prima scriptura
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Prima scriptura is a doctrine that says canonized scripture is "first" or "above all" sources of divine revelation.
Implicitly, this view acknowledges that, besides canonized scripture, there are other guides for what a believer should believe, and how he should live, such as the created order, traditions, charismatic gifts, mystical insight, angelic visitations, conscience, common sense, the views of experts, the spirit of the times or something else. Prima scriptura suggests that ways of knowing or understanding God and his will, that do not originate from canonized scripture, are in a second place, perhaps helpful in interpreting Scripture, but testable by the canon and correctable by it, if they seem to contradict Scripture.
Practical examples
Roman Catholicism
The Catechism of the Catholic Church is clear on the total equality of Scripture with Catholic tradition: "Both Scripture and Tradition must be accepted and honoured with equal sentiments of devotion and reverence" (emphasis added).[1] The primacy of scripture over Sacred Tradition is not an authoritative Roman Catholic teaching; on the contrary, the Church is very clear that the authority of Sacred Tradition is equal to that of Scripture.
Regardless, according to some sources, prima scriptura is the normative Catholic approach. Yves Congar referred to prima scriptura as the "normative primacy of Scripture" as he described the work of Augustine of Hippo and Thomas Aquinas. Pope John Paul II in an address to academics in 1986, said, "Theology must take its point of departure from a continual and updated return to the Scriptures read in the Church." This statement by the late pope has been taken by some as support for interpreting the Church's teaching in terms of the prima scriptura perspective.
Wesleyan Quadrilateral
Another version of the prima scriptura approach may be the Wesleyan Quadrilateral, which maintains that Scripture is to be the primary authority for the Church, but that it is properly interpreted through the lens of Church tradition, reason, and one's personal experience, but the Bible still remains the crucial and normative authority for Christians. According to the United Methodist Church, which adheres to this notion:
| “ | Scripture is considered the primary source and standard for Christian doctrine. Tradition is experience and the witness of development and growth of the faith through the past centuries and in many nations and cultures. Experience is the individual's understanding and appropriating of the faith in the light of his or her own life. Through reason the individual Christian brings to bear on the Christian faith discerning and cogent thought. These four elements taken together bring the individual Christian to a mature and fulfilling understanding of the Christian faith and the required response of worship and service."#wp-_note-UMC_-_Wesleyan_Quadrilateral">[2] | ” |
Others
Additionally, the
Others may not be as formal as these in their identification of other sources of revelation, alongside of Scripture, but speak frequently of God "speaking to", "guiding", and "telling" the believer to do or to believe specific things. If the believer treats these communications as subordinate to the Bible, leaving them open to question if they contradict the Scriptures, their practice might be described as an example of prima scriptura.
Contrast with sola scriptura
Prima scriptura is sometimes contrasted to sola scriptura, which literally translates "by the scripture alone". The latter doctrine as understood by many Protestants—particularly Evangelicals—teaches that only the Scriptures govern faith and practice, but that the Scriptures' meaning can be mediated through many kinds of secondary authority, such as antiquity, the councils of the Christian Church, reason, and experience.
However, sola scriptura rejects any original authority, other than the Bible. In this view, all secondary authority is derived from the authority of the Scriptures and is therefore subject to reform when compared to the teaching of the Bible. Church councils, preachers, Bible commentators, private revelation, or even a message allegedly from an angel or an apostle are not an original authority alongside the Bible in the sola scriptura approach.
References
- ^ CCC 1.1.2.2.2.82
- ^ Wesleyan Quadrilateral. The United Methodist Church. Retrieved on 2007-06-24.
External links
- The Tradition Temptation: Why we should still give Scripture pride of place by Roger Olson (Baptist)
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