Scripture Alone

The Word of God is Pure

“Authority” and “Inerrancy”

In the world of men’s traditions, Jesus’ Scriptures are unmatched in power and authority, which is why they always ring Tru.

The doctrine of Sola Scriptura does not claim that every person who reads Scripture will arrive at the exact same interpretation or that the Catholic Church of Jesus Christ will appear unified and without division in the world.

Rather, the Reformation Principle of Catholicity mandates that Scripture alone holds the highest authority—above tradition, councils, reason, or personal experience. It stands in a class of its own in purity, authority, and inerrancy, as the very Word of God. As Solomon declares:

“Every word of God is pure; He is a shield to those who take refuge in Him. Do not add to His words, lest He rebuke you and you be found a liar.” (Proverbs 30:5-6)

✅ Scripture is pure (צָרוּף – “tested, refined like metal”)—unlike human words, which are fallible.

✅ God’s Word is a shield—a refuge in divine truth, not human speculation.

✅ No additions are permitted—to add to Scripture is to corrupt it and face God’s rebuke.

Thus, Sola Scriptura is not a claim that all human interpretation is infallible, but that Scripture itself is infallible, the ultimate standard against which all doctrines, traditions, and teachings must be tested.

I. Sola Scriptura Does Not Require Universal Agreement

A. The Existence of Disagreement Does Not Invalidate Authority

Critics argue that because different groups interpret Scripture differently, Sola Scriptura fails as a guiding principle. But this is a misunderstanding of what Sola Scriptura actually claims.

• Civil law is authoritative, yet lawyers and judges disagree on its meaning.

• Scientific truth exists, though scientists debate theories.

• Disagreement does not negate the authority of a thing—it only reveals the limitations of human understanding.

Paul acknowledges that even within the Church, believers will struggle with understanding:

“Now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know fully.” (1 Corinthians 13:12)

B. The Berean Model: Searching the Scriptures

Paul does not direct believers to rely on a human magisterium to interpret truth, but to test all things by Scripture:

“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 17:11)

✅ Scripture is the final authority.

✅ Believers are responsible for discerning truth from it.

✅ Even apostolic teaching is subject to Scriptural testing.

This destroys the argument that because human interpretation varies, we must look to an infallible human authority (i.e., the Pope or church councils). Rather, we must always return to the text itself, trusting that God’s Word is clear in what is necessary for salvation.

II. Scripture Is in a Class of Its Own

A. The Self-Witness of Scripture

Scripture consistently asserts its own uniqueness—it is not merely one authority among many, but the final and supreme authority.

“All Scripture is breathed out by God (θεόπνευστος) and is profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness.” (2 Timothy 3:16)

• θεόπνευστος (theopneustos) = “God-breathed”—no council, pope, or tradition is ever described this way.

• It is profitable for reproof and correction—meaning it is the standard by which even teachers and traditions must be judged.

Jesus Himself appeals to Scripture as the final authority in refuting Satan:

“It is written: ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.’” (Matthew 4:4)

Even when Satan misuses Scripture, Jesus does not counter with extra-biblical tradition but with more Scripture—because Scripture alone is the pure standard of truth.

B. The Danger of Adding to God’s Word

Throughout history, religious systems have sought to elevate human words—papal decrees, councils, mystical revelations—to the level of Scripture. Solomon, however, warns:

“Do not add to His words, lest He rebuke you and you be found a liar.” (Proverbs 30:6)

This is why Sola Scriptura rejects the authority of tradition when it contradicts or adds to Scripture:

✅ The Roman Catholic Church places human decrees on par with Scripture.

✅ The Eastern Orthodox Church elevates unwritten tradition.

✅ Liberal Protestantism treats Scripture as subjective, denying inerrancy.

Every departure from Sola Scriptura leads to the corruption of doctrine, as seen in the Pharisees:

“You have made void the word of God for the sake of your tradition.” (Matthew 15:6)

To place tradition over Scripture is to fall into the same error as the Pharisees, whom Jesus rebuked for replacing God’s pure Word with human commandments.

III. The Historical Implications of Sola Scriptura

A. The Reformation: The Recovery of Biblical Authority

The Roman Church claimed infallible interpretive authority, asserting that Scripture could not be rightly understood apart from the Magisterium. The Reformers, however, returned to the biblical view: “The authority of Scripture is greater than the authority of the Church.” (Martin Luther, 1521)

The Lutheran Confessions affirm:

“We believe, teach, and confess that the sole rule and standard according to which all doctrines and teachers alike must be evaluated and judged are the prophetic and apostolic Scriptures of the Old and New Testament alone.” (Formula of Concord, Epitome, Rule and Norm, 1)

B. The Church Fathers and the Sufficiency of Scripture

The early Church Fathers affirmed Sola Scriptura, even though they recognized the value of tradition as an interpretive aid.

• Athanasius (296–373 AD):

“The Holy Scriptures, given by inspiration of God, are of themselves sufficient toward the discovery of truth.” (Against the Heathen, 1:3)

• Augustine (354–430 AD):

“What more shall I teach you than what we read in the Apostle? For Holy Scripture fixes the rule for our doctrine, lest we dare to be wiser than we ought.” (De Bono Viduitatis, 2:6)

IV. Final Conclusion: The Word of God Is Pure and Supreme

✅ Sola Scriptura does not claim perfect human agreement—but the perfect authority of Scripture.

✅ Scripture is in a class of its own—pure, unalterable, and superior to all human words.

✅ The Reformation was a return to the biblical view of Scripture’s sufficiency.

✅ The early Church affirmed Scripture as the final authority.

To abandon Sola Scriptura is to abandon the purity of God’s Word. As Solomon teaches:

“Every word of God is pure; He is a shield to those who take refuge in Him.” (Proverbs 30:5)