Is Sola Scriptura Actually Anti-Scripture?

Protestants believe in sola scriptura, which means the Bible is the ultimate authority for the Christian life. Catholics believe that Scripture and Sacred Tradition are both authorities, and the authoritative magisterium provides binding interpretations of them.

Here’s why Catholics can’t embrace sola scriptura.

The Bible itself rejects the idea.
Nowhere in Scripture does it claim to be the sole authority for the Christian life. Jesus doesn’t tell His apostles to write Gospels; rather, He commissions them to preach the Gospel.

If you claim that sola scriptura is true but can’t find it in the Bible, you’re appealing to another authority outside of Scripture.

The Bible offers Sacred Tradition as an authoritative guide.
In 2 Thessalonians 2:15, St. Paul says, “So then, brethren, stand firm and hold to the traditions which you were taught by us, either by word of mouth or by letter.”

“By mouth or letter” sounds a lot like Scripture and Sacred Tradition!

There are practical problems associated with sola scriptura.
If Scripture is the ultimate authority, then one would expect its teachings to be clear. Yet there are thousands of Protestant denominations which — while agreeing on sola scriptura in principle — disagree on what the Bible actually says on key topics.

The Bible is crystal clear in some passages, such as when it claims that God created all things. But did He do this in only seven days, or is that number symbolic? Did He use evolution, or were all things created in the form we have today? And what about beliefs that the Bible doesn’t give explicit answers for, such as the morality of abortion?

Catholics are blessed to have an authoritative guide in the magisterium. “But wait!” a Protestant may exclaim. “Aren’t papal and council statements sometimes unclear? Aren’t Catholics still arguing about the meaning of the Vatican II documents?”

Yes, Church teaching can be unclear. The difference is that when this happens, the pope and bishops can clarify what they mean. They’ve done this repeatedly with often misunderstood passages of Vatican II. Some people reject their official interpretations, but that’s not because they don’t know what the pope and bishops are saying. It’s because they DO know, and they reject it.

With Scripture, God doesn’t usually speak to you in a clear, completely unambiguous way that leaves no room for doubt. The Holy Spirit does speak to our hearts, but it takes time and practice to learn to discern that voice. Even then, we don’t always infallibly interpret it.

Scripture is a gift and source of wisdom, but it’s not meant to stand on its own. Stay with the Church and let her guide you on your journey through God’s Word.