Does Acts 8:30-31 Dismiss Sola Scriptura?
It's a pity really how often opponents of Sola Scriptura use Scripture to refute it. Now, I even read from an amateur and self-proclaimed Catholic "apologist" (as well as other professional Catholic apologists) that Acts 8:30-31 "refutes" Sola Scriptura. Now let's take a look what it says and I will use the Good News Translation even if I only use the King James for my English translation.
Congratulations on missing the point of the passage of Scripture! This passage would note refute Sola Scriptura but Solo Scriptura. The difference is that Solo Scriptura only has the Bible as the only authority but not as the source of authority. Sola Scriptura is the guiding principle of how Bible teachers should interpret and do it. To say that 2 Peter 1:20 also refutes Sola Scriptura is an overstatement. The Scripture is not for you to interpret then how do you interpret it? Interpret by the Scriptural context!
First, the official acknowledges the importance of Scripture. Second, Philip himself further verifies the Scripture and explains it. Philip doesn't say, "You need more than the Scripture to rule, you need tradition." Rather, Philip was proving the validity of Scripture on said passage. That's what it means. The official invited Philip to help him explain. Born again Christians believe in Sola Scriptura not Solo Scriptura. Sola Scriptura is believing that the Bible as the very principle by which church authority rules. Christians have books to read but the Bible is the center and the standard of it all!
So again, Sola Scriptura is not about "sole authority" but the Word of God stands as the final authority. Whose words are contained in the Scriptures? It's the very words of God written through men. They just want to dismiss Sola Scriptura because it goes against their manmade doctrines that are pretty much against the Bible!
See also:
Acts 8:30-31
Philip ran over and heard him reading from the book of the prophet Isaiah. He asked him, “Do you understand what you are reading?” 31 The official replied, “How can I understand unless someone explains it to me?” And he invited Philip to climb up and sit in the carriage with him.
Congratulations on missing the point of the passage of Scripture! This passage would note refute Sola Scriptura but Solo Scriptura. The difference is that Solo Scriptura only has the Bible as the only authority but not as the source of authority. Sola Scriptura is the guiding principle of how Bible teachers should interpret and do it. To say that 2 Peter 1:20 also refutes Sola Scriptura is an overstatement. The Scripture is not for you to interpret then how do you interpret it? Interpret by the Scriptural context!
First, the official acknowledges the importance of Scripture. Second, Philip himself further verifies the Scripture and explains it. Philip doesn't say, "You need more than the Scripture to rule, you need tradition." Rather, Philip was proving the validity of Scripture on said passage. That's what it means. The official invited Philip to help him explain. Born again Christians believe in Sola Scriptura not Solo Scriptura. Sola Scriptura is believing that the Bible as the very principle by which church authority rules. Christians have books to read but the Bible is the center and the standard of it all!
So again, Sola Scriptura is not about "sole authority" but the Word of God stands as the final authority. Whose words are contained in the Scriptures? It's the very words of God written through men. They just want to dismiss Sola Scriptura because it goes against their manmade doctrines that are pretty much against the Bible!
See also:
- Answering Self-Appointed Lady Catechist's Ridiculous Claim That Bible Alone and Faith Alone Leads to Evil
- Correcting the Severely Misunderstood View of Sola Scriptura
- Defending the Doctrine and Tradition of Sola Scriptura
- It's Rejecting Sola Scriptura That Creates Several Pseudo-Christian Groups
- Just Say No to Pulpit Pimps Because God Will Judge Such Evil Preachers!
- Preachers Who Don't Use Their Bible as the Final Authority Are Like Sky Divers Not Using Their Parachutes as the Only Way to Land Safely!
- Pseudo-Christian Denominations Reject God's Word to Keep Their Own Traditions!
- Refuting the Ridiculous Claim That Sola Scriptura Condones to Certain Evils in Society
- Sola Parochus or Sola Scriptura?