In this article I post a snippet from my full refutation of Sola Scriptura which can be found here. In this post I highlight certain Scriptural points that refute the notion that Scripture is the only medium in which God’s Word is transmitted (this is the assumption of the Prots).
For example, 2 Thessalonians 3:6 says “But we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you withdraw from every brother who walks disorderly and not according to the tradition which he received from us”.7 This tradition that Paul is advocating for contains “word or our epistle”.8 Paul writes to Timothy and exclaims “continue in the things which you have learned and been assured of, knowing from whom you have learned them, and that from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for
salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus”.9 Paul advised readers to support the elders of the day financially, those that labor in “word and doctrine”.10 Paul commanding to Timothy says “Hold fast the pattern of sound words which you have heard from me, in faith and love which are in Christ Jesus”11. Paul again commands Timothy “You therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. And the things that you have heard from me among many witnesses, commit these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also”.12 Paul again exclaims “For this reason we also thank God without ceasing, because when you RECEIVED THE WORD OF GOD which you HEARD from us, you welcomed it NOT AS THE WORD OF MEN, BUT AS IT IS IN TRUTH, THE WORD OF GOD, which also effectively works in you who believe”.13 Paul writing to the Romans says “So then faith [comes] by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” 14 Paul, in discussing Religious directions, demands believers to “Remember those who rule over you, who have SPOKEN the WORD OF GOD to you, whose faith follow, considering the outcome of their conduct.” 15 Paul speaking about the oral preaching he did to the Church in Thessaloniki; “For our gospel DID NOT come to you in WORD ONLY , but also IN POWER, and in the Holy Spirit” 16 [note that Paul is talking in the past tense about His Preaching, this can not be talking about the letter he is writing down present tense], and again; “For from you THE WORD OF THE LORD HAS SOUNDED FORTH, not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but also in every place.”17 Luke records an account in the book of Acts stating “Then the word of God spread, and the number of the disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests were obedient to the faith.”[contentually, the Word of God that is spread in Acts 6 is not explicitly written down, it just states that “the Word of God spread”]
18 We ought not to think this “word of God”, is strictly or even contains any
written texts since the Gospels were not even written [at the times of Acts] according to Modern Scholarship. Paul, talking to the Church in Philippi commands believers that “The things which you LEARNED and RECEIVED and HEARD and saw in me, THESE DO and the God of peace will be with you”20. Do Protestants really believe that all that Paul taught at Philippi is only contained in four chapters? There is obviously a body of understanding that the Church received orally that is authoritative for the Church and beneficial for Christian practice.These verses are not used in order to prove that Church Tradition that is later clarified is explicitly taught during the time of the Apostles (or equivocating on the term “tradition”). Rather, these verses attest to the veracity that there was an oral transmission of the Word of God, that was not confined to the written Scripture alone at the time of the Apostles.
Home 