Scripture & Tradition
Sola Scriptura Answered
The claim that Scripture alone is the sole rule of faith is neither taught by Scripture itself nor practiced by the early Church.
Catholic teaching
Scripture is inspired and inerrant, but it was written and canonized within a Church that also possesses living Tradition and a teaching authority to interpret it authentically. A self-interpreting book without an authoritative interpreter leads to endless division, contrary to Christ's will for unity.
Biblical foundation
Paul calls the Church, not Scripture, the 'pillar and bulwark of truth,' and Peter warns that Paul's letters contain things hard to understand which the ignorant distort. Christ established a Church with teaching authority, promising 'he who hears you hears me.'
Scripture references
Historical evidence
No Church Father held that Scripture alone, apart from apostolic Tradition and the Church's teaching office, was sufficient to settle doctrinal disputes; Irenaeus and Tertullian appealed instead to apostolic succession against heretics who also quoted Scripture.
The Church Fathers
“It is clear that all doctrine which agrees with the apostolic churches must be reckoned truth... Our appeal, therefore, must not be made to the Scriptures.”