Ep. #63 – Examining Sola Scriptura w/ Jimmy Akn

Summary

Should Christians subscribe to sola scriptura? What arguments would come up in a debate on this topic? How does the Catholic position differ from a sola scriptura approach? What objections do we need to consider? We’re joined by Jimmy Akin to address these issues.

Guest Bio

Jimmy Akin is an internationally known author and speaker. As the senior apologist at Catholic Answers, he has more than twenty-five years of experiencing defending and explaining the Faith. Jimmy is a convert to the Faith and has an extensive background in the Bible, theology, the Church Fathers, philosophy, canon law, and liturgy.

Jimmy is a weekly guest on Catholic Answers Live, a regular contributor to Catholic Answers Magazine, and a popular blogger and podcaster. He hosts the intriguing podcast Jimmy Akin’s Mysterious World. His personal website is JimmyAkin.com. He’s also the author of several books, including the recent book, Teaching With Authority.

Show Outline

In the first segment, we discuss different definitions of sola scriptura. Jimmy provides an outline of some core arguments he would employ in a debate on the subject.

In the next segment, we explore the details behind Jimmy’s core arguments. He provides interpretations of Acts 17 and 2 Timothy 3, which are common passages raised in these debates.

In the final segment, we look at various objections. Jimmy responds to several quotes from the Church Fathers. He also engages the criticism that the Catholic position amounts to sola ecclesia.

Important Quote #1

The brothers immediately sent Paul and Silas away by night to Berea, and when they arrived they went into the Jewish synagogue. Now these Jews were more noble than those in Thessalonica; they received the word with all eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so. 

Acts 17: 10-11, ESV

Important Quote #2

All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.

2 Timothy 3: 16-17, ESV

My Closing Remarks

1) Not all descriptions of sola scriptura suffer from self-defeating issues. If someone propounds, “The Bible is our only source of knowledge about faith and morals,” then a common reply will be to ask, “Where does the Bible teach that?” But if instead, the person holds, “the Bible is the sole, infallible rule of faith for the Church,” then the statement is not self-defeating unless one claims to arrive at such knowledge in an infallible way.

2) The positive case that Jesus founded the Catholic Church is itself evidence that we should not subscribe to sola scriptura. Since, if the Catholic Church is Jesus Church, and it rejects sola scriptura, then we should reject it too.

Resources Mentioned

The Bible is a Catholic Book by Jimmy Akin

20 Answers Protestantism by Jimmy Akin

Catholic Answers School of Apologetics

Why Be Catholic: An Exercise for Evangelicals (Blog article) by Jimmy Akin

jimmyakin.com – Jimmy’s website, blog, and links to his podcast and more cool stuff!

shop.catholic.com to get Jimmy’s books

catholic.com where Jimmy works

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Ep. #61 – Exegetical Support for Petrine Primacy w/ Fr. Gadenz

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