A 'New' Argument Against Sola Scriptura? - A Response to Ben Bollinger

Suan Sonna (Intellectual Catholicism) recently hosted Eastern blogger and friend of mine Ben Bollinger, who presented a supposedly 'new' argument against the principle of Sola Scriptura. Does it hold water? Should I pack up my bags and leave the Anglican tradition? I submit that it does not, and in fact creates serious problems for Bollinger's own worldview if the underlying logic is held to consistently. So, grab yourself some tea, relax, and enjoy the show.


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Intro music:

To God Be The Glory, composed by William Howard Doane (1832-1916) with descant arranged by Richard M S Irwin (b. 1955). Melody Public Domain, Descant © 2020 Richard M S Irwin
Performance ℗ 2020 Richard M S Irwin. All rights reserved. ISRC: UKTU21900097

[marcuswilliams]

"Hear me out, guys. What IF a thing we have no proof happened happened?" 🔥

[marcuswilliams]

If Bollinger admits Apostolic Fallibility, how much more is it the case for the post-Apostilic age? It seems if the "heart of the argument" is true, it is fatal to his own commitment re: consensus of the Fathers.

[LLR]

I like James Whites interpretation on what St. Paul meant in 1 Corinthians 7.
He says that when St. Paul writes in verse 10: To the married I give this command (not I, but the Lord), he meant that the Lord Jesus adressed this topic while on earth during his ministry, as can be seen in the gospels. At the time Paul wrote his letter there was no new testament, so he would have relied on oral tradition of Jesus teachings in that statement.
And when he writes in verse 12: To the rest I say this (I, not the Lord), he meant that there was no direct teaching of Jesus on that topic, but what St. Paul writes from verse 12 onwards is under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. So he didn´t mean that it was merely his own personal opinion.

[johncollorafi]

The Summa, among other merits, is a great tool for learning church or 'vulgar' Latin. Personally I find the texts of St Thomas much more limpid than that of certain Thomists. The synthesis of theology, which incorporates Aristotle, elements of Plato, the Stoics, and Latin and Greek fathers, provides life long food for the mind.

[whatsinaname]

Did you and Craig Truglia ever release that video on the papacy?

[marcuswilliams]

When he addresses the matter of eating meat sacrificed to idols, I suppose it didn't occur to him that when a Council meets, their decisions are not necessarily universally binding, nor are they in perpetuity. I suppose to admit that would be too much for a papist and an Orthodox.

[GirolamoZanchi_is_cool]

Heretical prayer: O Mother of Perpetual Help, thou art the dispenser of all the gifts which God grants to us miserable sinners; and for this end He has made thee so powerful, so rich, and so bountiful, in order that thou mayest help us in our misery. Thou art the advocate of the most wretched and abandoned sinners who have recourse to thee: come to my aid, for I recommend myself to thee.

In thy hands I place my eternal salvation, and to thee I entrust my soul. Count me among thy most devoted servants; take me under thy protection, and it is enough for me. For, if thou protect me, I fear nothing; not from my sins, because thou wilt obtain for me the pardon of them; nor from the devils, because thou art more powerful than all hell together; nor even from Jesus, my judge, because by one prayer from thee He will be appeased.

But one thing I fear: that in the hour of temptation I may through negligence fail to have recourse to thee and thus perish miserably. Obtain for me, therefore, the pardon of my sins, love for Jesus, final perseverance, and the grace ever to have recourse to thee, O Mother of Perpetual Help.

This is a legit Catholic prayer, look up "O Mother of Perpetual Help" if you want to know if it’s legit.
This is super heretical. This doctrine of invoking departed saints doesn’t seem just like "hey it’s like praying to a friend.".


:)

[GirolamoZanchi_is_cool]

And you will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart. — Jeremiah 29:13

“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish, but have eternal life. —John 3:16

Repent therefore, and turn back, that your sins may be blotted out.
-Acts 3:19


:)

[subiudice]

I can see where Ben is coming from as an atheist convert where these epistemic questions are more pressing.
But an infallible church as the solution to these issues does not actually assist. The documents are received from the apostles or not, the church making an infallible statement just binds that church to the truth of its proposition.

[CurtosiusMaximus]

Interesting. Although, new arguments aren’t needed. The existing arguments are quite sufficient.