Navigating Sola Scriptura: Scripture's Authority and the Role of Tradition
The Protestant doctrine of sola scriptura, asserting that scripture alone is the supreme authority for Christian faith, is foundational for the church that uphold the absolute authority of the Bible. For the church, eliminating extra-biblical traditions that lack clear scriptural basis is essential to upholding scripture as the sole infallible guide for doctrine and practice. We believe the Bible fully equips Christians for salvation and godly living (2 Timothy 3:16-17).
However, thoughtfully examining sola scriptura involves acknowledging valid critiques of this doctrine's self-consistency and sufficiency. Sola scriptura itself is not explicitly taught in the Bible. Defining the biblical canon depends on the traditions sola scriptura rejects.
A unifying theme emerges - affirming the unique authority of scripture while recognizing tradition's role in interpreting and applying the Bible. Scripture has primacy and norms of all tradition (Isaiah 8:20), but practices and interpretations developed in church history fill in scriptural gaps. So, a nuanced view embraces sola scriptura's intent while avoiding its extremes - scripture alone, but not scripture in a vacuum.
This allows upholding biblical authority while acknowledging tradition's historically conditioned role. Neither scripture alone nor tradition alone, but scripture as the touchstone to test all tradition (Acts 17:11). Scripture is the supreme authority, but not isolated from the church's history of applying biblical truth (Matthew 15:2-6). Sola scriptura rightly elevates the Bible's centrality (Psalm 119:105) but can be tempered by respecting tradition's partnership with scripture (2 Thessalonians 2:15).
The Bible contains many traditions and practices that have shaped Christian worship and community for centuries. Core among these are baptism, communion, worship, scripture reading, preaching, prayer, and financial giving. Baptism by water immersion symbolizes purification and initiation into the faith, based on the baptism of Jesus by John and his instructions to baptize new believers. The Lord's Supper or Communion commemorates Jesus' last supper with bread and wine, as he commanded his followers to remember him by. Gathering for worship has its roots in Jewish practice, involving prayer, singing, teaching, and fellowship. Reading and studying scripture publicly was an early church priority, heeding Jesus' and the apostles' teachings. Preaching the gospel message enabled Christianity to spread rapidly. Believers are exhorted to pray continually in various forms, as Jesus exemplified. And the habit of giving generously to the church has ancient precedent, supporting the work of ministry. These traditions remain vital practices that unite Christians across history, geography, and communities.