Sola Scriptura (Part 4)
Term: Sola Scriptura
In Part 1, 2, & 3 on this doctrine, Sola Scriptura was identified by its central claim: the Bible is the sole infallible source of authority for Christian faith and practice. This claim was parsed into three main aspects: clarity, sufficiency, and authority. With a clear understanding of what Sola Scriptura is and is not claiming, we can look for its basis in Scripture itself. In this final article, we will look at one more text that highlights the idea of Sola Scripture: 2 Timothy 3:14-17.
Challenging Times & Conflicting Authorities
2 Timothy 3:1-13:
“1 But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty. 2 For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, 3 heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, 4 treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, 5 having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people. 6 For among them are those who creep into households and capture weak women, burdened with sins and led astray by various passions, 7 always learning and never able to arrive at a knowledge of the truth. 8 Just as Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses, so these men also oppose the truth, men corrupted in mind and disqualified regarding the faith. 9 But they will not get very far, for their folly will be plain to all, as was that of those two men. 10 You, however, have followed my teaching, my conduct, my aim in life, my faith, my patience, my love, my steadfastness, 11 my persecutions and sufferings that happened to me at Antioch, at Iconium, and at Lystra—which persecutions I endured; yet from them all the Lord rescued me. 12 Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, 13 while evil people and impostors will go on from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived.”
Before we dig into the main text, let’s establish the context through the verses above. Paul is writing a “last letter” of sorts to a young pastor he has deeply mentored and befriended named Timothy. Time is short for Paul to make any more impact with those around him due to progressing persecution, so he wants to reaffirm the foundations he has handed off to Timothy. Things will get tough; There will be all sorts of evils arising around Timothy and his church in the coming days (2 Timothy 3:1-5), and there will even be those who bring that evil into the Christian community by leading people astray (2 Timothy 3:6-9).
Even with this warning, Timothy shouldn’t be anxious. His mentor whom he has always followed has been persecuted and subsequently rescued (2 Timothy 3:10-11). This is part of being a Christian; Paul says, “12 Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, 13 while evil people and impostors will go on from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived” (2 Timothy 3:12-13). The line between the godly and ungodly will be made clear in due season. In the meantime, with the ungodly teachers on the loose challenging the message of the gospel, what is Timothy suppose to appeal to as the authoritative truth? Here we get to our key verses.
The Sacred Writings
2 Timothy 3:14-15:
14 But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it 15 and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.
After warning Timothy about those challenging the gospel, Paul begins to give specific instructions on what to do. He is to “continue” in what he’s learned (2 Timothy 3:14). What was special about this learning? It came from the “sacred writings which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus” (2 Timothy 3:15). The “sacred writings” would be the Old Testament Scriptures. This means the Old Testament Scriptures are able to make Timothy knowledgable about the saving faith in Jesus. In other words, the gospel is clear enough in the Scriptures Timothy had available to him to define what it is and isn’t.
Of course, TImothy has the preaching and teaching of the apostle Paul to lean on as well, but the New Testament Scriptures themselves had not been collected together yet. When the apostles have sent a letter or are there in person obey their teaching! But Paul is assuring Timothy that even if that is not available, they have a sure foundation: the “sacred writings” of the Old Testament.
All Scripture is God-Breathed
2 Timothy 3:16:
16 All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness.
Here is the verse we’ve been building towards. Why does the Old Testament and the Apostolic New Testament writings have such a connection to continuing in the faith and guarding that faith? Because of their unique nature. Paul declares, “16 All Scripture is breathed out by God;” (2 Timothy 3:16a). All of those “sacred writings” are “breathed out by God.” The word translated “breathed out by God” (θεόπνευστος) does not mean God “blew” or “inspired” an otherwise manmade document. No, it communicates that the Scriptures were originally created by his voice; The BIble is His exhale. When you read the Scriptures you are reading God-Breathed words.
The beginning of verse 16 has given us the very nature of Scripture and has placed it in its own category. This is what differentiates everything else from Scripture. Here is the question for those who may oppose the idea that Scripture is the sole infallible rule of faith for God’s people: What else is God-breathed (θεόπνευστος)? Is the pastor’s sermons θεόπνευστος? Are church councils θεόπνευστος? Are denominational boards θεόπνευστος? No. There is nothing else in Scripture that defines itself as God-breathed (θεόπνευστος). This places Scripture in a unique category; there is truly nothing like it.
What Scripture Does
2 Timothy 3:16-17:
16 All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work.
Naturally, this unique nature of Scripture allows it to practically function in a way nothing else can. After defining Scripture as “God-breathed,” Paul says it is useful for four things: teaching, rebuke, correction, and training in righteousness (2 Timothy 3:16). Is this not Timothy’s exact job description as a pastor? Shepherds are to teach, rebuke, correct, and train the church in righteousness. This must have been such a comfort to Timothy; the very things he is charged to do in such a hostile climate are the very things Scripture’s nature enables it to do when it is followed. Timothy does not need to turn anywhere else except the breathed out word of God to lead God’s people! The foundation for the church is an appeal to the sacred writings as the ultimate teacher, corrector, rebuker, and trainer in righteousness.
The call to continue in the faith found in the Scriptures because of its unique nature and abilities leads to this final assurance: “that the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work” (2 Timothy 3:17). If Timothy holds fast to nothing but the word of God he can be confident he will be competent and equipped for every good work. There is no bolder affirmation that following the principle of Sola Scriptura is enough for followers of Christ. Paul does not say we must have any other source to be complete in all that God calls us to other than God’s word itself. In fact, I would argue unless you are holding to the Scriptures as the foundation and authority of your faith, then it does not matter what else you have you will be incomplete.
Here is a reminder of Paul’s big points in this text:
Hold firm to what you’ve learned (v14)
Remember where you’ve learned it from: apostles and Scripture (v14-15)
The Scriptures (OT) is able to make you wise for salvation in Jesus Christ (v15)
All Scripture is breathed out ( θεόπνευστος) by God (v16)
Scripture is profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness (v16)
Scripture makes Christians complete, equipped for every good work (v17)
Reflective Worship
What doesn’t change? Pastors do. Denominations do. Academia does. The only thing that is sure not to change in the Christian life is Scripture. I have argued in this article and previous ones in this series that the Bible must be the highest authority in a Christian’s life. The reason is obviously because I believe this is what the Bible itself teaches, but I also see the external fruit of following or not following such a principle. The truth is if you do not believe the Bible is clear enough or authoritative enough, you will probably have a revolving door of ideas you put in its place.
History is so clear. Just read church history textbooks or even the Wikipedia pages of most mainline protestant denominations in the U.S. The 20th century was the same story told a dozen different times; A denomination would give up on Sola Scriptura and slip down the slope of theological liberalism. Here’s the thing. Most of the leaders of those groups did not realize how much society changes in a matter of decades, but their decision to abandon Sola Scriptura unintentionally led to their grandchildren abandoning Scriptura altogether. What changed? Scripture didn’t. They did.
I am so grateful to God for making it clear that if I stick with the Scriptures as clear and authoritative, I will be complete and competent. If everybody else changes, I won’t. The merry-go-round of beliefs is not a ride we have to get on. The Bible was the sole infallible source of authority for Christian faith and practice for Timothy, and so it will be for me.
Further Study
Books
Sola Scriptura: The Protestant Position on the Bible ed. by Don Kistler
Scripture Alone: Exploring the Bible's Accuracy, Authority and Authenticity by James R. White
God’s Word Alone: The Authority of Scripture—What the Reformers Taught...and Why It Still Matters by Matthew Barrett