Recently, I read one of the worst books I have read on the topic of “Mormonism” (and that says a lot). It was poorly researched and argued (largely web pages in the bibliography, resulting in a lack of nuance of writers referenced, such as my friend Blake Ostler), Dustin McNab, Why Do You Believe? A Case Study in Faith, Spiritual Experiences and Truth. Of course, as a Protestant, he (desperately) tries to defend Sola Scriptura. For example, consider the following on 2 Tim 2:14-17, under the heading, “The Sole Authority of Scripture”:
Since Jesus and the apostles don’t
appear to have taught anything similar about using prayer, spiritual experiences,
or personal discernment for correction or avoiding myths, then it looks like scripture
is the primary tool we have to fill that role. In that sense, Sola Scriptura is
not a presupposition or based on some creed. It is the logical conclusion of
the epistemology the apostles taught. (Dustin McNab, Why Do You Believe? A
Cast Study in Faith, Spiritual Experiences and Truth [2026], 9-10)
Elsewhere, we read that:
Many Protestant apologists make
valid points about verses like Jude 3 and Hebrews 1:1-2 supporting the idea of
a closed canon . . . (Dustin McNab, Why Do You Believe? A Cast Study in
Faith, Spiritual Experiences and Truth [2026], 11)
To see why he is wrong on these texts and related topics,
see:
Not by Scripture Alone: A Latter-day Saint Refutation of Sola Scriptura
Though his attempt to defend Sola Scriptura in his short book is pathetic, at least McNab does not believe Rev 22:18-19 is a good proof-text to use for the cessation of public revelation (though there is no "likely" about it; the text is speaking of the book of revelation singulalry):
. . . I don’t like citing Revelation
22:18-19 because it is likely talking about the book of Revelation itself, not
the whole book. (Dustin McNab, Why Do You Believe? A Cast Study in Faith,
Spiritual Experiences and Truth [2026], 11)
