The idea of sola scriptura implies that the Bible is the sole trustworthy authority for church doctrine. It understates the prominence given to official doctrinal statements, confessions and creeds. Pentecostal and Charismatic Christians have popularized direct revelations by God outside of his recorded revelation in the Bible. Catholics, Eastern Orthodox and Oriental Orthodox believe that sacred tradition and episcopal authority carry equal authority to the Bible. Mainline Protestants also believe in tradition and church authority but give scripture primacy, prima scriptura. Methodists speak of Outler’s quadrilateral: scripture, tradition, reason and experience. They also teach that scripture is primary but not a sole authority. If the Holy Spirit will lead the church into all truth (John 16:13) that certainly occurs outside the Bible. Are tradition, reason and experience trustworthy or suspect? Would trustworthy revelation contradict the Bible’s primacy? Prima scriptura!
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