The Final Authority

Pope, practice, or Polyglot?

In the Roman Catholic church, tradition carries the same weight as Scripture, and the Pope wields ultimate authority over the church.

In many Charismatic, Pentecostal, and similar circles, extra-biblical revelation is often regarded as authoritative (though not superior to) God’s recorded word. Here, experiences often trump Scriptures that refute them.

Even Evangelicals often promote preaching from the pulpit to the level of Scripture, whether or not such teaching enjoys support from the biblical text.

Of course, every Christian believes that, ultimately, God is the final authority, and by corollary, Jesus Christ. The idea though, that Christians should depend solely on the Biblical record as God’s revelation all things related to faith and practice is bothersome to many among those who claim the name of Christ.

Some argue that this puts God in a box. Others argue that oral tradition that has been passed down through the church (typically Orthodox or Roman Catholic) is imbued with importance equivalent to the apostles’ epistles.

A recent discussion regarding the idea of Sola Scriptura, the belief that Scripture is our sole authority, led me to ponder whether this concept was one worth adherence. As such, where else would I go but Scripture to find out.

As it happens, I came across a passage that lends clarity to the issue, and taken in context, makes a strong case:

For since there is jealousy and strife among you, are you not fleshly, and are you not walking like mere men? For when one says, “I am of Paul,” and another, “I am of Apollos,” are you not mere men?

What then is Apollos? And what is Paul? Servants through whom you believed, even as the Lord gave opportunity to each one. I planted, Apollos watered, but God was causing the growth. So then neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but God who causes the growth. Now he who plants and he who waters are one; but each will receive his own reward according to his own labor. For we are God’s fellow workers; you are God’s field, God’s building.

According to the grace of God which was given to me, like a wise master builder I laid a foundation, and another is building on it. But each man must be careful how he builds on it. For no man can lay a foundation other than the one which is laid, which is Jesus Christ...

Let no man deceive himself. If any man among you thinks that he is wise in this age, he must become foolish, so that he may become wise. For the wisdom of this world is foolishness before God. For it is written, “He is THE ONE WHO CATCHES THE WISE IN THEIR CRAFTINESS”; and again, “THE LORD KNOWS THE REASONINGS of the wise, THAT THEY ARE USELESS.” So then let no one boast in men...

Let a man regard us in this manner, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God. In this case, moreover, it is required of stewards that one be found trustworthy. But to me it is a very small thing that I may be examined by you, or by any human court; in fact, I do not even examine myself. For I am conscious of nothing against myself, yet I am not by this acquitted; but the one who examines me is the Lord. Therefore do not go on passing judgment before the time, but wait until the Lord comes who will both bring to light the things hidden in the darkness and disclose the motives of men’s hearts; and then each man’s praise will come to him from God.

Now these things, brethren, I have figuratively applied to myself and Apollos for your sakes, so that in us you may learn not to exceed what is written, so that no one of you will become arrogant in behalf of one against the other. For who regards you as superior? What do you have that you did not receive? And if you did receive it, why do you boast as if you had not received it?

1 Corinthians 3:3-11,18-21; 4:1-7

Paul here is chastising the Corinthians each for thinking himself better than another because of the teacher he followed. Some said, "I am of Paul," while others said, "I am of Apollos," (among others) as if following one or the other or these men made one follower better. Paul goes on to explain that all Paul and Apollos did was plant seeds and water, but neither of them is important in the grand scheme of things, because it is God who brings growth. Men like Paul and Apollos, just like everyone else, Paul argues, are merely servants.

For it is not men's wisdom that saves or brings us closer to God, but God's wisdom which is revealed in His word. So Paul uses himself and Apollos as examples to teach them that the men who deliver the message are unimportant - it is the message (that which is written) that matters. By placing such importance upon men, the Corinthians were puffing themselves up and potentially causing those who were elevated to become puffed up.

This correlates as well to other passages such as those in which Jesus scolds the Pharisees for their traditions (Matthew 15, Mark 7). In order to prevent themselves and others from transgressing God’s law, the Pharisees created rules and traditions that were treated as law. But by these traditions, the Pharisees, according to Jesus, actually nullified God’s word. Yet they were puffed up, believing themselves superior to other Jews, despite the fact they they were destined for condemnation and making others even more so (Matthew 23).

We see a similar pattern within Roman Catholicism with the papacy (and the rest of the hierarchy) and tradition, as well as within other Orthodox denominations in their dependence on their church hierarchies and traditions.

Such error isn’t exclusive to Roman Catholics and Orthodox. The problem extends to protestants who elevate teachers, whether early Church fathers such as Calvin and Luther, or others, to the point where they embrace monikers “Calvinist” and “Lutheran” (these are just examples - there are more).

As Paul states in the cited passage, of the utmost importance is being found in Christ - He alone is the foundation, there is no other. Beyond that, as Paul wrote, in order to avoid falling into error, or worse, falling through pride, we should not go beyond what is written. Anything doctrine or practice that is not found in Scripture, or experience that contradicts Scripture and God’s revelation of Himself, is to be not only questioned, but rejected.

God’s word, Scripture, is our final authority for faith and life. Sola Scriptura is a concept not only supported by, but explicitly espoused in, Scripture itself.