Affirming creeds and confessions is absolutely consistent with Sola Scriptura, which was the position of those who wrote the confessions and catechisms, such as Luther, Zacharias Ursinus, and the Westminster Divines. But Sola Scriptura is not the same as solo Scriptura. We do not learn in islolation, butcan learn from godly teachers, past and present. The Lord has always preserved Scripture and he has always prepared and provided godly, gospel-believing teachers.
Horton is helpful on this matter:
"The Latin slogan [sola Scriptura] means “by Scripture alone,” not “Scripture alone” (solo Scriptura). For example, both Lutheran and Reformed churches regard the ecumenical creeds, along with their own confessions and catechisms, as authoritative and binding summaries of Scripture, to which they are all subordinate." (https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/justin-taylor/horton-canon-and-covenant-sola-vs-solo-scriptura/)
Observing the historical documents: orthodox creeds and Reformed Confessions assists the church by providing structure and clarity. They protect from gross error (heresy) and from unsafe and aberrant practice (heteropraxy), as they align and subordinate to Scripture. They instruct us with and point us to the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.
"If we close our minds to church history we say in effect that the story of what God has done since that time means nothing to us." ~quoted.
Orthodox Ecumenical Creeds:
The Apostle's Creed: https://www.urcna.org///urcna/Creeds/Apostles'%20Creed%20URCNA%202018.pdf
The Nicene Creed
The Athanasian Creed
Reformed Confessions/Catechisms:
Westminster Standards: http://thewestminsterstandard.org/the-westminster-standards/
Heidelberg Catechism:
39 Articles:
No comments:
Post a Comment