The Bible Alone
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The following 'letter' is in answer to the objection of The Catholic Church using both Scripture and Sacred Tradition for its Teachings. This is a Bible teaching against "The Bible Alone" or "Sola Scriptura" as our authority. Some of this information is repeated from an earlier 'letter'.
To Whom It May Concern;
I hope this note finds you and yours well.
Let's go over some past discussion. You say that you follow "the Bible alone" as your authority, even though the Bible itself does not say that you should only follow it. In point of fact it says the complete opposite of what you assert.
For example:
2 Peter 1:20 "Know this first of all, that there is no prophecy of scripture that is a matter of personal interpretation"
2 Thess 2:15 "Therefore, brothers, stand firm and hold fast to the traditions that you were taught, either by an oral statement or by a letter of ours."
1 Cor. 11:2 "I commend you because you remember me in everything and maintain the traditions even as I have delivered them to you."
I have shared with you that Jesus used both Scripture and teachings outside Scripture when He taught.
For example: The "chair" or "seat" of Moses in Matthew is not in the Old Testament.
Mt. 23:1 Then Jesus spoke to the crowds and to his disciples, 2 saying, "The scribes and the Pharisees have taken their seat on the chair of Moses. 3 Therefore, do and observe all things whatsoever they tell you, but do not follow their example. For they preach but they do not practice.
Also, I have shared that Christ's Church in the New Testament follows the example of Jesus by using both the written Word of God in Scripture to teach and teachings outside Scripture.
For example: St. Paul in his Letter to The Corinthians references Jesus as the "rock" that followed the Jews in the dessert. The concept of the "rock" following the Jews through the dessert is not in the Old Testament.
1 Cor. 10:3 All ate the same spiritual food, 4 and all drank the same spiritual drink, for they drank from a spiritual rock that followed them, and the rock was the Christ.
We read in the New Testament in Jude, how St Michael The Archangel fought with satan over the body of Moses. This story is not in the Old Testament.
Jude 1:9 "Yet the archangel Michael, when he argued with the devil in a dispute over the body of Moses, did not venture to pronounce a reviling judgment upon him but said, "May the Lord rebuke you!""
To summarize:
We know, from The Bible, that Jesus Christ instructed His followers using both Scripture (written) and non-Scriptural (oral) teachings. We know that His followers, which have been referred to as, the foundation of His Church [Eph. 2:20], used the same technique in instruction [2 Thess. 2:15]. We also know that The Catholic Church follows the same tradition as Jesus, St. Paul and St. Jude in teaching today.However, Darell, you choose to follow the teaching of who? Not Jesus? He established His Church on the 'rock' of St. Peter [Mt. 16:18]. No, you follow "The Church of Darell". A man made church which refuses to follow Jesus and Scripture! According to you, you have the only true interpretation of the Bible. You are 'infallible'. You are your own pope! No one is right but you.
I mean no harm. You need to hear the truth! Your Salvation and the Salvation of all you come in contact with your man made heresy is in danger.
Darell, in love I share [Eph. 4:15].
It doesn't matter how long ago you learned what you are sharing with me. It doesn't matter whether you learned it from someone you love and trust. IT IS WRONG! It does not "line up with the Word of God", to use an expression of yours.
Let go and let God!
Let go of man made errors and let God lead you "Home to Rome".
There is only "one truth".
Your brother in Christ;
Philip