Saturday, February 4, 2023

Ron Rhodes on Sola Scriptura

  

Back in the days of Amos, they didn’t have the complete written Word of God. Today it is different. Because we have the Bible, and because it is trustworthy and complete (see chapters 8-9 of this book), we have all we need. (Ron Rhodes and Marian Bodine, Reasoning from the Scriptures with the Mormons [Eugene, Oreg.: Harvest House Publishers, 1995], 71)

 

It is also important to note that the word “delivered” in Jude 3 is an aorist passive participle. This indicates an act that was completed in the past with no continuing element. There would be no new “faith” or body of truth (such as the Book of Mormon or Pearl of Great Price!) (Ibid., 76)

 

When Paul said that “all scripture” is inspired, did he have in mind just the Old Testament (which is a common New Testament usage of the word “scripture”), or did he have a larger grouping in mind–a grouping that included some New Testament books? . . . [after appealing to 1 Tim 5:18 and 2 Pet 3:16] These observations help us to realize that by the time 2 Timothy 3:16 was written, all of the New Testament books had already been written except for 2 Peter, Hebrews, Jude, and the apostle John’s writings. In view of this, Paul was surely indicating these books in the phrase “all Scripture is given by inspiration” in 2 Timothy 3:16 (emphasis added). And since the remaining books were later acknowledged as belonging to the canon, we may safely say that 2 Timothy 3:16 speaks about all 66 books of the Bible. (Ibid., 152-53, emphasis in bold added)

 

Is the Bible Alone Sufficient?

 

That the average person can understand Scripture without having to rely upon a church (like the Mormon church) for the “authoritative teaching” is evident by the fact that Jesus taught openly and with clarity, and expected His followers to understand His meaning. Recall that following His arrest, Jesus was questioned by the High Priest about His disciples and His teaching. Jesus responded:

 

I spake openly to the world; I ever taught in the synagogue, and in the temple, whither the Jews always resort; and in secret have I said nothing. Why askest thou me? ask them which heard me, what I have said unto them: behold, they know what I said (John 18:20-21, emphasis added).

 

According to Jesus, those who heard Him could clearly enunciate what He had openly communicated. There was no confusing or obscure meanings in His words that required an “authoritative interpretation” by a (Mormon) church.

 

Notice what the apostle said about the Scriptures to young Timothy: “From a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus” (2 Timothy 3:15). This verse points to the complete sufficiency of Scripture in the life of a believer.

 

In Timothy’s day, Jewish boys formally began studying the Old Testament Scriptures when they were five years. Timothy had been taught the Scriptures by his mother and grandmother beginning at that age. Clearly, 2 Timothy 3:15 indicates that the Scriptures alone are sufficient to provide the necessary wisdom that leads to salvation through faith in Christ. The Scriptures alone (not the authoritative teaching of the Mormon church) are the source of spiritual knowledge.

 

Then, 2 Timothy 3:16-17 tells us that all Scripture is “profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.” This verse does not say that Scripture as seen through the lens of the Mormon church is “profitable for doctrine, for reproof,” and so on. It is Scripture that does these things. And the reason Scripture can do these things is because all Scripture is inspired by God (verse 16a). The word inspiration means “God-breathed.” Scripture is sufficient because its source is God.

 

It is noteworthy that the phrase “thoroughly furnished” in verse 17 means “complete, capable, fully furnished, proficient in the sense of being able to meet all demands.” Scripture alone makes a person complete, capable, and proficient. God’s Word furnishes all that we must know to become saved and to grow in grace. Dependence on the Mormon church (or any other church) is out of the question. (Ibid., 185-86)


To see why Rhodes' comments are false (and at times, he shoots himself in the foot and engages in special pleading, if the above is not obvious to those informed about Sola Scriptura), see:


Not By Scripture Alone: A Latter-day Saint Refutation of Sola Scriptura