Theological Term of the Week: Sola Scriptura

sola scriptura

Literally, “scripture alone.” The reformation slogan identifying scripture as the only infallible rule of faith. The doctrine of sola scriptura affirms that everything we need to know for our salvation and spiritual life is taught, either explicitly or implicitly, in scripture.

• From scripture:

[F]rom childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work. (2 Timothy 3:15–17 ESV)

• From  The Westminster Larger Catechism, Question 3:

Q3: What is the word of God?
A3: The holy scriptures of the Old and New Testaments are the word of God,[1] the only rule of faith and obedience.[2]

1. II Tim. 3:16; II Peter 1:19-21
2. Eph. 2:20; Rev. 22:18-19; Isa. 8:20; Luke 16:29, 31; Gal. 1:8-9; II Tim. 3:15-16

• From Living For God’s Glory by Joel Beeke, page 133:

The Reformers contended that all things must be tested “by Scripture alone” (sola scriptura). This explains why the Reformers accepted some parts of Roman Catholic teaching and not others. They believed Scripture is to rule in the church, for it is the Word of God and the voice of God (verbum Dei). Therefore, its authority is absolute, not derivative, they said. John Calvin said that Scripture is as authoritative as if God Himself “had been giving utterance.” A Christian should rely on and be governed by its promises, and the church should be wholly subject to its authority. In fact, all other kinds of authority—papal, creedal, and civil—must be subordinate to Scripture.

Learn more: 

1. Michael Kruger: Scripture Alone
2. Matthew Barrett: What Is Sola Scripture? (video)
3. Marty Foord: The Real Meaning of Sola Scriptura
4. Joel Ryan: What Is Sola Scriptura? 
5. W. Robert Godfrey: What Do We Mean by Sola Scriptura?
6. R. C. Sproul: Sola Scripture: What Is Reformed Theology? (video)
7. Michael Kruger: What Is Sola Scriptura Protecting Us Against? More Than You Think
8. Guy Prentiss Waters: Sola Scriptura and Sola Fide

Related terms:

• authority of scripture
• five solas 
• inerrancy scripture
• infallibility of scripture
• inspiration of scripture
• sufficiency of scripture

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Theological Term of the Week: Redaction Criticism

redaction criticism

The study of the role of the editor in the composition of the biblical text. 

(Evangelical redaction criticism presupposes the supernatural nature of scripture, and is used to focus on the the particular theological objectives of a biblical author. But more commonly, redaction criticism is done from anti-supernatural presuppositions and used to confirm the (supposedly) human origin of scripture. One of the linked articles under Learn More below denounces redaction criticism generally, but it does so under the assumption that all redaction criticism has anti-supernatural presuppositions.)

• From 40 Questions About Interpreting the Bible by Robert L. Plummer, page 301:

[W]hile many biblical authors had both firsthand knowledge of events (e.g., the apostle John) and oral and written sources from which to draw (e.g., Luke 1:1-4), the redactor ultimately showed his theological interests and purposes through selecting, omitting, editing, and summarizing the material for his text. (Of course, Christians assume the Holy Spirit was working through the redactors in this process.)

Learn more: 

1. Got Questions: What are redaction criticism and higher criticism?
2. D. A. Carson: Redaction Criticism: On the Legitimacy and Illegitimacy of a Literary Tool 
3. Robert Stein: Redaction Criticism

Related terms:

• amanuensis
• autographs 
• codex
• inspiration of scripture
• manuscripts
• source criticism
• text criticism

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Theological Term of the Week: The Prophets

the Prophets 

Seventeen books of the Old Testament containing written collections of oracles of sixteen prophets. These can be divided into two groups: Major Prophets—Isaiah, Jeremiah, Lamentation, Ezekiel, and Daniel—and Minor Prophets—Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah, Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah, Haggai, Zechariah, and Malachi; also called the phrophetic books.

• From scripture, the introduction to Isaiah:

The vision of Isaiah the son of Amoz, which he saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem in the days of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah (Isaiah 1:1 ESV).

• From scripture, the introduction to Jeremiah: 

The words of Jeremiah, the son of Hilkiah, one of the priests who were in Anathoth in the land of Benjamin, to whom the word of the LORD came in the days of Josiah the son of Amon, king of Judah, in the thirteenth year of his reign. It came also in the days of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah, king of Judah, and until the end of the eleventh year of Zedekiah, the son of Josiah, king of Judah, until the captivity of Jerusalem in the fifth month (Jeremiah 1:1-3 ESV).

• From Introduction to the Prophetic Books in the ESV Study Bible, a list of unifying themes in the Prophetic Books:: 

First the prophets assert that God has spoken through them. They clearly considered themselves God’s messengers and heralds, for they repeatedly preface their messages with the phrase, “Thus says Yahweh.” In this way the prophets are claiming that their books are the written word of God … .

Second, the prophets affirm that God chose Israel for covenant relationship. The Pentateuch (the first five books of the OT) teaches that God chose Abraham and his family to bless all nations (Gen. 12:1–9), that he revealed salvation by grace to Abraham (Gen. 15:6), and that he assigned Moses to write a record of this revelation (Ex. 24:4). Furthermore, through Moses in Exodus–Deuteronomy he revealed the lifestyle that reflects that relationship. With these truths in mind, the prophets addressed Israel as a people with special responsibilities based on this special relationship (Jeremiah 2–6; Hosea 1–3; Amos 2:6–3:8; etc.)… .

Second, sadly, the prophets most often report that the majority of Israel has sinned against their God and his standards for their relationship. They have failed to trust God(Isa.7:1–14). Thus, they have broken the Ten Commandments (cf. Ex. 20:1–17 and Jer. 7:1–15; Hos. 4:2). They have worshiped other gods (Ezek. 8:1–18). They have mistreated one an- other and failed to preserve justice among God’s people (Isa. 1:21–31). They have refused to repent (Amos 4:6–11). Of course, in these times there was always a faithful minority, called the “remnant” (see Isa. 4:3; 10:20–22; etc.), as the prophets’ ministries themselves demonstrate (see Hebrews 11).

Fourth, the prophets warn that judgment will eradicate sin.  … The prophets recorded these warnings in writ- ing so readers can do what the prophets’ original audience usually failed to do—turn from sin to God.

Fifth, the prophets promise that renewal lies beyond the day of punishment that has occurred already in history and beyond the coming day that will bring history as we know it to a close. The coming of the Savior lies beyond the destruction of Israel and other such events. He will rule Israel and the nations, and he will bring peace and righteousness to the world (Isa. 9:2–7; 11:1–16)… .

Learn more: 

1. Got Questions: What are the Major Prophets and Minor Prophets?
2. The Bible Project: How to Read the 15 Prophetic Books in the Bible (video)
3. Bryan Estelle: How to Read the Prophets
4. Mike Leake: Which Books of the Bible Are Considered Prophetic?
5. John MacArthur Study Bible: Introduction to the Prophets

Related terms:

• biblical hermeneutics
• literary genres of the Bible
• Pentateuch

Filed under Scripture

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Clicking on the Theological Terms button above the header will take you to an alphabetical list of all the theological terms.