Sola Scriptura and the Reformed Tradition
I intend to include Lutheran confessions under this heading as well as Reformed ones. These two sets of confessions define what it means to believe in sola scriptura. Within both of these traditions, sola scriptura was defined as a belief in the sufficiency and authority of scripture.
Various reformed confessions state the authority and sufficiency of Scripture. The Belgic confession (1561) states that "We receive all these books [the Bible], and these only, as holy and canonical, for the regulation, foundation, and confirmation of our faith". The Second Helvetic Confession states (1561/1566) states that "in this Holy Scripture, the universal Church of Christ has the most complete exposition of all that pertains to a saving faith". The Heidelberg Catechism (1563) does not explicitly mention sola scriptura. However, every part of the creed is referenced with Scripture, and no other references are present. Furthermore, revelation is connected only with "the Word", which refers to Scripture. The Westminster Confession states that "The whole counsel of God concerning all things necessary for His own glory, man's salvation, faith and life, is either expressly set down in Scripture, or by good and necessary consequence may be deduced from Scripture". All of these confessions agree that Scripture is sufficient for issues of faith and life.
The Lutheran Confessions are no different. The Augsburg Confession (1530) states that they were "showing what manner of doctrine from the Holy Scriptures and the pure Word of God has been up to this time set forth in our lands, dukedoms, dominions, and cities, and taught in our churches". In Article XXI, it places scripture in opposition to the teaching of the Roman Catholic church. Since they are in opposition, scripture ought to be followed. The later development of Lutheran doctrine continued to follow this pattern. In the solid declaration of the formula of concord, it states that "Whereby All Dogmas should be Judged according to God's Word" as one of the headings. So the Lutherans are also in agreement of this.
Although some of these creeds contain some unusual affirmations, they all agree on a couple of points. First, they believe that the scriptures contain all of Christian doctrine, and practice and are sufficient for instructing one in one's life. Second, they believe that the scriptures are also the highest and ultimate authority in those same areas. These two areas of agreement have implications for one's beliefs about scripture, but those two beliefs form the core of sola scriptura. It is important to note that some of these confessions state that they agree with various early creeds, and others point out they are in agreement with the early fathers of the church. So these beliefs about scripture were never viewed as a source of conflict with the teaching of the church at large, but only with the Roman Catholic church in particular.
Various reformed confessions state the authority and sufficiency of Scripture. The Belgic confession (1561) states that "We receive all these books [the Bible], and these only, as holy and canonical, for the regulation, foundation, and confirmation of our faith". The Second Helvetic Confession states (1561/1566) states that "in this Holy Scripture, the universal Church of Christ has the most complete exposition of all that pertains to a saving faith". The Heidelberg Catechism (1563) does not explicitly mention sola scriptura. However, every part of the creed is referenced with Scripture, and no other references are present. Furthermore, revelation is connected only with "the Word", which refers to Scripture. The Westminster Confession states that "The whole counsel of God concerning all things necessary for His own glory, man's salvation, faith and life, is either expressly set down in Scripture, or by good and necessary consequence may be deduced from Scripture". All of these confessions agree that Scripture is sufficient for issues of faith and life.
The Lutheran Confessions are no different. The Augsburg Confession (1530) states that they were "showing what manner of doctrine from the Holy Scriptures and the pure Word of God has been up to this time set forth in our lands, dukedoms, dominions, and cities, and taught in our churches". In Article XXI, it places scripture in opposition to the teaching of the Roman Catholic church. Since they are in opposition, scripture ought to be followed. The later development of Lutheran doctrine continued to follow this pattern. In the solid declaration of the formula of concord, it states that "Whereby All Dogmas should be Judged according to God's Word" as one of the headings. So the Lutherans are also in agreement of this.
Although some of these creeds contain some unusual affirmations, they all agree on a couple of points. First, they believe that the scriptures contain all of Christian doctrine, and practice and are sufficient for instructing one in one's life. Second, they believe that the scriptures are also the highest and ultimate authority in those same areas. These two areas of agreement have implications for one's beliefs about scripture, but those two beliefs form the core of sola scriptura. It is important to note that some of these confessions state that they agree with various early creeds, and others point out they are in agreement with the early fathers of the church. So these beliefs about scripture were never viewed as a source of conflict with the teaching of the church at large, but only with the Roman Catholic church in particular.
posted by Matthew at 3:10 PM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home