DAY 177
CHALLENGE
“The Bible teaches sola scriptura. For example, it says: “All scripture (Greek, pasa graphē) is inspired 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 Tim. 3:16–17).”
DEFENSE
There are multiple problems with this challenge.
First, pasa graphē ordinarily would be translated “every scripture” (pasa generally means “every” rather than “all” before a singular noun like graphē). “Every scripture” would be a reference to each individual book of Scripture. Further, in the Bible the word “scripture” (singular) refers to an individual book or passage. The inspired books as a whole are “the scriptures” (plural), not “scripture.” But Paul couldn’t mean each individual book is sufficient for doctrine. Otherwise, you could do theology by “Genesis alone,” “Isaiah alone,” and so forth.
Second, Paul says the books are useful toward certain goals, includ- ing teaching. But being useful merely means that something makes a contribution—not that it is uniquely and exclusively sufficient.
Third, although the scriptures contribute to the goal of making the man of God “complete, equipped for every good work,” they aren’t the only things he needs. He also needs holiness, the charisms of the Holy Spirit, the correct understanding of the texts, and so on. The texts are not sufficient by themselves.
Fourth, sola scriptura would only have been applicable after the apostles’ deaths (see Day 5), but Paul is not telling Timothy something new and meant to apply only after his death. He is saying something that was true then and had been true all along. He articulates this principle immediately after reminding Timothy that he had known the sacred scriptures (plural) from his youth (v. 15). This referred to the Old Testament, and Paul’s principle was true when only the Old Testament existed, before any New Testament books were written.
Christians living before any New Testament book was penned were still obliged to accept the elements of the Christian faith not found in the Old Testament. They didn’t only become obligatory upon being written (2 Tim. 2:15).
It is likely 2 Timothy was not the last New Testament book written, yet Paul expected Timothy to apply the principle immediately—not wait until after Paul and all the other apostles were dead.