SOLA SCRIPTURA PRINCIPLE IN EARLY CHURCH FATHERS WRITINGS 1. Eusebius…

SOLA SCRIPTURA PRINCIPLE IN EARLY CHURCH FATHERS WRITINGS

1. Eusebius of Caesarea

“What they [the heretics] say might be plausible ,if first of all the Divine Scriptures did not contradict them……They have treated the Divine Scriptures recklessly and without fear.They have set aside The Rule Of Ancient Faith; and Christ they have not known.They do not endeavor to learn what the divine scriptures declare,but strive laboriously after any form of syllogism which may be devised to sustain their impiety.And of any one brings before them a passage of divine Scripture ,they see whether a conjunctive or disjunctive form of syllogism can be made from it”(Church History,5.28.4,13-15).

2. Gregory of Nyssa

During the Trinitarian controversy, the Arians appealed to their tradition that there was no Trinity.Gregory countered by stating this:

“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 advice 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).

3. Cyril of Jerusalem

” We ought not to deliver even the most casual remark without the Holy Scriptures: nor be drawn aside by mere probabilities and the artifices of argument.Do not then believe me because I tell thee these things,unless thou receive from the Holy Scriptures the proof of what is set forth: for this salvation,which is of our Faith,is not by ingenious reasonings,but by proof from the Holy Scriptures….Let us then speak nothing concerning the Holy Ghost but what is written;and if anything be not written,let us not busy ourselves about it.The Holy Ghost Himself spoke the Scriptures; He has also spoken concerning Himself as much as He pleased,or as much as we could receive.Be those things therefore spoken,which He has said; for whatsoever He has not said,we dare not say.”(Catechetical Lectures,4.17ff).

4. Augustine Of Hippo

“Whereas, therefore,in every question,which relates to life and conduct,not only teaching ,but exhortation also is necessary; in order that by teaching we may know what is to be done,and by exhortation may be incited not to think it irksome to do what we already know is to be done; what more can I teach you,than what we read in the Apostle? For holy scripture establishes a rule to our teaching,that we dare not “be wiser than we ought;” but be wise,as he himself says, “unto soberness, according as unto each God hath allotted the measure of faith.” Be it not therefore for me to teach you any other thing,save to expound to you the words of the Teacher,and to treat of them as the Lord shall have given to me”(The Good of Widowhood,2).