Sola Scriptura Thought Experiment
Intro
Even though I would call myself a Protestant I also see myself as a Catholic according to its original intended meaning. The word "Catholic" comes from the Greek word "katholikos," which means "universal." In the context of Christianity, "Catholic" is used to refer to the universal Church, which is the body of believers in Jesus Christ throughout the world. I believe that the one Church is the corporate body of all believers rather than a specific institution. Also, as a Protestant I believe that the Bible is the ultimate authority in matters of faith and practice and is sufficient for guiding and instructing believers in all things. Not that we should reject tradition or church authority but that they are subject to and must submit to God’s infallible word.
In this short article, I wanted to present some examples and ways to think about the Protestant doctrine of Sola Scriptura. This isn’t meant to be a complete and comprehensive argument for this doctrine but just to provoke thought.
The Relationship of the Trinity
To start, I would like us to consider the relationship of the Trinity. Even though the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are all equally God, the Bible teaches relational (or economic) subordination within the Trinity, where the three Persons voluntarily submit to each other based on their roles in creation and salvation. As the Father sent the Son into the world (1 John 4:10), the Holy Spirit was sent by Jesus and “proceeds from the Father” to testify of Christ (John 14:26; 15:26). And Jesus perfectly submitted His will to the Father’s (Luke 22:42; Hebrews 10:7). Despite their different roles, all three Persons share the same essence, nature, and glory. Our salvation is based on the power and love of the Father (John 3:16; 10:29), the death and resurrection of the Son (1 John 2:2; Ephesians 2:6), and the regeneration and seal of the Spirit (Ephesians 4:30; Titus 3:5). These tasks are the result of the eternal relationship among the Persons of the Trinity.
So let’s apply a similar train of thought to the relationship between scripture and tradition. Just as the Son submitted to the Father couldn’t it be that tradition must also submit to scripture? Tradition can be equal to scripture in that it is the living out of scripture, or demonstration of, yet be in submission to it. Just as faith without works is dead, having scripture without it being lived out would be pointless.
The Word, Church Leadership, and Action
These are simplifications and are in no way comprehensive.
The Word + Church Leadership - Action = fruitless (no deeds)
Church Leadership + Action - The Word = fruitless (no accountability)
The Word + Action - Church Leadership = fruitless (no direction)
The Word + Church Leadership +Action = fruitful
Having all three creates a church that demonstrates its faith, that is held accountable, and has direction.
I do agree with my Catholic brethren that all three are necessary for the Church to function properly and are equally valuable. I would however say that just as God the Son submits to God the Father so should tradition submit to Scripture. If a tradition is unified in its demonstration of the Sacred Word then I don’t think I have a problem saying that, in that moment, they are co-authoritative. Only when a tradition falls outside of the Holy Scriptures by contradiction, omission, or addition, do I have an issue with them being co-authoritative. It would be like Jesus going beyond what the Father had told him to say and do.
I also agree with my Catholic brethren that scripture was formed by divine inspiration by guidance of the Holy Spirit and passed down through oral tradition until they were eventually written down and recognized by the Church. I would say however that even though the Church recognizes that which is canonical it does not establish the canon. Once Scripture was written it holds a unique role in which our beliefs, traditions, and church leadership must submit to. Another example that comes to mind could be demonstrated by the relationship between a verbal and written agreement. While both are binding we are able check the terms of contract and know if anything has been broken by looking at the written agreement. Similarly, once scripture was written it became the standard in which we can compare things to.
Bicycle Illustration
I’ve seen the example of a three legged stool used by Roman Catholics to demonstrate the relationship between scripture, tradition, and the magisterium, but may I propose a bicycle as an illustration.
The Holy Spirit as the Bicycle Rider: The bicycle rider is the one who propels the bike forward, providing the power and direction needed to move in the right direction. Similarly, the Holy Spirit is the one who empowers and directs the church in its mission. Just as the bicycle rider must be in control of the bike to move it forward effectively, the Holy Spirit must be in control of the church to guide it in the right direction.
Scripture as the Bike Frame: Just as a bike's frame provides structure and support for the rest of the bike, Scripture provides the framework for our beliefs and practices as Christians, helping us comprehend the nature of God, the plan of salvation, and how to live in response to God's grace. By studying and applying Scripture, we can construct a sturdy and reliable framework for our faith, firmly grounded in God's Word and aligned with His will. This framework provides the necessary structure and support to navigate the challenges of life and remain faithful to our calling as followers of Christ.
Church Leadership as the Handlebars: The handlebars are an essential component that helps to steer and guide the bike in the right direction. Similarly, church leadership is responsible for guiding and shepherding the church in the right direction in accordance with biblical principles. However, it is important to note that just as the handlebars do not move on their own but rather respond to the cyclist's movements and intentions, church leaders must rely on the movement and guidance of the Holy Spirit to effectively lead the church. Therefore, just as the handlebars must be aligned and in good working order for the bike to function properly, church leaders must be aligned with the Holy Spirit, the Word of God, and in good spiritual condition to lead the church effectively.
Tradition as the Wheels: The bicycle's wheels, like tradition, provide stability and support to move forward with momentum. Just as the wheels must be strong and reliable for the bike to move forward, tradition must be grounded in scripture and faithful to the core beliefs of the Christian faith in order to support the church in its mission. The wheels have been refined over many years, embodying the wisdom of generations of cyclists. Similarly, Christian tradition represents the accumulated wisdom of believers who have grappled with the meaning and application of scripture. Like the wheels of a bike, tradition plays an important role in providing stability and continuity to the Christian faith over time.
While this illustration is not perfect, I think it does a good job of demonstrating the interplay between scripture, tradition, and church leadership in the Christian faith. It emphasizes the importance of each element in working together to move the church forward in its mission to proclaim the gospel and make disciples. And by having the Holy Spirit as the bicycle rider, we see that the Christian faith is a dynamic and living relationship with God through the power of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit empowers and guides us to live out the principles and teachings of scripture in our daily lives, while church leadership and tradition provide the framework and support needed to stay on course.
What Would a Harmonized View Look Like?
The Catholic view of scripture, tradition, and magisterium asserts that the Bible is part of a larger tradition of Christian teaching and that the Church's magisterium has the authority to interpret and clarify that teaching. In contrast, the Protestant view of Sola Scriptura holds that the Bible is the ultimate authority in matters of faith and practice and is sufficient for guiding and instructing believers in all things.
A possible way to harmonize these views could be to acknowledge the importance of the Bible as the primary source of Christian revelation and doctrine, but also acknowledging the value of tradition and the teaching authority of the Church. In practice, this could mean that the interpretation and application of scripture are guided by the wisdom of the Church and the Holy Spirit, as well as by the teachings of church leaders, creeds, and other historical documents. The Bible would still be considered the ultimate authority in matters of Christian doctrine and practice, but other sources of authority would also be taken into account and evaluated based on the teachings of scripture.
I think this perspective emphasizes the need for an ongoing dialogue between scripture, tradition, and church leadership (magisterium) to ensure that Christian doctrine remains faithful to its roots while also responding to changing historical and cultural contexts. While personal study of scripture is important, we can recognize the need for church guidance. I think this could possibly help bridge the divide between Catholic and Protestant views of authority while still respecting the unique contributions of each.