Is Scripture Alone Biblical?

Sola Scriptura, or "Scripture Alone," is the teaching that the Bible is the only infallible authority for all matters of faith and practice. It thus means that no church, tradition, magisterium, or papal decree can stand as an infallible authority beside the Word of God. While some groups who profess to believe in Scripture alone, like the Reformed, Lutherans, and Anglicans, may lean more heavily on the writings of historical theologians, us Free Gracers often take a stronger view of Scripture alone. However, the question we must ask is this: does the Bible itself teach Sola Scriptura?

It is often claimed that the Bible provides no basis for this doctrine, rendering it self-refuting. However, numerous passages explicitly affirm the Bible as the sole infallible authority on Christian doctrine and theology. A prime example is found in Jesus’ interactions with the Pharisees, as recorded in Mark 7. Here, Jesus unmistakably elevates the authority of Scripture above that of tradition, showing its unique authority:

6 He answered and said unto them, Well hath Esaias prophesied of you hypocrites, as it is written, This people honoureth me with their lips, but their heart is far from me.

7 Howbeit in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.

8 For laying aside the commandment of God, ye hold the tradition of men, as the washing of pots and cups: and many other such like things ye do.

9 And he said unto them, Full well ye reject the commandment of God, that ye may keep your own tradition.

10 For Moses said, Honour thy father and thy mother; and, Whoso curseth father or mother, let him die the death:

11 But ye say, If a man shall say to his father or mother, It is Corban, that is to say, a gift, by whatsoever thou mightest be profited by me; he shall be free.

12 And ye suffer him no more to do ought for his father or his mother;

13 Making the word of God of none effect through your tradition, which ye have delivered: and many such like things do ye.

 But among the most classical verses to teach sola scriptura are in 2 Timothy 3:16-17, which reads:

16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:

17 That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.

Special emphasis is to be put on the words "perfect" and "thoroughly furnished". These verses most clearly attest to the fact that scripture is sufficient for Christian living and doctrine. A common objection to this claim is however that the scriptures Paul is talking about is the Old Testament, thus it can't mean that the scripture is sufficient (since we clearly need the New Testament to live the Christian life). However, this claim is easily deconstructed by the fact that Paul 1 Timothy actually quotes the book of Luke as scripture, showing that Paul had both the New and Old Testaments in mind. Compare 1 Timothy 5:18 with Luke 10:7

1 Timothy 5:18

18 For the scripture saith, thou shalt not muzzle the ox that treadeth out the corn. And, The labourer is worthy of his reward. 

λέγει γὰρ ἡ γραφή Βοῦν ἀλοῶντα οὐ φιμώσεις καί Ἄξιος ὁ ἐργάτης τοῦ μισθοῦ αὐτοῦ

Luke 10:7

7 And in the same house remain, eating and drinking such things as they give: for the labourer is worthy of his hire. Go not from house to house. 

ἐν αὐτῇ δὲ τῇ οἰκίᾳ μένετε, ἐσθίοντες καὶ πίνοντες τὰ παρ’ αὐτῶν• ἄξιος γὰρ ὁ ἐργάτης τοῦ μισθοῦ αὐτοῦ ἐστι. μὴ μεταβαίνετε ἐξ οἰκίας εἰς οἰκίαν.

Scripture is said to have all the necessary contents for us to gain eternal life (John 20:31), which we are not supposed to add to anything (Proverbs 30:5-6) and we are called to avoid being deceived by human traditions (Colossians 2:8). Even in the Old Testament did God warn his people of adding traditions outside the scripture "To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them." (Isaiah 8:20). But even more strongly, Paul places Scripture above the apostles and even the angels, commanding his audience to test even his own words by previous revelation, as we read in Galatians 1:8-9:

8 But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.

9 As we said before, so say I now again, if any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.

This same sentiment is echoed also in the example of the Bereans, who searched the scriptures to test claims told unto them:

Acts 17:11-12

11 These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.

12 Therefore many of them believed; also of honourable women which were Greeks, and of men, not a few.

 Assuming an infallible office of teaching, it becomes impossible to practice what the Bereans were commended for, since such infallible statements would not need to be tested by scripture. 

In light of these passages, the doctrine of Sola Scriptura finds strong biblical support.