10 Minute Read | Author: Jeff Briner
Sola Scriptura VS Prima Scriptura
The sufficiency of Scripture leads us into the theological debate of Sola Scriptura versus Prima Scriptura. I am not a theologian and will not lead you into this debate beyond knowing there is a debate.
Sola Scriptura in a statement means Scripture alone is the authority for Christian doctrine. Prima Scriptura in a statement means Scripture is first among other sources of divine revelation. These short theological statements above communicate a stance but need explanation for application. So, stay with me, and let’s expound on this topic.
Sola Scriptura doctrine is the protestants response to the Catholic Church’s Prima Scriptura doctrine. The Catholic Church held that church traditions, the pope, and the like held a shared authority of the written Word of God. But, of course, during this time, the Holy Scriptures were not available to the masses, and the priests alone gave the interpretations that led to a lot of unchecked heresy. So, the reformers stated that Solo Scriptura places the Holy Scriptures as the highest authority with no shared authority.
Are you confused now? Sola and Prima doctrines are not clear, at least to me. So, let’s move on to what the Bible talks about, doctrine and authority, so that we can get the most of the Bible Project 2022.
When it comes to doctrine on how to be saved, the Holy Bible is the sole authority. No other authority can create a new doctrine or revelation from an angel of heaven or men of the earth.
Also, when it comes to living a life as a disciplined follower of Jesus, being transformed into His image by the renewal of our mind, there is no outside or shared authority. The written Word of God is sufficient.
But does this mean there is no authority outside of the Bible? Does this mean God does not speak today? Are the Holy Spirit silent and the gifts of the Spirit passed away? Are church traditions harmful and dreams and visions not from God?
The answer to all the proceeding questions is no. God has set up all authority on heaven and earth, and all authority must bow before Jesus, who is the Word that became flesh. Therefore, no voice of authority is above the voice of “It is written.”
The Holy Spirit is in Submission to the Written Word of God
Let’s look upon some of these other authorities that God Himself has set up. The Holy Spirit is an authority here on earth that leads us into all truth, but the Holy Spirit will never contradict what ‘is written’ but only tells us what He hears the Father speaking. The Holy Spirit does speak to us on a personal level and gives us divine revelation for our life. The written Scripture does not tell us the name of the person we should marry or where we should live and work. But the Holy Spirit can, does, and desires to do so.
“It is written” that we as believers should not marry an unbeliever. The Holy Spirit will not contradict the written Word to not marry an unbeliever. If you did marry an unbeliever, God could fix the problem, but The Holy Spirit never leads us to create the problem.
Angels Must be in Submission to the Written Word of God
God created angels to minister to the saints, and angels still are commissioned as messengers to His people. We are not to listen to angels who speak another gospel. After Jesus was raised from the dead and sitting at the Father’s right hand, several lying angels have helped men create false religions and false holy books.
Prophets (church leadership) & Prophecy Must Be in Submission to the Written Word of God
Prophets of God are one of the gifts that Jesus gave to the church until He returns for his bride. Prophets always point back to the cross for repentance with one hand and the future for lordship with the other hand. Prophets are not psychics. Prophets are a lesser authority than the written Word of God and are a lesser authority than the Holy Spirit. There is no new word beyond what is written. The written Word is a better prophet to the world’s future than any prophecy of man.
Prophets can and do at times predict the future. Prophets, and those given to the gift of prophecy, can provide personal words about our future, but they will never contradict what “is written” in Scripture. And a true prophet of God will be concerned with your discipline of reading the written Word of God to know for yourself than setting himself or herself up as the go-to person to hear from God.
There is a better word than prophesy without despising prophecy.
God continues to speak through the gifts of the Spirit given to each man as He wills for the building up of the saints. Three gifts talk about a word in due season: Word of Knowledge, Word of wisdom, and prophecy. But none of these right now words will cancel or override what has been written over the centuries by holy men moved by God. They are more often how to apply the written Word in our current situation. Or what God is doing on the earth right here and now.
Dreams and visions are still a method of God speaking to His people. It is a pronouncement to increase as the days grow short. But when a dream or vision imposes itself over what “is written,” it is false and needs to be tossed out. Dreams and visions are one of God’s divine ways of leading us on what to do that are not explicitly written in Scripture but will also never contradict Scripture.
Church Traditions Must Be in Submission to the Written Word of God
Church traditions are not evil in themselves. But Jesus sure did have problems with the traditions of the Jews that nullified the written Word of God.
Many people lift church tradition to the same level of authority of Scripture. In Jesus’ time, the five books of Moses and the prophets, plus some literary books, were the written Word of God. All is good so far. But there was also what is known as the Oral Law of Moses. Things that God told Moses and others through the centuries were good, at least for that time. Finally, the authorities elevated the Oral Law to a source on par with the written Scripture. But this Oral Law of Moses wasn’t meant for truth for all times and peoples. It was meant for their time. God speaks today to churches on how to carry out His will in our lives that do not work for all times and societies but never contradicts the written Word of God.
The tradition of washing your hands before eating is not to keep demons out of your body, as many people thought before science caught up and discovered it is a good practice to keep germs out of your body.
Bottom line, the written Word of God trumps church tradition when it comes to truth.
Science Must Be in Submission to the Written Word of God
Science is another authority on the earth set up by God. But when Adam and all creation fell, science did as well. So science is always playing catch up to what “is written” in the Word of God. Actual science is God’s hidden signature to know that there is a God. Science will lead you to Jerusalem as wise men, but it takes a revelation of the written Word of God to lead you to eternal life through Jesus.
It is Written
As a teacher of the written Word of God who hears God speak a right now word, I hope I have turned your attention to the written Word of God without nullifying the lesser authorities on the earth. Listen to the Holy Spirit, prophets, angels sent from heaven, science that points to a caring God, dreams and visions, gifts of the Spirit, and traditions of the church that are working to build and edify the kingdom of God. But do not neglect or demote the written Word of God that leads to eternal life.
*SCRIPTURE REFERENCES
But evil men and impostors will proceed from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived. You, however, continue in the things you have learned and become convinced of, knowing from whom you have learned them, and that from childhood you have known the sacred writings which are able to give you the wisdom that leads to salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work. – 2 Timothy 3:13-17 NASU
Now, brothers, I have applied these things to myself and Apollos for your benefit, so that you may learn from us the meaning of the saying, “Do not go beyond what is written.” Then you will not take pride in one man over against another. – 1 Corinthians 4:6 NIV
The brethren immediately sent Paul and Silas away by night to Berea, and when they arrived, they went into the synagogue of the Jews. Now these were more noble-minded than those in Thessalonica, for they received the word with great eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see whether these things were so. – Acts 17:10-11 NASU
Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth. But avoid worldly and empty chatter, for it will lead to further ungodliness, – 2 Timothy 2:15-16 NASU
I solemnly charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by His appearing and His kingdom: preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with great patience and instruction. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires, and will turn away their ears from the truth and will turn aside to myths. – 2 Timothy 4:1-4 NASU
HOLY SPIRIT will not lead away from what is written.
“I have many more things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. “But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth; for He will not speak on His own initiative, but whatever He hears, He will speak; and He will disclose to you what is to come. “He will glorify Me, for He will take of Mine and will disclose it to you. “All things that the Father has are Mine; therefore I said that He takes of Mine and will disclose it to you. – John 16:12-15 NASU
ANGELS should not speak contrary to what is written.
But to which of the angels said he at any time, Sit on my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool? Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation? – Hebrews 1:13-14 KJV
I am amazed that you are so quickly deserting Him who called you by the grace of Christ, for a different gospel; which is really not another; only there are some who are disturbing you and want to distort the gospel of Christ. But even if we, or an angel from heaven, should preach to you a gospel contrary to what we have preached to you, he is to be accursed! As we have said before, so I say again now, if any man is preaching to you a gospel contrary to what you received, he is to be accursed! – Galatians 1:6-9 NASU
MEN’s words should not take precedence over what is written even when it is a Word from God.
So we have the prophetic word made more sure, to which you do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star arises in your hearts. But know this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture is a matter of one’s own interpretation, for no prophecy was ever made by an act of human will, but men moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God. – 2 Peter 1:19-21 NASU
VISIONS are for today but not when they inflate themselves over what is written.
Let no one keep defrauding you of your prize by delighting in self-abasement and the worship of the angels, taking his stand on visions he has seen, inflated without cause by his fleshly mind, – Colossians 2:18 NASU
TRADITIONS OF MEN can be beneficial so long as they don’t lead astray from what is written.
The Pharisees and the scribes asked Him, “Why do Your disciples not walk according to the tradition of the elders, but eat their bread with impure hands?” And He said to them, “Rightly did Isaiah prophesy of you hypocrites, as it is written:
‘THIS PEOPLE HONORS ME WITH THEIR LIPS, BUT THEIR HEART IS FAR AWAY FROM ME. ‘BUT IN VAIN DO THEY WORSHIP ME, TEACHING AS DOCTRINES THE PRECEPTS OF MEN.’
“Neglecting the commandment of God, you hold to the tradition of men.” – Mark 7:5-8 NASU
For you have heard of my former manner of life in Judaism, how I used to persecute the church of God beyond measure and tried to destroy it; and I was advancing in Judaism beyond many of my contemporaries among my countrymen, being more extremely zealous for my ancestral traditions. – Galatians 1:13-14 NASU
SCIENCE declares the glory of the Lord so long as it doesn’t overrule what is written.
It is the glory of God to conceal a matter, But the glory of kings is to search out a matter. As the heavens for height and the earth for depth, So the heart of kings is unsearchable. – Proverbs 25:2-3 NASU
For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse. For even though they knew God, they did not honor Him as God or give thanks, but they became futile in their speculations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing to be wise, they became fools, and exchanged the glory of the incorruptible God for an image in the form of corruptible man and of birds and four-footed animals and crawling creatures. – Romans 1:20-23 NASU
Very good Jeff