Bible, Tradition, Canon, & “Sola Scriptura” (Index Page)

Last updated on: October 3, 2024 at 11:53 am
November 8, 2006 by
Bible, Tradition, Canon, & “Sola Scriptura” (Index Page) November 8, 2006
BibleRosary
Photograph by Chris Sloan, 28 Nov. 2009 [Flickr / CC BY 2.0 license]
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Table of Contents

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I. Relationship of the Bible to the Church
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II. Tradition (Apostolic)
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III. Sola Scriptura (Scripture as the Only Infallible Authority)
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IV. Perspicuity (Clearness) of Scripture
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V. Material and Formal Sufficiency of Scripture / Rule of Faith
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VI. The Canon of Scripture
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VII. Deuterocanonical Books (So-Called “Apocrypha”)
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VIII. Biblical Accuracy / Alleged Biblical Contradictions and Difficulties
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I. RELATIONSHIP OF THE BIBLE TO THE CHURCH
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Why Do Christians Believe in Biblical Inspiration? (Archaeological, Prophetic, and Manuscript Evidences) [1987]

An Introduction to Bible Interpretation [1987]

Apologetics-Oriented Biblical Commentary on Philippians (RSV) [1998]

Apologetics-Oriented Biblical Commentary on Colossians (RSV) [1998]

Laymen’s Greek & Hebrew Bible Resources for Free [1-22-02; linked sources added on 11-28-16]

“Why Don’t Catholics Read the Bible?” [6-26-02]

Catholic “Three-Legged Stool”: Scripture, Tradition, & Church: Dialogue with an Anglican on the Catholic Rule of Faith (vs. Jon Jacobson) [10-31-02]

The Freedom of the Catholic Biblical Exegete / Interpreter + Bible Passages that the Church has Definitively Interpreted [9-14-03]

“Biblical Evidence” from the Catholic Point of View [2-1-08]

Bibles & Catholics, Sunday School?, Memorization, Etc. [9-25-08]

Books by Dave Armstrong: Bible Proofs for Catholic Truths: A Source Book for Apologists and Inquirers [4-18-09]

Why Folks Like the New Catholic Answer Bible (+ Clueless Anti-Catholic Attacks On It) [4-5-09; slightly revised on 8-5-21]

How Do Catholics Approach & Interpret Holy Scripture? [6-17-09]

Catholic Interpretation of Scripture (Hermeneutics / Exegesis): Resource List (Links) [6-28-09]

Were Vernacular Bibles Unknown Before Luther? (Luther’s Dubious Claims About the Supposed Utter Obscurity of the Bible Before His Translation) [6-15-11]

Reply to a Lutheran on Tradition & the Patristic Rule of Faith [1-10-12; additions on 2-20-18]

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Dialogue on Authoritative Bible Interpretation in the New Testament (vs. Reformed Baptist Elder Jim Drickamer) [1-14-17]
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Church Fathers and Sola Scriptura [originally July 2003; somewhat modified condensation: 4-5-17]
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Catholics R More Biblical Than Protestants? (Dialogue) (vs. Dustin Buck Lattimore) [5-3-17]
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The Analogy of an Infallible Bible to an Infallible Church [11-6-05; rev. 7-25-15 and 6-7-17; published at National Catholic Register: 6-16-17]
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Why Are Catholics So Deficient in Bible-Reading? [National Catholic Register, 11-22-17]
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Catholic Biblical Interpretation: Myths and Truths [National Catholic Register, 12-3-18]
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Martin Luther on the Exact Nature of Being “Biblical” [11-10-14; revised and expanded on 1-5-20]
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Vatican II Upheld Biblical Inerrancy (vs. David Palm) [4-23-20]
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No, Pope Innocent III Did Not Prohibit the Bible in 1199 [National Catholic Register, 8-2-21]
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Catholic Church “Above” the Bible? (vs. Lucas Banzoli) [5-25-22]
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“Church vs. the Bible” (vs. Francisco Tourinho) (Examining the Presuppositions That Lie Behind Past Catholic Recommended Restrictions on Individual Bible Reading) [6-5-22]
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Tourinho Knows More About Catholicism Than I Do? (His Stubborn & Foolish Pride in Refusing to Accept Correction Re the Non-Infallible Status of  Unigenitus [1713]) [6-7-22]
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II. TRADITION (APOSTOLIC) 
 
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Dialogue on “Perspicuous Apostolic Teaching” (vs. James White) [May-June 1996]
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“Tradition” Isn’t a Dirty Word [late 90s; rev. 8-16-16]
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 “Tradition” Is Not Always a Bad Word! [written specifically for children: 12 or younger; 2-12-14]
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Church Fathers and Sola Scriptura [originally July 2003; somewhat modified condensation: 4-5-17]
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Tradition is Not a Dirty Word — It’s a Great Gift [National Catholic Register, 4-24-17]
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Martin Luther on the Exact Nature of Being “Biblical” [11-10-14; revised and expanded on 1-5-20]
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2 Thessalonians 2:15 & Tradition (vs. Steve Hays) [5-12-20]
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The Bible Alone? That’s Not What the Bible Says [National Catholic Register, 3-5-21]
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Extra-Biblical, Spirit-Led Prophecy After the Day of Pentecost [4-1-21; published at Catholic365, 11-7-23]
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How Did the Gospel Writers Know About ‘Hidden’ Events? [National Catholic Register, 3-31-22]
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Pharisees, “Moses’ Seat”, Tradition & Catholicism [Dec. 2003 and May 2005; a condensed, re-edited, and mildly revised version: 5-1-22]
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The Authority of Apostolic Tradition: chapter one of my 2009 book, Bible Truths for Catholic Truths: A Source Book for Apologists and Inquirers [10-9-23]
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VIDEO: No Tradition? Fine. NO CHRISTIANITY! [13 Verses To Highlight] [Kenny Burchard, utilizing my biblical research, 9-22-24]
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 III. SOLA SCRIPTURA
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Debate: Church Fathers & Sola Scriptura (vs. Jason Engwer) [8-1-03]

Ten Church Fathers & Sola Scriptura (vs. Jason Engwer) [8-1-03]

Sola Scriptura: Unbiblical!: Refutation of Dr. Richard Bennett [9-15-03]

Refutation of Dr. John MacArthur’s Sola Scriptura Defense: “The Sufficiency of the Written Word” [9-15-03]

Biblical Argumentation: Same as Sola Scriptura? [10-7-03]

Quick Ten-Step Refutation of Sola Scriptura [10-10-03]

55-Minute Interview on Catholic Answers Live: “Why we Need More than the Bible” (listen to audio file: see #8) (10-10-03)

“Moses’ Seat” & Jesus vs. Sola Scriptura (vs. James White) [12-27-03]

Sola Scriptura and Private Judgment Are Logically Circular [1-28-04; slight modifications and abridgment on 9-5-17]

Difficulties of Authority: Luther, Calvin, & Protestantism [4-11-04]

Sola Scriptura is Self-Defeating and False if Not in the Bible (vs. Kevin Johnson) [5-4-04]

Jerusalem Council vs. Sola Scriptura [9-2-04]

Analyzing Luther / Protestant Traditions of Men Inevitable [9-29-04]

Dialogue: Lutherans, Sola Scriptura, & the Church Fathers [5-29-05]

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Papal Infallibility Doctrine: History (Including Luther’s Dissent at the Leipzig Disputation in 1519) (Related also to the particular circumstances of the origins of sola Scriptura) [10-8-07]
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Sola Scriptura Debate (vs. C. Michael Patton) [10-19-08]
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10-Point Biblical Refutation of Sola Scriptura [National Catholic Register, 12-11-16]
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Church Fathers and Sola Scriptura [originally July 2003; somewhat modified condensation: 4-5-17]
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Catholics R More Biblical Than Protestants? (Dialogue) (vs. Dustin Buck Lattimore) [5-3-17]
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3 Effective Biblical Refutations of Sola Scriptura [National Catholic Register, 11-12-17]
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David T. King Ignores Sola Scriptura Biblical Disproofs (Incl. lengthy analysis of 2 Peter 1:20: “no prophecy of scripture is a matter of one’s own interpretation”) [11-13-17]
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The New Testament Canon is a “Late” Doctrine [National Catholic Register, 1-22-18]
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Martin Luther on the Exact Nature of Being “Biblical” [11-10-14; revised and expanded on 1-5-20]
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1 Timothy 3:15 = Church Infallibility (vs. Steve Hays) [5-14-20]
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Does Sola Scriptura Create Chaos? (vs. Steve Hays) [5-15-20]
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Is Sola Scriptura Self-Refuting? (vs. Bruno Lima) [10-12-22]
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How Martin Luther Invented Sola Scriptura [National Catholic Register, 5-21-24]
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IV. PERSPICUITY (CLEARNESS) OF SCRIPTURE
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Baptismal Regeneration: Central Doctrine, According to Luther & Lutheranism [1996]

Dialogue: Clearness (Perspicuity) of Scripture and the Formal Sufficiency of Scripture (vs. Carmen Bryant) [6-8-00]

Dialogue: Church Fathers on Perspicuity & Sola Scriptura [6-11-00]

The Sufficiency & Perspicuity of Scripture & the Trinity [6-16-03; slightly revised on 1-20-04]

The Revised Fundamentalist Baptist Version (RFBV) [5-18-04]

Is the Bible in Fact Clear, or “Perspicuous” to Every Individual? [2007]

Luther: Scripture Easily Grasped by “Plowboys” [11-1-08]

Erasmus’ Hyperaspistes (1526): Sola Scriptura and Perspicuity of Scripture [2-12-09]

25 Brief Arguments Regarding Biblical “Clearness” [2009]

The Perspicuity (Clearness) of Scripture: A Summary [1-22-10]

The Anglican Newman (1833-1838) on the Falsity of Perspicuity (Clearness) of Holy Scripture [3-7-11]

Bible: Completely Self-Authenticating, So that Anyone Could Come up with the Complete Canon without Formal Church Proclamations? (vs. Wm. Whitaker) [July 2012]

Perspicuity (Clearness) of Scripture (vs. Wm. Whitaker) [July 2012]

The Bible: “Clear” & “Self-Interpreting”? [February 2014]

Perspicuity (Clarity) of Holy Scripture [11-21-15]

Protestant Unity on “Central” Doctrines?: Baptism as Test Case (vs. Methodist Philosophy professor Jerry Walls) [1-9-17]

Dialogue on Authoritative Bible Interpretation in the New Testament (vs. Reformed Baptist Elder Jim Drickamer) [1-14-17]

The Clearness, or “Perspicuity,” of Sacred Scripture [National Catholic Register, 11-16-17]

Biblical Interpretation & Clarity: Dialogue w an Atheist [5-26-18]

Is Inspiration Immediately Evident in Every Biblical Book? [National Catholic Register, 7-28-18]

Bible “Difficulties” Are No Disproof of Biblical Inspiration [National Catholic Register, 6-29-19]

“Difficulty” in Understanding the Bible: Hebrew Cultural Factors [2-5-21]

An Omniscient God and a “Clear” Bible [National Catholic Register, 2-28-21]

Did Pope Innocent III Forbid the Bible in 1199? (+ Does the Bible Itself Teach That it Should be Read Without Need of Any Authoritative Interpretation?) [5-11-21]

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Irish Ecclesiastical Record vs. Anti-Catholic George Salmon, Pt. 6: The Innumerable Perils of Perspicuity of Scripture and Private Judgment [3-16-23]

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V. MATERIAL AND FORMAL SUFFICIENCY OF SCRIPTURE / RULE OF FAITH
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The Sufficiency & Perspicuity of Scripture & the Trinity [6-16-03; slightly revised on 1-20-04]
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Church Fathers and Sola Scriptura [originally July 2003; somewhat modified condensation: 4-5-17]
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Martin Luther on the Exact Nature of Being “Biblical” [11-10-14; revised and expanded on 1-5-20]
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1 Timothy 3:15 = Church Infallibility (vs. Steve Hays) [5-14-20]
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VIDEO: 100% Biblical Proof FOR Catholic Authority vs. Sola Scriptura [12+ Verses to highlight] [Catholic Bible Highlights with Kenny Burchard; utilizing my biblical research, 9-28-24]
VI. THE CANON OF SCRIPTURE
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Development of the Biblical Canon: Protestant Difficulties [2-26-02 and 3-19-02, abridged with slight revisions and additions on 7-19-18]
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The Deuterocanon: 27-Point Catholic Summary [3-19-02; slightly modified and reposted on 5-27-24]
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The New Testament Canon is a “Late” Doctrine [National Catholic Register, 1-22-18]
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VII. DEUTEROCANONICAL BOOKS (SO-CALLED “APOCRYPHA”)
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The Deuterocanon: 27-Point Catholic Summary [3-19-02; slightly modified and reposted on 5-27-24]
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How to Defend the Deuterocanon (or ‘Apocrypha’) [National Catholic Register, 3-12-17]
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VIII. BIBLICAL ACCURACY AND INSPIRATION / ALLEGED BIBLICAL CONTRADICTIONS AND DIFFICULTIES   
[see also related papers in the Atheist and Agnostic section]
 
FEATURED: Inspired!: 191 Supposed Biblical Contradictions Resolved (free online book) [6-3-23]
Master Lists and  Resources 
 
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General 
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Refutation of 194 Biblical “Contradictions” (#26-50) [4-6-22] [links to the entire eight-part series included]
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See also:
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How Ancient Authors Wrote (Jimmy Akin, 3-19-22)
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Jesus 
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The Resurrection: Hoax or History? [cartoon tract with art by Dan Grajek: 1985]
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Atheist “Refutes” Sermon on the Mount (Or Does He?) [National Catholic Register, 7-23-17]
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What Does “Turn the Other Cheek” Mean? [National Catholic Register, 7-20-19]
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The Signs Of His Coming (David Palm, 1993) [Master’s Thesis on whether Jesus thought the end times were coming during the lifetime of His hearers] 
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Gerasenes, Gadarenes, Pigs and “Contradictions” [National Catholic Register, 1-29-21]
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Miscellaneous
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Dialogue with a Skeptic of Christianity (vs. Charlie Kluepfel) [5-2-99]
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Vatican II Upheld Biblical Inerrancy (vs. David Palm) [4-23-20]
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Who Caused Job to Suffer — God or Satan? [National Catholic Register, 6-28-20]
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God in Heaven & in His Temple: Contradiction? (vs. Dr. Steven DiMattei) [11-23-20]
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Genesis, Adam and Eve, Noah, Abraham, Moses, & Other Early Figures
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Historicity of Adam and Eve [9-23-11; rev. 1-6-22]
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Defending the Historical Adam of Genesis (vs. Eric S. Giunta) [9-25-11]
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“Did Adam and Eve Really Exist?” (Dr. Dennis Bonnette, Crisis Magazine, 11-24-14)
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The Genesis Creation Accounts and Hebrew Time [National Catholic Register, 7-2-17]
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New Testament Evidence for Noah’s Existence [National Catholic Register, 3-11-18]
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Orthodox Interpretation of Genesis and the Serpent [National Catholic Register, 11-19-18]
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Golden Calf & Cherubim: Biblical Contradiction? (vs. Dr. Steven DiMattei) [11-23-20]
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A Bible Puzzle About the Staff of Moses and Aaron [National Catholic Register, 1-14-21]
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Bible and Science
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Scripture, Science, Genesis, & Evolutionary Theory: Mini-Dialogue with an Atheist [8-14-18; rev. 2-18-19]

The Bible and Mythical Animals[National Catholic Register, 10-9-19]

The Bible is Not “Anti-Scientific,” as Skeptics Claim[National Catholic Register, 10-23-19]

Herod Agrippa I “Eaten By Worms”: Myth or Plausible? [6-20-23]

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Massacres and Wars of Annihilation / God’s Judgment
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Last updated on 3 October 2024
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