Michael Reeves

And the more they did so, the more Luther relied on the authority of Scripture. And Luther summed up his position when he said, the saints could err in their writings and the sin in their lives, but the Scriptures cannot err. And that establishes and outlines the Reformational theological method in contrast to the Roman Catholic method.

And the more they did so, the more Luther relied on the authority of Scripture. And Luther summed up his position when he said, the saints could err in their writings and the sin in their lives, but the Scriptures cannot err. And that establishes and outlines the Reformational theological method in contrast to the Roman Catholic method.

For still today, the Catechism of the Catholic Church states, both Scripture and tradition must be accepted and honored with equal sentiments of devotion and reverence. In contrast, the heirs of the Reformation hold the Bible is our only chief, supreme, and ultimate authority. And that is the meaning of sola scriptura.

For still today, the Catechism of the Catholic Church states, both Scripture and tradition must be accepted and honored with equal sentiments of devotion and reverence. In contrast, the heirs of the Reformation hold the Bible is our only chief, supreme, and ultimate authority. And that is the meaning of sola scriptura.

Sola scriptura is not the same thing as nuda scriptura, that we should have no creed but the Bible. Now, Sola Scriptura acknowledges there are other important authorities for the Christian, authorities who should be listened to and followed.

Sola scriptura is not the same thing as nuda scriptura, that we should have no creed but the Bible. Now, Sola Scriptura acknowledges there are other important authorities for the Christian, authorities who should be listened to and followed.

We respect the authority of church elders, of great theologians, of creeds and confessions, but Scripture alone is the authority that rules over and governs all other authorities. All other authorities are to be followed only insofar as they are subservient to Scripture, which alone is our supreme authority. Scripture alone is supreme, and Scripture alone is a sufficient authority.

We respect the authority of church elders, of great theologians, of creeds and confessions, but Scripture alone is the authority that rules over and governs all other authorities. All other authorities are to be followed only insofar as they are subservient to Scripture, which alone is our supreme authority. Scripture alone is supreme, and Scripture alone is a sufficient authority.

The Bible provides believers with all the truth they need for faith and godliness. And there would have been no Reformation without Scripture. this truth. And you can see that when you compare Erasmus with Luther. Erasmus was the great scholar who'd provided the Greek New Testament through which Luther had been converted. But Erasmus wasn't considered the first reformer.

The Bible provides believers with all the truth they need for faith and godliness. And there would have been no Reformation without Scripture. this truth. And you can see that when you compare Erasmus with Luther. Erasmus was the great scholar who'd provided the Greek New Testament through which Luther had been converted. But Erasmus wasn't considered the first reformer.

He was the man who'd made the Scriptures available But while providing the coals for the Reformation, his possession of the Scriptures and his deep study of the Scriptures changed little for the man himself because of how he treated them. Erasmus buried the Scriptures under convenient assertions of their vagueness. And he accorded the Scriptures little practical, let alone governing, authority.

He was the man who'd made the Scriptures available But while providing the coals for the Reformation, his possession of the Scriptures and his deep study of the Scriptures changed little for the man himself because of how he treated them. Erasmus buried the Scriptures under convenient assertions of their vagueness. And he accorded the Scriptures little practical, let alone governing, authority.

And the result was that for Erasmus, the Bible was just one voice among many. And so its message could be tailored, squeezed, and adjusted to fit his own vision of what Christianity was. And to break out of that suffocating scheme to achieve any substantial change and reformation, it took Luther's view that Scripture is the only sure foundation for belief.

And the result was that for Erasmus, the Bible was just one voice among many. And so its message could be tailored, squeezed, and adjusted to fit his own vision of what Christianity was. And to break out of that suffocating scheme to achieve any substantial change and reformation, it took Luther's view that Scripture is the only sure foundation for belief.

The Bible had to be acknowledged as the supreme authority and allowed to overturn and overrule all other claims or else, Luther saw, it would itself be overruled and its message would be hijacked. In other words, a simple reverence for the Bible, an acknowledgement that Scripture has some authority, would never have been enough to bring about the Reformation.

The Bible had to be acknowledged as the supreme authority and allowed to overturn and overrule all other claims or else, Luther saw, it would itself be overruled and its message would be hijacked. In other words, a simple reverence for the Bible, an acknowledgement that Scripture has some authority, would never have been enough to bring about the Reformation.

Sola Scriptura was the indispensable key for change. But how can you know that the Bible is this trustworthy Word of God? How can you be sure? Is it that you need to turn to the Pope who can assure you that this Bible is trustworthy? Is it that you need to turn to scholars?

Sola Scriptura was the indispensable key for change. But how can you know that the Bible is this trustworthy Word of God? How can you be sure? Is it that you need to turn to the Pope who can assure you that this Bible is trustworthy? Is it that you need to turn to scholars?

Well, according to the Reformers and the Reformation tradition, you can know that the Bible is this supreme, trustworthy, authoritative Word of God first and foremost because it authenticates itself as such. There are other supporting reasons why you can have confidence in it as the Word of God, but first and foremost you can because it proves itself to be what it claims.

Well, according to the Reformers and the Reformation tradition, you can know that the Bible is this supreme, trustworthy, authoritative Word of God first and foremost because it authenticates itself as such. There are other supporting reasons why you can have confidence in it as the Word of God, but first and foremost you can because it proves itself to be what it claims.