Is “Sola Scriptura” a biblical or a man-made concept?

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QUESTION: In your answers on the differences between Roman Catholicism and Orthodox Christianity you state "The Protestant Reformation restored to the body of Christ the doctrine of sola Scriptura (Scripture alone)." My question is, if this doctrine of “Sola Scriptura” was “restored” to the body of Christ, where is it found in the Bible? In all documents I have read (I am in no way a Theologian), I have never seen anything say that sola Scriptura is biblical. I do agree that the Scriptures are the inspired word of God, but is this doctrine in the Bible or is it a man-made doctrine? If it is not in the Bible, doesn't that make it contradictory to itself? It is my understanding that the Church did not even have the Bible (especially the New Testament) for around 350 years after Christ's death and resurrection. How then could this doctrine have been “restored”?

Is the concept of “sola Scriptura” biblical? Yes, most definitely. Sola Scriptura is foundational to Christianity, and was given to us by God Himself. It is God made, not man made. (Read what the Bible has to say about it. [Go])

The Early Church clearly understood this and taught it from the beginning of Christianity. (Read the evidence for yourself. [Go])

All the Scriptures were available to the Early Church far earlier than the date you suggest (350 years). It is known, for example, that the Syriac and Latin translations of the New Testament were made around 150 A.D. This brings us within a very close time of the original documents. Based on the latest archaeological findings and textual evidence, there is no reason to doubt that the Early Church had the full Bible. The Church fathers quoted from it so heavily that virtually the entire New Testament can be reconstructed from their writings alone.

Author: Paul S. Taylor, Christian Answers.

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