The comment to which I refer is available here, and though I've submitted my response for publication, I doubt whether it will indeed be published.
What I'm asking for are phrases like 'by Scripture alone', 'Scripture only', 'nothing but Scripture'. If we let X be a set containing the books in the Canon, and Y being (supernatural) truths necessary for salvation, then you need words which amount to
X and only X contains Y
All Y is in X
You'll probably object that I'm making up my own criteria. But we have other examples of such language; for instance, Our Lord says 'No-one comes to the Father but by Me' (the bi-conditional 'X and only X is Y'). He doesn't just say 'People come to the Father by me' (the conditional 'X is Y'), which would leave open the possibility that people can come to the Father by other ways too. What Christ says there is 'people come to the Father by Me alone, 'people come to the Father only by Me', 'no-one comes to the Father but by Me'. So 'by Christ alone' is in Scripture, but where is 'by Scripture alone'?
So, on to your proof-texts:
25 Now to him that is able to establish you, according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery which was kept secret from eternity; 26 (which now is made manifest by the scriptures of the prophets, according to the precept of the eternal God, for the obedience of faith) known among all nations: 27
[Romans 16:25-26,
http://newadvent.org/bible/rom016.htm]
"[B]y the Scriptures alone", though?
30 Many other signs also did Jesus in the sight of his disciples, which are not written in this book. 31 But these are written, that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God: and that believing, you may have life in his name.
[John 20:30-31,
http://newadvent.org/bible/joh020.htm]
From which Rick infers that
"Therefore, the Book of John is sufficient for salvation."
!!! So the rest of the New Testament isn't even necessary?! I'm not going to bother refuting that!
27 And he said: Then, father, I beseech you that you would send him to my father's house, for I have five brethren, 28 that he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of torments. 29 And Abraham said to him: They have Moses and the prophets. Let them hear them. 30 But he said: No, father Abraham: but if one went to them from the dead, they will do penance. 31 And he said to him: If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they believe, if one rise again from the dead.
[Luke 16:27-31,
http://newadvent.org/bible/luk016.htm]
Irrelevant; it doesn't say that everything which God revealed after the Old Testament is contained in the New Testament.
19 And we have the more firm prophetical word: whereunto you do well to attend, as to a light that shines in a dark place, until the day dawn and the day star arise in your hearts. 20
[2 Peter 1:19,
http://newadvent.org/bible/2pe001.htm]
Also irrelevant; the preceding verses speak of the New Testament, and the "prophetical word" therefore refers to the Old Testament. (Here are the preceding verses, together with the one already adduced:
17 For he received from God the Father honour and glory, this voice coming down to him from the excellent glory: This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Hear him. 18 And this voice, we heard brought from heaven, when we were with him in the holy mount. 19 And we have the more firm prophetical word: whereunto you do well to attend, as to a light that shines in a dark place, until the day dawn and the day star arise in your hearts. 20
[2 Peter 1:17-19,
ibid.]
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Reginaldvs Cantvar,
Feast of St. George, Martyr, A.D. 2010
***
What I'm asking for are phrases like 'by Scripture alone', 'Scripture only', 'nothing but Scripture'. If we let X be a set containing the books in the Canon, and Y being (supernatural) truths necessary for salvation, then you need words which amount to
X and only X contains Y
All Y is in X
You'll probably object that I'm making up my own criteria. But we have other examples of such language; for instance, Our Lord says 'No-one comes to the Father but by Me' (the bi-conditional 'X and only X is Y'). He doesn't just say 'People come to the Father by me' (the conditional 'X is Y'), which would leave open the possibility that people can come to the Father by other ways too. What Christ says there is 'people come to the Father by Me alone, 'people come to the Father only by Me', 'no-one comes to the Father but by Me'. So 'by Christ alone' is in Scripture, but where is 'by Scripture alone'?
So, on to your proof-texts:
25 Now to him that is able to establish you, according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery which was kept secret from eternity; 26 (which now is made manifest by the scriptures of the prophets, according to the precept of the eternal God, for the obedience of faith) known among all nations: 27
[Romans 16:25-26,
http://newadvent.org/bible/rom016.htm]
"[B]y the Scriptures alone", though?
30 Many other signs also did Jesus in the sight of his disciples, which are not written in this book. 31 But these are written, that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God: and that believing, you may have life in his name.
[John 20:30-31,
http://newadvent.org/bible/joh020.htm]
From which Rick infers that
"Therefore, the Book of John is sufficient for salvation."
!!! So the rest of the New Testament isn't even necessary?! I'm not going to bother refuting that!
27 And he said: Then, father, I beseech you that you would send him to my father's house, for I have five brethren, 28 that he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of torments. 29 And Abraham said to him: They have Moses and the prophets. Let them hear them. 30 But he said: No, father Abraham: but if one went to them from the dead, they will do penance. 31 And he said to him: If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they believe, if one rise again from the dead.
[Luke 16:27-31,
http://newadvent.org/bible/luk016.htm]
Irrelevant; it doesn't say that everything which God revealed after the Old Testament is contained in the New Testament.
19 And we have the more firm prophetical word: whereunto you do well to attend, as to a light that shines in a dark place, until the day dawn and the day star arise in your hearts. 20
[2 Peter 1:19,
http://newadvent.org/bible/2pe001.htm]
Also irrelevant; the preceding verses speak of the New Testament, and the "prophetical word" therefore refers to the Old Testament. (Here are the preceding verses, together with the one already adduced:
17 For he received from God the Father honour and glory, this voice coming down to him from the excellent glory: This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Hear him. 18 And this voice, we heard brought from heaven, when we were with him in the holy mount. 19 And we have the more firm prophetical word: whereunto you do well to attend, as to a light that shines in a dark place, until the day dawn and the day star arise in your hearts. 20
[2 Peter 1:17-19,
ibid.]
Your comment has been saved and will be visible after blog owner approval.
***
Reginaldvs Cantvar,
Feast of St. George, Martyr, A.D. 2010
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