I n   t h e   B i b l e	1/10/06	printer friendly version
Sola or Solo? by Byron Snapp

We have the Reformation doctrine of "Sola Scriptura". We stand upon God's word alone for application to all areas of our life and culture. However, this great doctrine can be misused by well-meaning Christians.

I was reminded of this during my recent reading of Keith Mathison's work, The Shape of Sola Scriptura. He points out how the doctrine of "Sola Scriptura" has become for many the doctrine of "solo Scriptura". Thinking he is following in the steps of the Reformers and their emphasis on scripture as authoritative for all of life, he becomes his own interpreter of scripture - often to his own harm and the harm of others.

Such error works itself out in a myriad of ways.

Christian liberty issues can become mandates. I may want to apply Christianity to the way I have chosen to educate my covenant children. I understand from scripture itself that parents are to train their children day and night, in and outside the home (Dt. 6:4ff). I become so excited by this teaching that I am sure that God commands all Christians to educate their children in this manner. Thus my way becomes the right way.

We forget that there have been numerous ways Christian parents have educated their children in bygone days. Many Christians have recognized that they are ultimately responsible for the education of their children but historically and culturally this has worked itself out in a number of ways including homeschools, classrooms, local colleges, distant colleges, apprenticeships etc. These have not been viewed by the church to be outside the bounds of scripture. However under the claims of Scripture alone it is easy to misuse the scriptural teaching on the father's responsibility to give his children a Christian education in the manner he thinks best to teach that what I as head of household do, educationally, is to be followed by all.

Secondly, in our individualistic age we can interpret scripture as I, an individual, think. You interpret the scripture, as you desire. I will interpret it my way. We can sit and hear the word being preached or taught. Instead of submitting to the truth of the word or searching the word to see if what is taught is truth we instead say, "That is what he thinks". We continue in our own individual misinterpretation of scripture.

In this scenario, the covenantal community, the local church membership, the authoritative preaching of the word is of little concern. The individual states, "I hold to the authority of scripture. I also, for myself, am the authority as to what the Bible says on this point."

All of us must search the scripture to see if what we are being taught is a proper reading of scripture. The Bereans did this under the preaching of the apostle Paul (Acts 17:11). We look at the text. We examine the context. We turn to cross-references. This is one reason we bring our bibles to church. We need to open them to the text and be ready to note or to refer to other verses as they are mentioned. We read with our own eyes what we hear being read. Thus there is the involvement of the individual.

However we must guard ourselves against thinking we alone are the sole interpreters of scripture as passages pertain to us. Jesus spent a good portion of his earthly ministry, as recorded in scripture, correcting the errant teaching of the scribes and Pharisees. They were committed to the scriptures as they interpreted them. However they had falsely interpreted the Old Testament. Many were not appreciative of Christ's correction.

We must maintain a commitment to scripture alone as authoritative in all areas of life. There are a number of helpful ways to peruse this commitment. I have already mentioned bringing our bibles to worship and bible study classes.

Prayerfully reading through the Bible is also important. Regular reading of the whole counsel of God aids us in understanding the scope of scripture and our submission to it. We grow as we feed on God's word.

We are to have a teachable attitude as we sit under the instruction of others. We need to pray for our hearts to be opened and instructed in sound teaching.

We must be careful to keep Christian liberty issues free without personal mandates. Such mandates are unbiblical and can result in other Christians, being put on guilt trips if they choose to practice them. Christian liberty in that area is a different manner.

We also need to remember that Christians who teach and preach are also sinners. They do not have a lock on the correct interpretation of the Bible. They are not the sole interpreters of scripture nor would most of them desire to be considered as such. There are any number of theologians that I admire greatly. There are some issues with which I am in disagreement with them. I could be wrong, not them. However I am reminded that these differences make me realize that my trust is in Christ, not in man. I cannot set under any teacher and just because of my respect for him, believe he will always be correct in whatever he teaches. Scripture is the final authority.

Confessions of faith which the church down through the ages has recognized as faithful to scripture are not to be taken lightly by us.

Being in a sound church will aid an individual in making a right distinction between sola Scriptura and solo scriptura. Therein we have not only consistent, regular preaching of God's word and officers committed to that. Also we have a body of believers who can conscientiously aid one another to stay committed to sola scriptura rather than solo scriptura.

©2006 Byron Snapp, Hampton, Virginia