Warner/Jackson Debate on Tradition as Religious Authority

 
 
 Proposition: 
 Scripture alone is authoritative for the Church in matters of doctrine
 
 Affirm:  George A Jackson
 Deny: Matt Warner
 
 First a few comments of Matt's Second Rebuttal:
 
 George:
 Matt continues to use the same theme in all responses:
 
 "Well, tell us where Jesus told the Apostles to write "all truth" down as Scripture, so that the 
 Church can follow Scripture alone. You won't found that anywhere."
 
 It amazes me that he seem to not realizes the Scriptures are the best witness to the Scriptures, that 
 they and they alone are the writing of the inspired apostles to whom the Lord Jesus said the Holy 
 Spirit would "guide you (apostles) into all truth"...and bring to their remembrance all the Jesus had 
 taught them. This is just one of the scriptures I used in my First Affirmative. 
 
 Since this recurring theme seems to be Matt's answer to every scripture I list, Let me ask Matt a 
 question or two:
 
 1. Are the "oral Tradition binding on Christian as the Written Scripture are?
 2. Who wrote the "oral Tradition"? 
 3. Are they Inspired?
 4. Who determines what these "oral Tradition are?
 5. Where are they found?
 6. Who has the authority to determine if they are true are not? 
 7 And how can you prove they came from the inspired apostles?
 
 In my First Affirmative I Listed various passages from the Bible showing that the Scriptures are 
 the best testimony to its inspired authority and purpose; as the inspired apostle John wrote: "And 
 many other signs truly did Jesus in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this 
 book: But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that 
 believing ye might have life through his name."
 
 1. The written scriptures can give you life through His name (John 20:30,31).
 2. The written scriptures are the truth (John 16:13).
 3. The written scriptures are the faith (Jude 3).
 4. The written scriptures are doctrine that is not to be added to (Rev. 22:18,19).
 5. The written scripture are the Commandments (Deut.4:2). 
 6. The written scriptures are for reproof (Ps. 30:6).
 7. The written scriptures are true (Ps. 119:160).
 8. The written scriptures are their own interpreter (2 Peter 1:20,21).
 9. The written scriptures cannot be broken (John 10:35).
 10. The written scriptures are what is written (Matt. 4:4,7,10).
 11. When one knows not the scriptures they err (Matt. 22:29).
 12. The written scriptures are the Light (Isaiah 8:20).
 13. The written scriptures are for searching (John 5:39).
 14. The written scriptures are for believing (John 20:31). 
 
 In my second Affirmative I listed this scripture:
 2 Pet.1:3,4, which says, "According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain 
 unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue: 
 Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be 
 partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust."  And then you say, "The Bible! Not tradition has given (past tense) all the above."
 
 Matt writes:      
 My question is where does these verses say that it is the Scriptures that give us of all this???  
 These verses do not even mention Scripture.  It looks like to me that you are reading into them 
 something that is not there at all.
 
 George:
 Unbelievable! Matt, what you are reading is Scripture! Does Scripture have to tell us that it is 
 Scripture?   
 
 I also wrote the following scripture in my Second Affirmative: Isa.55:10,11, which says, "For as 
 the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, 
 and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater: So 
 shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall 
 accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it." 
 
 Matt:      
 My question is where does these verses say that the Scriptures are all-sufficient???
 
 George:
 Matt are you arguing that God's "word be that goeth forth out of my mouth:" is not "all-
 sufficient"?
   
 Now we come to the Crown Jewel of God's scriptural verses that authenticate the all inclusive 
 authority of Scripture: 2 Timothy 3:16,17. We will post different Bible versions so we can take a 
 good look, but will be working from the King James Version (AV).
 
 ASV "Every scripture inspired of God [is] also profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, 
 for instruction which is in righteousness. That the man of God may be complete, furnished 
 completely unto every good work."
 
 NASB "All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for 
 training in righteousness; that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work." 
 
 KJV "All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for 
 correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly 
 furnished unto all good works." 
 
 NKJB "All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for 
 correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly 
 equipped for every good work." 
 
 NIV "All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in 
 righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work." 
 
 RSV "All scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and 
 for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good 
 work."
 
 NRSV "All scripture is inspired by God and is useful for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and 
 for training in righteousness, so that everyone who belongs to God may be proficient, equipped for 
 every good work."
 
 Before we examine these verses, lets notice one that is missing from the Bible:
 
 ____All Oral Tradition is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, 
 for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly 
 furnished unto all good works."
 
 We may search the "Scripture" daily as the Bereans did for a lifetime, but we will never find such 
 a scripture! Why? Because God has said no such thing.
 
 All Scripture is (given) by inspiration of God: Inspired by God, (God breathed) not man. God 
 chose to work through the agency of His apostles. Because it comes from God it cannot be 
 anything else except pure, accurate, truthful, helpful, etc. As Matt said in his First Affirmative "I 
 believe that the Scriptures are inspired of God and are authoritative in the Church for matters of 
 doctrine. They are the very words of God, and they deserve our utmost reverence and obedience."  
 
 But man has attempted his own form of inspired Scripture called "oral tradition." etc. These words 
 of men are neither accurate nor truthful. Therefore, they are not to be trusted. The Word of God is 
 inspired so that one might trust it to be accurate when he...teaches. So it is "profitable for 
 doctrine." To teach one must know what is right. You can't teach if you don't know what is right.  
 Therefore you must study. (2 Tim.2:15) "to show thyself approved unto God. The Word of God is 
 inspired so that you might trust it and be accurate when you speak forth the word of God.
 
 All Scripture is "profitable...for reproof" (rebuke). To rebuke means to scold and correct in a sharp 
 way. To urge someone to stop sinning. A warning to the sinner to stop sinning. Someone may not 
 know he is sinning, so he must be rebuked. 
 
 All Scripture is "profitable...for correction" Again, perhaps the sinner may not be aware of his sin; 
 therefore, you offer correction, warning, or admonition. The Word of God is inspired so that you 
 might trust it and be accurate when you correct. To correct also means to restore to an upright or 
 right state with the improvement of life or character. You can correct erring doctrines or 
 understanding or even bad interpretations of scripture.  You can even correct yourselves when you 
 examine the Word and discover any errors you may have in understanding or practice.
 
 All scripture is "profitable...for instruction in righteousness  "This includes the training and 
 education of children.  This includes the cultivation of mind and morals. As Christians, we are in 
 constant need of training. We must hear the Word, study it, and apply it.  Training implies that it is 
 something that is done over and over with the aim of improvement.
 
 These four things: Doctrine, Reproof, Correction, and Instruction in Righteousness; God has given 
 us through the Scriptures, no where else can one find them. And God explains in the very next 
 verse why He gave us the scriptures:
 
 That the man of God may be "perfect" (complete), throughly furnished unto '"all"' good works" 
 God has given us the inspired Bible so that we will be able to accurately know that which is good, 
 true, and holy. So that we might know the mind and will of God. So that we might teach, Correct, 
 Rebuke, and Train in Righteousness...and this so that our work might be good in the sight of God.
 
 If a "man of God" can be "perfect" (complete) (needing nothing else), So He can be "throughly 
 furnished" (needing nothing else), unto All Good works." by the Scriptures. What else can be 
 added? Nothing, or these verses are lying, Paul was lying to Timothy, and the Holy Spirit was 
 lying to Paul, and God the Father and Jesus the Son was lying to the Holy Sprit! Who but an 
 unbeliever could believe that?
 
 Also from Matt's First Affirmative 
 "Oral Tradition: the teachings of the Apostles which were not recorded or explicitly recorded in the books of the New Testament."  
 
 The big problem with this definition is: Are the "oral Tradition binding on Christian as the Written 
 Scripture? Who wrote the "oral Tradition" Are they inspired? Who determines what these "oral 
 Tradition are? Where are they found? Who has the authority to determine if they are true are not? 
 And how can you prove they came from the inspired apostles?
 
 Conclusion: 
 I have proved my Affirmative by proving that the Bible alone is authoritative and is the sole and 
 all-sufficient inspired writings of the Old and New Testament of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. 
 They are exclusively, standing by themselves, being true and dependable for Christians in all 
 affairs or situation under consideration in the church. And most of all, the Scriptures can saved 
 one's soul.  
 
 Affirmed
 George A. Jackson