Fr. Vincent Serpa on the Chaos of Protestantism

The Protestant Reformation resulted in the continuous division of churches over the interpretation of Scripture, each new denomination insisting on its own as authentic. But of course, since they all contradict each other, they can’t all be correct. The divisions continue to this day—thousands of them. If this is reformation, I’d hate to see chaos!

Fr. Vincent Serpa – Catholic Answers

Dr. Douglas Grandon on the Inadequacy of Scripture Alone

Trying to understand what the Apostles taught and what the Church taught in the early centuries simply by reading the Bible is like trying to watch a baseball game through the knothole in the fence…Scripture was not intended to present a full witness to us of all that the Church taught, believed and practiced. (Scripture is) made up of fully authoritative, inspired writings, but incomplete. That’s why God gave Bishops to us, to sort all of this out over time, as different needs arose in the Church.

Dr. Douglas Grandon – The Journey Home

Jimmy Akin on Sola Scriptura and Private Judgment

So let us cast aside the false promise of “Just-me-and-my-Bible” Christianity, let us remove the crushing burden of telling every individual Christian, no matter how poor, uneducated, or illiterate, that he must be his own theologian and that his soul hangs in the balance, let us remove the hypocrisy Protestant pastors are forced into by the doctrine as they permit for themselves a right they prohibit for the members of their congregations, and let us be honest, with the Catholic Church, about the matter: Sola scriptura, and the absolute right of private judgment which it entails, is simply not God’s plan.

Jimmy Akin – Sola Scriptura and Private Judgment

Martin Luther on his authority to add to Sacred Scripture to support his doctrine of Faith Alone

You tell me what a great fuss the Papists are making because the word “alone” (which Luther added) is not in the text of Paul (Romans 3:28). If your Papist makes such an unnecessary row about the word “alone”, say right out to him: “Dr. Martin Luther will have it so”, and I order it to be so, and my will is reason enough.I know very well that the word “alone” is not in the Latin or the Greek text…it shall remain in my New Testament. All the Popish donkeys will not get it out.

Martin Luther – Source: John Stoddard, Rebuilding a Lost Faith, (Rockford, IL: TAN Books), 136-137

Pope Paul VI on Sacred Scripture and Sacred Tradition, expounded and guarded by the Magisterium

It is clear, therefore, that in the supremely wise arrangement of God, sacred Tradition, sacred Scripture and the Magisterium of the Church are so connected and associated that one of them cannot stand without the others. Working together, each in its own way under the action of the one Holy Spirit, they all contribute effectively to the salvation of souls…this Magisterium is not superior to the Word of God, but is its servant. It teaches only what has been handed on to it. At the divine command and with the help of the Holy Spirit, it listens to this devotedly, guards it with dedication and expounds it faithfully.

Dei Verbum – Pope Paul VI

Tertullian on disallowing Heretics’ appeal to Sacred Scripture

Our appeal [in debating with the heretics], therefore, must not be made to the Scriptures; nor must controversy be admitted on points in which victory will either be impossible, or uncertain, or not certain enough. For a resort to the Scriptures would but result in placing both parties on equal footing, whereas the natural order of procedure requires one question to be asked first, which is the only one now that should be discussed: “With whom lies that very faith to which the Scriptures belong? From what and through whom, and when, and to whom, has been handed down that rule by which men become Christians? For wherever it shall be manifest that the true Christian rule and faith shall be, there will likewise be the true Scriptures and expositions thereof, and all the Christian traditions”

Since this is the case, in order that the truth may be adjudged to belong to us, “as many as walk according to the rule,” which the church has handed down from the apostles, the apostles from Christ, and Christ from God, the reason of our position is clear, when it determines that heretics ought not to be allowed to challenge an appeal to the Scriptures, since we, without the scriptures, prove that they have nothing to do with the Scriptures. For as they are heretics, they cannot be true Christians, because it is not from Christ that they get that which they pursue of their own mere choice, and from the pursuit incur and admit the name of heretics. Thus not being Christians, they have acquired no right to the Christian Scriptures; and it may be very fairly said to them, “Who are you?”

Tertullian – On Prescription against the Heretics, 19, 37