How to Respond to Catholics on 1 Timothy 3:15 & Sola Scriptura

How to respond to the Catholics on 1 Timothy 3.15 on Sola Scriptura, traditions, and church authority. The Catholic Church interprets 1 Timothy 3:15 as proof that the Church is a visible, authoritative, and infallible institution, tasked with upholding and preserving the truth of the Gospel until Christ's return. Has the Magisterium given 1 Timothy 3:15 an infallible interpretation? Answer no. Secondly when reading that read the verse before and after to see the context is about the Gospel according to the revelation of the Scriptures. The church ie the body of Christ ie Christians are those who he help support and are pillars holding up the truth, the truth of the Gospel!

“14 I am writing these things to you, hoping to come to you before long; 15 but in case I am delayed, [I write] so that you will know how one ought to conduct himself in the household of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and support of the truth. 16 By common confession, great is the mystery of godliness: He who was revealed in the flesh, Was vindicated in the Spirit, Seen by angels, Proclaimed among the nations, Believed on in the world, Taken up in glory.” 1 TIMOTHY 3:14-16

This truth is the Gospel which in written form prior to 1 Timothy and was recorded by the apostles and comes from the Old Testament Scriptures! This is the context. Check the following if you think I’m just giving a Protestant view then Irenaeus must be Protestant as well!

Irenaeus of Lyons:  “We have learned from none others the plan of our salvation, than from those through whom the Gospel has come down to us, which they did at one time proclaim in public, and, at a later period, by the will of God, handed down to us in the Scriptures, to be the ground and pillar of our faith…Matthew also issued a written Gospel among the Hebrews in their own dialect, while Peter and Paul were preaching at Rome, and laying the foundations of the Church. After their departure, Mark, the disciple and interpreter of Peter, did also hand down to us in writing what had been preached by Peter. Luke also, the companion of Paul, recorded in a book the Gospel preached by him. Afterwards, John, the disciple of the Lord, who also had leaned upon His breast, did himself publish a Gospel during his residence at Ephesus in Asia.” (Against Heresies, 3.1.1)

Check out these Protestants as well:

Dionysius of Alexandria:  “We did not evade objections, but we endeavored as far as possible to hold to and confirm the things which lay before us, and if the reason given satisfied us, we were not ashamed to change our opinions and agree with others; but on the contrary, conscientiously and sincerely, and with hearts laid open before God, we accepted whatever was established by the proofs and teachings of the Holy Scriptures.” (Eusebius, Church History, 7.24.8)

Gregory of Nssya:  “They allege that while we confess three Persons we say that there is one goodness, and one power, and one Godhead. And in this assertion they do not go beyond the truth; for we do say so. But the ground of their complaint is that their custom does not admit this, and Scripture does not support it. What then is our reply? We do not think that it is right to make their prevailing custom the law and rule of sound doctrine. For if custom is to avail for proof of soundness, we too, surely, may advance our prevailing custom; and if they reject this, we are surely not bound to follow theirs. Let the inspired Scripture, then, be our umpire, and the vote of truth will surely be given to those whose dogmas are found to agree with the Divine words.”    (Dogmatic Treatises, Book 12. On the Trinity, To Eustathius)

Cyril of Jerusalem:  “Have thou ever in your mind this seal , which for the present has been lightly touched in my discourse, by way of summary, but shall be stated, should the Lord permit, to the best of my power with the proof from the Scriptures. For concerning the divine and holy mysteries of the Faith, not even a casual statement must be delivered without the Holy Scriptures; nor must we be drawn aside by mere plausibility and artifices of speech. Even to me, who tell you these things, give not absolute credence, unless thou receive the proof of the things which I announce from the Divine Scriptures. For this salvation which we believe depends not on ingenious reasoning , but on demonstration of the Holy Scriptures.” (Catechetical Lectures, 4.17)

Basil the Great:  “Enjoying as you do the consolation of the Holy Scriptures, you stand in need neither of my assistance nor of that of anybody else to help you comprehend your duty. You have the all-sufficient counsel and guidance of the Holy Spirit to lead you to what is right.” (Letters St. Basil of Caesarea, 283)

What Jesus Instructed and What the Apostles Taught:

“18 And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”” MATTHEW 28:18-20

“20 having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus Himself being the corner [stone]” EPHESIANS 2:20

“Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth.” 2 TIMOTHY 2:15

“8 See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception, according to the tradition of men, according to the elementary principles of the world, rather than according to Christ.” COLOSSIANS 2:8

“10 The brethren immediately sent Paul and Silas away by night to Berea, and when they arrived, they went into the synagogue of the Jews. 11 Now these were more noble-minded than those in Thessalonica, for they received the word with great eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to [see] whether these things were so.” ACTS 17:10-11

“2 And according to Paul’s custom, he went to them, and for three Sabbaths reasoned with them from the Scriptures, 3 explaining and giving evidence that the Christ had to suffer and rise again from the dead, and [saying], “This Jesus whom I am proclaiming to you is the Christ.” ACTS 17:2-3

“14 You, however, continue in the things you have learned and become convinced of, knowing from whom you have learned [them], 15 and that from childhood you have known the sacred writings which are able to give you the wisdom that leads to salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. 16 All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; 17 so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.” 2 TIMOTHY 3:14-17

“3 If anyone advocates a different doctrine and does not agree with sound words, those of our Lord Jesus Christ, and with the doctrine conforming to godliness, 4 he is conceited [and] understands nothing; but he has a morbid interest in controversial questions and disputes about words, out of which arise envy, strife, abusive language, evil suspicions, 5 and constant friction between men of depraved mind and deprived of the truth, who suppose that godliness is a means of gain.” 1 TIMOTHY 6:3-5

“2 preach the word; be ready in season [and] out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with great patience and instruction. 3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but [wanting] to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires, 4 and will turn away their ears from the truth and will turn aside to myths. 5 But you, be sober in all things, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.” 2 TIMOTHY 4:2-5

“26 These things I have written to you concerning those who are trying to deceive you. 27 As for you, the anointing which you received from Him abides in you, and you have no need for anyone to teach you; but as His anointing teaches you about all things, and is true and is not a lie, and just as it has taught you, you abide in Him.” 1 JOHN 2:26-27

Hope this was helpful on how to respond to Catholics on 1 Timothy 3:15 on Sola Scriptura, traditions, and church authority. How did the Apostles and even early church fathers instruct Christians on how to accurately interpret teachings and doctrine? By examining the Scriptures. Yes in the church we have pastors, elders, bishops (plural), and other leadership roles, but in all things we are to examine and test whoever we are listening to, watching or reading from and through the Scriptures and the Holy Spirit. BE BEREANS! Amen.