Sola scriptura, meaning scripture alone, originated as a doctrinal position of Martin Luther’s movement away from and out of the Catholic Church. As a Christian theological position, sola scriptura stands opposed to elevating anything over God’s word to establish authority. This is in contrast to, for example, the Catholic Church which recognizes tradition as equal to scripture for authority, along with the words of the Pope.
Besides tradition, there can be other usurpers to a sola scriptura position. For example, promoting ‘special revelation,’ charismatic gifts of the Holy Spirit, dreams, or visions above sola scriptura are popular “authorities” today.
How Scripture answers "Is sola scriptura (scripture alone) enough?"
God has only ever authorized sola scriptura (scripture alone)1256781011 and it is all we see people practicing36789. We are commanded not to go beyond what is written15811, and Scripture points out some threats: human traditions10, human philosophies/reason/thinking4, and generally just going beyond what is written15811.
Have you been saved based on teaching or a belief that is not based on sola scriptura? Has someone told you that you only needed to ask Jesus to come into your heart, or that you only needed to say a prayer to be saved? God has spoken and made clear for ‘the seeker’ what saves.
Answer built on scripture-blocks below
I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: if anyone adds to them, God will add to him the plagues described in this book, and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God will take away his share in the tree of life and in the holy city, which are described in this book.
I warn everyone hearing this not to add to or take away anything from it. If anyone adds to these words, God will add to him the plagues described herein. If anyone takes away from them, God will take away his share in the tree of life and the holy city described herein.
The closing verses of John’s apocalyptic visions, testified by Jesus (vs 20).
Applying Revelation 22:18-19 to this question...
The stern warning not to add to, or take away from, “the words of the prophecy of this book,” applies to Revelation, but by extension applies to God’s words in general.
The sum of your word is truth, and every one of your righteous rules endures forever.
All of your word is truth, and all of your commands endure forever.
A great Psalm (119) dedicated to the merit and beauty of God’s word.
Applying Psalms 119:160 to this question...
God’s word is an equation that equals truth, therefore anything else (more or less) does not equal truth.
And when he sits on the throne of his kingdom, he shall write for himself in a book a copy of this law, approved by the Levitical priests. And it shall be with him, and he shall read in it all the days of his life, that he may learn to fear the Lord his God by keeping all the words of this law and these statutes, and doing them, that his heart may not be lifted up above his brothers, and that he may not turn aside from the commandment, either to the right hand or to the left, so that he may continue long in his kingdom, he and his children, in Israel.
When the king sits on his throne, he will write a personal copy of this law, approved by the Levitical priests. He shall keep it with him and read it all the days of his life. By doing this, he will learn to obey God by adhering to the words and doing them. It will also keep him humble, not thinking better of himself over others, keeping on the narrow path and living long in his kingdom.
Moses is re-telling the law to the people before they enter in to the Promised Land.
Applying Deuteronomy 17:18-20 to this question...
The instruction for learning how to obey God (fear the Lord) is to read His word and keep/do them.
See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ.
Make sure that no one is able to ensnare you through human philosophies and intellectual double-talk as it is grounded in human tradition and the elemental spirits of the world and not in Christ.
Paul is writing the church in Colossae to encourage them and resist the false teaching, adhering only to what they were taught (vs 7). He continues by specifically calling out the Mosaic Law (“a certificate of indebtedness expressed in decrees”) – the law that Christ replaced. Under the same theme of not falling away, he tells them not to allow others to judge them against things pertaining to the Mosaic Law such as food, drink, feasts, Sabbath days (vs 16). In Christ, they are not obligated to observe those things.
Applying Colossians 2:8 to this question...
Paul warns about carnally motivated thinking taking one “captive” and robbing them of being clear-headed in their thinking that is “according to Christ”.
Everyone who goes on ahead and does not abide in the teaching of Christ, does not have God. Whoever abides in the teaching has both the Father and the Son. If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not receive him into your house or give him any greeting, for whoever greets him takes part in his wicked works.
Anyone that gets in front of the teaching of Christ does not abide in it and does not have God. You must remain in the teaching to have both the Father and the Son. If someone comes to you without this teaching, do not honor him with hospitality or acceptance because in so doing you partake in his evil ways.
The apostle John is warning brethren (likely a local church – vs 1) about false teachers (as was much of his first epistle referring to “antichrists” having come). He specifically tells them to “watch yourselves” (vs 8).
Applying 2 John 1:9-11 to this question...
John explicitly warns against adding to God’s word, requiring instead to “abide in” (stay within) “the teaching of Christ“.
As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace: whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God; whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies—in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. To him belong glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.
As each has been given, use it to serve your brethren in order to be good stewards of God’s grace: whoever speaks, as one speaking God’s words and whoever serves, as one strengthened by God’s rich supply – doing all to the glory of God through Christ Jesus, to whom belongs all glory and dominion forever. Amen.
Peter’s first letter to the “elect exiles” (brethren) that were faced with “various trials” (1:6). He wrote to strengthen and encourage them since it was the “end of all things” (vs 7) and they could or likely would be tested by a “fiery trial” (vs 12).
Applying 1 Peter 4:10-11 to this question...
A Christian’s words and actions are to be done under or by the authority of God. No other authority is mentioned.
Follow the pattern of the sound words that you have heard from me, in the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. By the Holy Spirit who dwells within us, guard the good deposit entrusted to you.
With the faith and love that we have in Christ, adhere to the framework of truth that I have laid down for you and entrusted to you. Guard it with the Holy Spirit who dwells within us.
The apostle Paul’s letter to a younger evangelist, Timothy, instructing him in matters of doctrine and congregational order.
Applying 2 Timothy 1:13-14 to this question...
The apostle Paul, as a messenger/prophet of God, guided Timothy to not go beyond the “pattern of sound words” and to guard them (keep them pure).
So then, brothers, stand firm and hold to the traditions that you were taught by us, either by our spoken word or by our letter.
Therefore brethren, remember and continue in the traditions (teachings) of the apostles (“us”), whether what we spoke or sent by letter.
Paul’s second letter to the church in Thessalonica where he is warning them about coming destructive forces to the faithful and letters that even seem like they may have come from the apostles (vs 2). At issue here is the false teaching that Jesus has already come (vs 2). Those that succumb to such teaching are possibly even helped by God who “sends them a strong delusion, so that they may believe what is false,” (vs 11) because they take “pleasure in unrighteousness” (vs 13).
Applying 2 Thessalonians 2:15 to this question...
Paul encourages the brethren to stick to the apostolic word (that is from God) – these are the only acceptable “traditions”.10
when all Israel comes to appear before the Lord your God at the place that he will choose, you shall read this law before all Israel in their hearing. Assemble the people, men, women, and little ones, and the sojourner within your towns, that they may hear and learn to fear the Lord your God, and be careful to do all the words of this law, and that their children, who have not known it, may hear and learn to fear the Lord your God, as long as you live in the land that you are going over the Jordan to possess.”
When all Israel comes before God [to worship] at the place He chooses, the law is to be read for everyone to hear. Men, women, children, and sojourners are to hear, learn to fear God, and carefully obey His law. Their children, who have not known it, are also to hear and learn to fear God as long as Israel lives in the land.
Moses is re-telling the law of God to the people before entering the Promised Land. Here, he is giving this instruction of public reading to occur every seven years when they are together for the Feast of Booths.
Applying Deuteronomy 31:11-13 to this question...
The reading of the law (all of it) was to be the source (single) for not just the kings3 but for all the people.
And the Pharisees and the scribes asked him, Why do your disciples not walk according to the tradition of the elders, but eat with defiled hands? And he said to them, Well did Isaiah prophesy of you hypocrites, as it is written, ‘This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me; in vain do they worship me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.’ You leave the commandment of God and hold to the tradition of men.
The Scribes and Pharisees asked Jesus why His disciples didn’t abide by the tradition of the elders by eating with unwashed hands. Jesus responded by calling them hypocrites and saying that Isaiah was prophesying about them when he said that God’s people were only worshiping in words/actions, and not their hearts/minds. They elevated tradition over God’s command and thus worshiped in vain.
Jesus is responding to the Pharisees and scribes that were challenging him. He is quoting from Isaiah 29:13, a context where God is speaking out against the false prophets of the day. This exchange is also recorded in Matthew 15:1-9, where He adds an example of a specific command of God that they had “altered.”
Applying Mark 7:5-8 to this question...
The religious rulers in the first century and the children of Israel were guilty of the same offense. They elevated manmade tradition over God’s word and as a result, their worship was meaningless.
Every word of God proves true; 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.
All the words of God prove true. He is a shield to those who take refuge in Him. Don’t add to His words, or God will rebuke you and expose you as a liar.
A proverb of Agur, son of Jakeh (vs 1), who is otherwise unknown in the rest of Scripture.
Applying Proverbs 30:5-6 to this question...
We will be rebuked as a liar [by God] if we add to His words. It is in “every word of God” (and God only) that truth is found.
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