The Doctrine of Sola Scriptura is fundamentally a theological principle rather than a scientific argument. The essence of HOLY SCRIPTURE transcends the mere quantification of extant manuscripts or the determination of parchment age. It is not about reconstruction, which axiomatically denies preservation. It is not about publishing dissertations, gaining tenure, or putting forward new ideas in academia. Nor is it about new and exciting presentations, marketing new publishings, or the profits of new versions. We are talking about a theological doctrine that God has preserved his word for all time. It is merely about receiving what He has delivered to us by the apostles through the witness of the church.
There is only one text that is self-authenticating. Only one text that is inerrant. Only one text that the church has testified to throughout history consistently. Only one text has been received by the church as the Word of God from its establishment. Only one text can be traced to the first century through the confessional testimony of the church fathers and creeds. Only one text has been preserved.
God’s Word is not an evidential apologetic, on the contrary, it is very much a presuppositional apologetic. We must come to the issue of God’s Word not to reconstruct but to accept. That does not mean it is without evidence but the overarching authority that must inform our understanding must be on God’s promise and not man’s efforts.
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