Ep. 13: What Do We Mean By "Scripture Alone"?

The Reformed Libertarians Podcast

A reading of the essay "What Do We Mean By Sola Scriptura?" by W. Robert Godfrey, which focuses on explaining some key features of the Protestant principle or doctrine of Sola Scriptura (that is, Scripture Alone). Godfrey defines the principle, discusses several Bible passages that teach it, and answers 4 basic objections.

https://reformedlibertarians.com/013/

00:00 Start

00:32 Episode description
Article read: https://reformedlibertarians.com/mean-by-sola-scriptura-robert-godfrey/
It appears as the first chapter in the book Sola Scriptura : https://www.amazon.com/dp/1567693334?tag=kerrybaldwin-20

02:07 Introduction
Sola Scriptura is one of the two main issues that separates Protestants from non-Protestants, along with Sola Fide (that is, justification by faith alone).
Book mentioned Justification By Faith ALONE : https://www.amazon.com/dp/187761193X?tag=kerrybaldwin-20

04:30 Definition and some passages that teach it
"Scripture alone is our ultimate religious authority [ie, infallible rule]... [and] all things necessary for salvation, concerning faith and life, are taught in the Bible clearly enough for the ordinary believer to find it there and understand."

For a more elaborate statement see the Westminster Confession of Faith
chapter 1 : https://opc.org/wcf.html#Chapter_01
20.2 : https://opc.org/wcf.html#Chapter_20
21.1 : https://opc.org/wcf.html#Chapter_21
31.2-3 : https://opc.org/wcf.html#Chapter_31

14:44 The sufficiency of the Bible as God's Word

15:37 Different senses of the term "tradition"

19:16 Tradition vs. the Bible

21:43 Tradition vs. Tradition

24:44 Recognition of the "canon", or the specific writings that constitute the Bible
Book mentioned The Structure of Biblical Authority by Meredith G. Kline : https://www.amazon.com/dp/1579100694?tag=kerrybaldwin-20

33:03 Unity in the interpretation of the Bible

Additional Resources

• WSCal Office Hours podcast, with Bob Godfrey on Sola Scriptura (26 minutes)
  https://wscal.edu/resource-center/whats-in-a-name-sola-scriptura

• Why God Gave Us A Book, booklet by Gene Edward Veith
  https://www.amazon.com/dp/159638378X?tag=kerrybaldwin-20

• What Is The Bible?, booklet by Guy Prentiss Waters
  https://www.amazon.com/dp/1596387114?tag=kerrybaldwin-20

• Scripture Alone: The Evangelical Doctrine, by R.C. Sproul
  https://www.amazon.com/dp/1596389540?tag=kerrybaldwin-20

• Zondervan 5 Solas Series
  https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08KG9V455?tag=kerrybaldwin-20
  - Zaspel's summaries of 5 Zondervan books included in this course on the Five Solas from the Gospel Coalition
  https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/course/the-five-solas/

• The Cambridge Declaration (on the 5 Solas)
  https://www.alliancenet.org/cambridge-declaration

• More resources on the Five Solas
  https://www.monergism.com/search?keywords=five%20solas

• Just And Sinner Podcast with Jordan Cooper discussing Martin Chemnitz on Sola Scriptura and Tradition
  - Part 1 : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kisWf3I528U
  - Part 2 : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fxN4WxFOhYg
  - Part 3 : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y7s6TVAKQNk

• On the canon, also see
  - Redemptive History and the New Testament Scriptures, by Herman Ridderbos
  https://www.amazon.com/dp/0875524168?tag=kerrybaldwin-20
  - Canon Revisited, by Michael J. Kruger
  https://www.amazon.com/dp/1433505002?tag=kerrybaldwin-20
  - The Question of Canon, by Michael J. Kruger
  https://www.amazon.com/dp/0830840311?tag=kerrybaldwin-20

• See also several videos from Truth Unites with Gavin Ortlund
  - Sola Scriptura Defended
  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OlF57ewhXAI
  - Response To Critics Of Sola Scriptura
  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xdIYoXQGYmw
  - Augustine Affirmed Sola Scriptura
  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q6ZAa0gNMvE
  - More On Augustine And Sola Scriptura
  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rbTPHSv5Rtc
  - Review of Sola Scriptura Debate
  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g-O18bhDPGc

The Reformed Libertarians Podcast is a project of the Libertarian Christian Institute: https://libertarianchristians.com and a member of the Christians for Liberty Network: https://christiansforliberty.net

Audio Production by Podsworth Media - https://podsworth.com