Does the Bible Teach Sola Scriptura? (The Patrick Madrid Show)

This was a fun one! Patrick Madrid explores the whole “Sola Scriptura” debate with a caller named Dan from Las Vegas, and it’s an epic back-and-forth. Dan has been calling the show for years, and this time he’s citing John 7:37-38 as evidence that Jesus taught Sola Scriptura (which means Scripture alone as the authority for faith).

But Patrick? Oh, he’s ready for this!

Dan’s Argument:

Dan believes that when Jesus says, “He that believeth on me, as the scriptures have said…” in John 7, it’s a slam dunk for Sola Scriptura. He’s saying, “Hey, Jesus is pointing to Scripture. Isn’t that proof that the Bible is all we need?”

Patrick’s Response:

Patrick reminds Dan that:

Jesus is quoting Scripture in that passage, yes, but He’s quoting it to show how it points to Him. This is a reminder of the Jewish traditions they already knew.

Jesus is called the “Word of God” in John 1, not the Bible. 📖

Scripture itself never says that it’s the sole authority. Patrick reminds Dan of 2 Thessalonians 2:15, where St. Paul tells the early Christians to hold fast to both written and oral traditions. 🗣️✍️

Jesus often invoked oral traditions, like when He talked about the “chair of Moses” in Matthew 23, a concept that’s not written anywhere in the Old Testament!

🎤 The Takeaway:

Patrick expertly shuts down the idea of Sola Scriptura by showing that the Bible itself doesn’t even claim to be the only authority. It’s all about a balance between Scripture and Sacred Tradition: both are crucial in understanding the faith.

So, in Patrick’s words: “You’re trying to jam Sola Scriptura into the Bible, but it’s just not there!”

Final Words:

Patrick isn’t backing down on this one! It’s a solid win for the Catholic understanding of how Scripture works hand-in-hand with the living tradition of the Church. 👊✝️

 

 

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Jake Moore serves as a Digital Audio Content Producer for Relevant Radio®. He is a graduate of Franciscan University of Steubenville, and is passionate about classic movies, Christian music, young adult ministry, and leading this generation to Christ through compelling media. You can listen to more of his podcasts at relevantradio.com and on the Relevant Radio® app.