc.  The Bible is the Word of God in the words of man.

The writers were 'moved by the Spirit'. The Roman Catholic church had NIL to do with it; there is no theological or historical basis for such a claim whatsoever.

It's not even worth wasting time arguing over it.

Quote from: Magnificat on Tue Oct 06, 2009 - 05:58:29

Quote from: farouk on Mon Oct 05, 2009 - 22:36:09
The Bible does not depend on human approval or confirmation.

True. But you cannot get away from the fact that humans wrote the books and declared the canon.  The Bible did not write itself.

QuoteThe Psalmist said:

'For ever, O LORD, thy word is settled in heaven' (Psalm 119.89).

1 Peter speaks of the Word of God as the means by which Christians are 'begotten by the word of God which liveth and abideth for ever'.

The Lord Jesus said in His prayer of John 17, in verse 17: 'Thy word is truth'.

Such far reaching statements hardly indicate that God's Word is dependent on the sanction or agreement of mere mortals.

Exactly. The Psalmist, Peter, etc.  The Bible is the Word of God in the words of man.

Quote from: farouk on Tue Oct 06, 2009 - 06:21:23
The writers were 'moved by the Spirit'. The Roman Catholic church had NIL to do with it; there is no theological or historical basis for such a claim whatsoever.

Sorry, but you are quite wrong there.  The Bible was written in the bossom of the Catholic Church. The canon was declared by the Catholic Church.

True, The Holy Spirit Guided the Catholic Church in the writing and promulgation of the Canon.

And that is just the whole point of it.  It was the Catholic Church that the Holy Spirit Chose to write and determine the canon.

The Bible did not drop from the sky.

QuoteIt's not even worth wasting time arguing over it.

True. But it is important to dispel ignorance on this matter.

Quote from: Magnificat on Tue Oct 06, 2009 - 06:26:38

Quote from: farouk on Tue Oct 06, 2009 - 06:21:23
The writers were 'moved by the Spirit'. The Roman Catholic church had NIL to do with it; there is no theological or historical basis for such a claim whatsoever.

Sorry, but you are quite wrong there.  The Bible was written in the bossom of the Catholic Church. The canon was declared by the Catholic Church.

True, The Holy Spirit Guided the Catholic Church in the writing and promulgation of the Canon.

The Holy Spirit guided Balaam's donkey to speak, but the donkey was still just a donkey.

Quote from: Magnificat on Tue Oct 06, 2009 - 06:26:38
And that is just the whole point of it.  It was the Catholic Church that the Holy Spirit Chose to write and determine the canon.

The Bible did not drop from the sky.

QuoteIt's not even worth wasting time arguing over it.

True. But it is important to dispel ignorance on this matter.

The  Roman Catholic Church had absolutely nothing to do with writing any book of the Bible.

Quote from: Jimmy on Tue Oct 06, 2009 - 06:43:45
The Holy Spirit guided Balaam's donkey to speak, but the donkey was still just a donkey.

And the Holy Spirit guided the Catholic Church and it remains Christ's One True Church.

Christ CHOSE / WILLED that His Words be written within His Church.

QuoteThe  Roman Catholic Church had absolutely nothing to do with writing any book of the Bible.

Sorry but you are wrong there. The Catholic Church had everything to do with the writing of the Bible and it was God's will that it be so.  Christ did not go around writing any of the books of the NT. What He did instead was to build a church through whom the NT will be written.

Quote from: Magnificat on Tue Oct 06, 2009 - 07:07:07

Quote from: Jimmy on Tue Oct 06, 2009 - 06:43:45
The Holy Spirit guided Balaam's donkey to speak, but the donkey was still just a donkey.

And the Holy Spirit guided the Catholic Church and it remains Christ's One True Church.

Christ CHOSE / WILLED that His Words be written within His Church.

Yes, that is one way to look at it.  However, that has little if anything to do with the RCC.  Many (one would hope) that most of those who identify with the RCC are indeed members of the body of Christ.  But again, that has little or nothing to do with the RCC.

Quote from: Magnificat on Tue Oct 06, 2009 - 07:07:07

QuoteThe  Roman Catholic Church had absolutely nothing to do with writing any book of the Bible.

Sorry but you are wrong there. The Catholic Church had everything to do with the writing of the Bible and it was God's will that it be so.  Christ did not go around writing any of the books of the NT. What He did instead was to build a church through whom the NT will be written.

What a shame.  So misguided.  What Christ did was to build the church on the foundation of the apostles and prophets with Jesus as the chief cornerstone (Eph 2:20).  The RCC came along long after all of that was finished.

Quote from: Jimmy on Tue Oct 06, 2009 - 07:25:07
Yes, that is one way to look at it.  However, that has little if anything to do with the RCC.  Many (one would hope) that most of those who identify with the RCC are indeed members of the body of Christ.  But again, that has little or nothing to do with the RCC. 

Quite wrong there. It has everything to do with the Catholic Church. As I have said before, it was Christ's will that the Word of God be written and the canon determined by His Church, The Catholic church.

QuoteWhat a shame.  So misguided.  What Christ did was to build the church on the foundation of the apostles and prophets with Jesus as the chief cornerstone (Eph 2:20).  The RCC came along long after all of that was finished.

It seems you are the one who is misguided because you don't seem to know  Chapter 16 of the Gospel according to Matthew.

Quote from: Magnificat on Tue Oct 06, 2009 - 07:34:02

Quote from: Jimmy on Tue Oct 06, 2009 - 07:25:07
Yes, that is one way to look at it.  However, that has little if anything to do with the RCC.  Many (one would hope) that most of those who identify with the RCC are indeed members of the body of Christ.  But again, that has little or nothing to do with the RCC. 

Quite wrong there. It has everything to do with the Catholic Church. As I have said before, it was Christ's will that the Word of God be written and the canon determined by His Church, The Catholic church.

QuoteWhat a shame.  So misguided.  What Christ did was to build the church on the foundation of the apostles and prophets with Jesus as the chief cornerstone (Eph 2:20).  The RCC came along long after all of that was finished.

It seems you are the one who is misguided because you don't seem to know  Chapter 16 of the Gospel according to Matthew.

I know chapter 16 of the gospel of Matthew.  Nothing in there at all about the RCC.  You really should read it yourself instead of believing what you have been told.  Go ahead, read it.  Nothing in there about the RCC.

It is about Jesus' Church.  Nothing about the RCC.

Quote from: jainfl on Mon Oct 05, 2009 - 21:23:31
Then why are so many Bible believing independent church congregations so full of adultery and lying and thievery and child molestation and so lacking in holiness? The Bible may be the sole depository of whatever is needed to attain holiness. But in the absence of any earthly authority that can enforce holiness and discipline a Bible believing independent congregation, the Bible is of little use. These independent congregations and their leadership insist that they are answerable to their God. Some god.

1. Are you being a little judgemental here?

On what authority are you able to criticize an independent congregation for having adulterers, liars, thieves and pedophiles?  A personal revelation from God?  Perhaps they believe that they were led by God to do what they do.  On what basis is your revelation better than theirs?  Furthermore, by following their God-given, natural instincts, they claim that their holiness is superior to yours.  How can you dispute that?

2.  Whom/what does the "earthly authority" you favor answer to?  God?  How do it know?  How would we know?

How successful has it been in keeping their church on the straight and narrow from top to bottom?

Have they always kept that adulterer-liar-thief-pedophile problem under control?  Really?

You might want to double-check your data.

Myself, I would rather study my Bible, and monitor my local leadership, and, if confrontation at the local level is insufficient to correct discrepancies, vote with my feet.

Utterly wrong.

Period!

'Let the word of Christ dwell in your richly in all wisdom.' Colossians 3.16

Quote from: Magnificat on Tue Oct 06, 2009 - 06:26:38

Quote from: farouk on Tue Oct 06, 2009 - 06:21:23
The writers were 'moved by the Spirit'. The Roman Catholic church had NIL to do with it; there is no theological or historical basis for such a claim whatsoever.

Sorry, but you are quite wrong there.  The Bible was written in the bossom of the Catholic Church. The canon was declared by the Catholic Church.

True, The Holy Spirit Guided the Catholic Church in the writing and promulgation of the Canon.

And that is just the whole point of it.  It was the Catholic Church that the Holy Spirit Chose to write and determine the canon.

The Bible did not drop from the sky.

QuoteIt's not even worth wasting time arguing over it.

True. But it is important to dispel ignorance on this matter.

Hey farouk,

You are trying to win an argument and drifting farther and farther away from the facts.  Lets get zeroed back into the facts.  The Canon of the Roman Catholic Church is in fact the Canon of the Bible and the Canon of the Bible is in fact the Roman Catholic Church.  The New Testament is the actual Mass of the various Roman Catholic churches that has been written down.  At every Mass they celebrated the Sacrament of the Holy Eucharist as the actual body and blood of Christ.  If you want to be a Protestant in protest, okay, but let the facts govern and start at the reformation.

Quote from: farouk on Tue Oct 06, 2009 - 05:51:44
j:

Peter 1:23 "Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever."

farouk:

The "Word of God" in that verse is not referring to the Bible.

Quote from: jainfl on Mon Oct 05, 2009 - 19:41:45
Does anyone know where in the Bible it says that the Bible is our only source of authority?

Police, president, govenors, boss, speed limits, laws of the land...  Actually, there is pleny of extrabiblical authority.  I doubt many of us would quote a verse to our boss why we don't need to clean up our workplace as we obey God rather than man.   Though I doubt that is the 'authority' you had in mind.   We are commanded to obey the elders too and they have to make plenty of extrabiblical decisions based on the best they are trying to do.

Quote from: Magnificat on Tue Oct 06, 2009 - 06:26:38

Quote from: farouk on Tue Oct 06, 2009 - 06:21:23
The writers were 'moved by the Spirit'. The Roman Catholic church had NIL to do with it; there is no theological or historical basis for such a claim whatsoever.

Sorry, but you are quite wrong there.  The Bible was written in the bossom of the Catholic Church. The canon was declared by the Catholic Church.

True, The Holy Spirit Guided the Catholic Church in the writing and promulgation of the Canon.

And that is just the whole point of it.  It was the Catholic Church that the Holy Spirit Chose to write and determine the canon.

The Bible did not drop from the sky.

Neither did the Catholic Church.

Quote from: Jimmy on Tue Oct 06, 2009 - 07:40:04
I know chapter 16 of the gospel of Matthew.  

That's great. How about you do an exegesis on this and we compare notes.

Quote from: marc on Tue Oct 06, 2009 - 19:02:43
Neither did the Catholic Church.

100% correct there.  The Catholic Church did not drop from the sky. It was established by Christ here on earth.   Top marks for comprehension.

Quote from: farouk on Tue Oct 06, 2009 - 10:55:49
Utterly wrong.

Period!

'Let the word of Christ dwell in your richly in all wisdom.' Colossians 3.16

Would be good if you could stay on topic instead of throwing around verses that are not related to the subject being discussed.

Quote from: normfromga on Tue Oct 06, 2009 - 09:00:11
On what authority are you able to criticize an independent congregation for having adulterers, liars, thieves and pedophiles?  A personal revelation from God?  Perhaps they believe that they were led by God to do what they do. 

Are you seriously claiming that there is a possibility that these adulterers, liars and thieves were led by God to do what they do?  Now, that is simply sick.

QuoteOn what basis is your revelation better than theirs?  Furthermore, by following their God-given, natural instincts, they claim that their holiness is superior to yours.  How can you dispute that?

How can you can call thieves, liars, paedophiles, adulterers holy?  They are going completely against God's teaching so how can you say they are holy?

QuoteMyself, I would rather study my Bible, and monitor my local leadership, and, if confrontation at the local level is insufficient to correct discrepancies, vote with my feet.

And from your post it seems your study of the Bible has led you to believe that it is possible for God to lead people into adultery, deceit, paedophilia, etc, etc.
Some study of the Bible that is.

I, of course, had addressed these questions to the originator of this thread, but since s/he has apparently found the response to be somewhat overwhelming, I guess it leaves you to be his/her champion.

Quote from: Magnificat on Tue Oct 06, 2009 - 20:56:32

Quote from: normfromga on Tue Oct 06, 2009 - 09:00:11
On what authority are you able to criticize an independent congregation for having adulterers, liars, thieves and pedophiles?  A personal revelation from God?  Perhaps they believe that they were led by God to do what they do. 

Are you seriously claiming that there is a possibility that these adulterers, liars and thieves were led by God to do what they do?  Now, that is simply sick.

No, that is not my claim; it is theirs.  But, since jainfl says scripture is not sufficient in determining such things, what is his/your basis of diagnosing a "sickness

Quote from: Magnificat on Tue Oct 06, 2009 - 20:30:29

Quote from: marc on Tue Oct 06, 2009 - 19:02:43
Neither did the Catholic Church.

100% correct there.  The Catholic Church did not drop from the sky. It was established by Christ here on earth.   Top marks for comprehension.

Sorry I can't reply in kind.  Even your sarcasm's not that great.

'course I suppose Jesus could raise up Catholics from stones, if physical lineage is what counts.

otoh, Scripture did come from the Holy Spirit.

Hello normfromga,

When you identify yourself with a "small independent congregation" and then take jabs at the well known denominations, it's a little one sided, don't you think?  You could make it a lot more interesting if you would tell us a little more about your mystery congregation.  At present I am assuming that you guys are some sort of Wesleyan  Congregational Holiness?  John Wesley was there in Georgia during the 1700's, so he must have left his mark on the start-up churches in your State?

Nowhere does the Bible say that it alone is the authority for faith and doctrine.  In fact, the Bible recommends us to Tradition as well.

(2 Thessalonians 2:15 RSV)  So then, brethren, stand firm and hold to the traditions which you were taught by us, either by word of mouth or by letter.

I also highly recommend the following links:

http://www.scripturecatholic.com/scripture_alone.html

http://www.catholic.com/library/Scripture_and_Tradition.asp

http://www.catholic.com/library/What_Your_Authority.asp

http://www.bringyou.to/apologetics/num6.htm

God Bless,
Ave Maria