Sola Scriptura – Scripture only.
The Bible is God’s final revelation to man. There is no more revelation to be given.
Hebrews 1:1,2 who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets,
2 Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds;
The Gifts of the Holy Spirit, Prophecy, Tongues, the interpretation of Tongues, a Word of Knowledge, etc were gifts used in the early church as ways of revelation. The Power Gifts, the Gifts of Healing, the Working of Miracles etc were given to the church for attesting the Word of God.
Now the church has the full Word of God in the Sixty Six books of the Bible, there is no need for any of these Gifts, for there is no more revelation to be had.
1Co 13:8 Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away.
1Co 13:9 For we know in part, and we prophesy in part.
1Co 13:10 But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away.
What is that which is perfect?
The “Perfect” (Greek, Teleios) “That which is Perfect” “That which is come to Maturity”
The perfect Word of God, the fulness of scripture.
Some believer that this verse is referring to Jesus Christ. They say when He, the perfect is come there will be no need for the revelatory gifts.
However, "Teleios" is Neuter. It is not referring to a person but a thing, "that which is perfect".
Psalm 18: 30 As for God, his way is perfect: the word of the LORD is tried: he is a buckler to all those that trust in him.
Psalm 119: 160 Thy word is true from the beginning: and every one of thy righteous judgments endureth for ever.
Psalm 19: 7 The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple.
John 17:17"Sanctify them in the truth; Your word is truth.
All of God’s Truth is revealed in scripture. All doctrine can be verified by scripture. All God’s will is revealed in scripture. All that we need for the Christian walk can be found in scripture.
Revelation, whether by Tongues and Interpretation or Prophecy is finished.
The only Prophecy today is the Proclamation of God’s Word.
They are Forth tellers and not Foretellers.
There are no Prophets today giving new revelation, prophecying today is proclaiming the existing Word of God.
There are no Apostles today like the Apostles of the Lamb. The Apostle Paul was the last Apostle chosen by Christ and the Apostle John was the last Apostle to die.
There is no Apostolic succession.
However, there is a ministry of apostle today. An apostle of the church is a messenger, a church planter.
The spiritual gift of apostleship is sometimes confused with the office of Apostle. The office of Apostle was held by a limited number of men chosen by Jesus including the twelve disciples (Mark 3:13-19)
Mar 3:13 And he goeth up into a mountain, and calleth unto him whom he would: and they came unto him.
14 And he ordained twelve, that they should be with him, and that he might send them forth to preach,
15 And to have power to heal sicknesses, and to cast out devils:
16 And Simon he surnamed Peter;
17 And James the son of Zebedee, and John the brother of James; and he surnamed them Boanerges, which is, The sons of thunder:
18 And Andrew, and Philip, and Bartholomew, and Matthew, and Thomas, and James the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus, and Simon the Canaanite,
19 And Judas Iscariot, which also betrayed him: and they went into an house.
and Paul (Romans 1:1).
Rom 1:1 Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an Apostle, separated unto the gospel of God,
The requirements for the office of Apostle included being a faithful eyewitness of Jesus’ ministry and His resurrection.
Act 1:21 Wherefore of these men which have companied with us all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us,
Act 1:22 Beginning from the baptism of John, unto that same day that he was taken up from us, must one be ordained to be a witness with us of his resurrection.
and being personally called by Jesus.
Gal 1:1 Paul, an apostle, (not of men, neither by man, but by Jesus Christ, and God the Father, who raised him from the dead;)
The Apostles were given authority by Jesus to do many different things to establish the church, including writing Scripture and performing miracles.
2Co 12:12 Truly the signs of an apostle were wrought among you in all patience, in signs, and wonders, and mighty deeds.
There are no more that hold the office of Apostle today, but the gift of apostleship continues in a different sense. Jesus gave apostles, prophets, evangelists, shepherds and teachers at His ascension (Ephesians 4:7, 11, 12), and these represent a distinct category of apostles.
Eph 4:7 But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ.
Eph 4:11 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;
Eph 4:12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:
They do not have the authority to write Scripture as the original Apostles did. They also have a different purpose in the sense of establishing the church – the foundation has already been set.
There are some today that believe that the position of Apostleship like Peter and James and John is continuing.
The Roman Catholic Church has always believed in Apostolic succession. There have been others through the years that have considered themselves Apostles, with the authority to write new scripture.
Charles Taze Russell (JW’s), Joseph Smith (Mormons), Alice Bailey (Seventh Day Adventists), David Koresh (Branch Davidians), and many more from the Evangelical world. Kenneth Coupland, Robert Schuller, Joyce Meyer, Joel Olsteen, the Kansas City Prophets, Bill Hamon, Larry Randolph, Paul Cain, Mike Bickle and Lou Engle, amongst many others.
Many of these have prophesied things that did not come to pass. These are False Apostles and false prophets, of which there are many, as we were warned by Jesus Himself in Matt 24.
Sola Scriptura is the belief that God has finished revealing new truth and that the Bible, made up of sixty six books is God’s final revelation to the church.
Nothing should be added or taken away.
(1 Corinthians 4:6b) “Do not go beyond what is written.” Then you will not take pride in one man over against another.
Jude 3: Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.
Deut 4:2 Ye shall not add unto the word which I command you, neither shall ye diminish ought from it, that ye may keep the commandments of the LORD your God which I command you.
Proverbs 30:6"Add thou not unto His words, lest He reprove thee, and thou be found a liar".
Sola Scriptura means what it says, (Scripture Alone)
It is not scripture plus. Tradition – Ex Catherdra revelation by a Pope. Not Scripture plus experience – extra revelation – Tongues and Interpretation – Prophecy or Words of Knowledge – Dreams – Visions.
Hebrews Ch 1 The New Testament is God’s Final Revelation in Jesus Christ. The Teleios of God, The Perfect, Mature Word of God.
