gtsecc
5th July 2005, 08:39 PM
Who first came up with this idea?
ContraMundum
6th July 2005, 02:26 AM
Who first came up with this idea?
That's a tough one. While we can certainly define a "when" and out of which school of thought "Bible ONly" came from it's tough to lay it at the feet of one individual.
Even Luther kept traditions.
I guess the Reformation as a movement really developed the "Bible Alone" (sola scriptura) into what it became today. Initially, the ablative form of the Latin for "Scripture alone" was used as it demonstrated as through a means, a via. Thus, since traditions were the cause of pre-reformation abuses within the church, only the scriptures were appeal to to correct the errors. This is not a novel approach at all, since many phrases from the Fathers could be cited in support of such a practice. However, naturally, this is a truncated approach and can only end in disaster itself. Because Sola Scriptura was meant to be a a filter through which traditions were tested, the interpretation of scripture itself became the new field of battle, and of course, without traditional, handed down interpretations, this becomes a minefield.
So, "Bible alone" as it is today is nothing like what Luther had in mind, although certainly the entire school of reformation though is ultimately responsible for it.
Well, that's how I understand it anyway. I'm sure others will disagree.