Does the Bible Teach Sola Scriptura? (The Patrick Madrid Show)

This was a fun one! Patrick Madrid explores the whole "Sola Scriptura" debate with a caller named Dan from Las Vegas, and it's an epic back-and-forth. Dan has been calling the show for years, and this time he’s citing John 7:37-38 as evidence that Jesus taught Sola Scriptura (which means Scripture alone as the authority for faith).   But Patrick? Oh, he’s ready for this!    Dan’s Argument:   Dan believes that when Jesus says, “He that believeth on me, as the scriptures have said...” in John 7, it’s a slam dunk for Sola Scriptura. He’s saying, “Hey, Jesus is pointing to Scripture. Isn't that proof that the Bible is all we need?”   Patrick’s Response:   Patrick reminds Dan that:   Jesus is quoting Scripture in that passage, yes, but He's quoting it to show how it points to Him. This is a reminder of the Jewish traditions they already knew.   Jesus is called the "Word of God" in John 1, not the Bible. 📖   Scripture itself never says that it’s the sole authority. Patrick reminds Dan of 2 Thessalonians 2:15, where St. Paul tells the early Christians to hold fast to both written and oral traditions. 🗣️✍️   Jesus often invoked oral traditions, like when He talked about the "chair of Moses" in Matthew 23, a concept that’s not written anywhere in the Old Testament!   🎤 The Takeaway:   Patrick expertly shuts down the idea of Sola Scriptura by showing that the Bible itself doesn’t even claim to be the only authority. It's all about a balance between Scripture and Sacred Tradition: both are crucial in understanding the faith.   So, in Patrick’s words: “You’re trying to jam Sola Scriptura into the Bible, but it’s just not there!”    Final Words:   Patrick isn’t backing down on this one! It’s a solid win for the Catholic understanding of how Scripture works hand-in-hand with the living tradition of the Church. 👊✝️     The best way to listen to the Best of the Week is on our #1 Free Catholic App. It’s free, and always will be! To get and share the Relevant Radio app, check it out here.