The previous post is Comments on the Vatican's comments on Gibson's Passion.
The next post is Life Imitates Simpsons.

Sola ...? · Dec 11, 01:26 PM

Prelude: I’ve been a big fan of Christianity for as long as I can remember. At the same time, I haven’t ever been much of a Christian. I’ve finally decided to climb down off the bleachers and being seriously applying myself to faith.

The other day I ran across an transcribed talk by “Scott Hahn“http://www.scotthahn.com/, a Catholic apologist and ex-Presbyterian minister (his conversion story"). It’s entitled “The Bible & The Church: Both or Neither,” and argues—from scripture—for sola verbum dei (the Word of God alone) and against sola scripture (the Bible alone).

He starts by reminding Catholics of the importance of scripture. He draws from the old testament, the new testament, popes, and saints (at this point in the essay he is reminding his fellow Catholics that they cannot be good Catholics if they are not steeped in the Bible). I especially like this quote he takes from St. Theresa of Avila:

All troubles of the Church, all the evils in the
world, flow from this source: that men do not by clear and sound
knowledge and serious consideration penetrate into the truths of Sacred Scripture.

In the second half, he turns around and challenges “Bible Christians”,

I want to give you a series of texts that you should look up and read to understand why Bible Christians, to be consistent, must become Catholic Christians.

He starts with Matthew 16, 17-19 (”..and upon this rock…”), works back to the old testament, and then returns to the early church described in the new testament, quoting scripture and referencing church history.

If you’re interested, read the full transcription.

* * *