βAll scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good worksβ (2 Timothy 3:16,17).
On October 31, 2017, we Bible believers celebrate the 500th anniversary of the beginning of the Protestant Reformation!
When Roman Catholic priest Martin Luther nailed his β95 Thesesβ to the door of the Castle Church in Wittenberg, Germany, he systematically outlined and protested ecclesiastical excesses and abuses (particularly the practice of selling indulgencesβpaying the pope to receive forgiveness of sins!). Church tradition had replaced Sacred Scripture, the written Word of God. Luther, whose original intention was to reform the Roman Catholic Church, actually started a revolution. A spiritually-dead church abounding with spiritually-dead people doing spiritually-dead works could not be improved. Apostasy was too widespread; Romanism was too corrupt.
Bible-believing Christians existed throughout church history, but organized religion (Roman Catholicism!) persecuted and suppressed them. Luther, walking in the light that he had, gave them a public voice and brought much attention to Godβs truth to which they held! One such truth to be reemphasizedβthough not established for the first timeβwas βsola Scripturaβ (Latin, βScripture aloneβ). The authority was not in the Roman papacy or priesthood, but in the written Word of God alone. (Luther thus later spent a decade translating the Bible into German.)
Those who support a βSacred Scripture and Sacred Traditionβ view ask us for a Bible verse to defend our βsola Scripturaβ position. Todayβs Scripture clearly states that the Bible contains everything that God wants us to know. The Scriptures equip us to accomplish everything that God wants us to do. What are the inferences? If it is not in the Bible, then it not what God wants us to know! If it is not in Holy Writ, then it is notwhat God wants us to do! If it is not in the Scriptures, then it is not a good work! (So, if the Bible is sufficient, then what is the purpose of church tradition? Why, to challenge the Bible!)
Over 200 times the New Testament quotes the Old Testament. The New Testament writers appealed to Scripture for validation of truth instead of church leaders or religious tradition! Evidently, they preferred βsola Scripturaβ too! source
