Dismantling Sola Scriptura Through Orthodox Theology | Ben (Luigi) Seminar Session 1 | TIO015 CWP098

Cloud of Witnesses Radio

What happens when we examine the foundational Protestant doctrine of Sola Scriptura through an Orthodox Christian lens? This thought-provoking seminar challenges the notion that Scripture alone is the final authority for Christians by examining biblical, historical, and theological evidence to the contrary.
Ben (Luigi), a former Protestant pastor's son who later embraced Reformed theology before finding his home in Orthodox Christianity, brings both personal experience and scholarly depth to this complex subject. With remarkable clarity, Luigi demonstrates how Scripture itself affirms the authority of oral tradition alongside written texts, pointing to passages where Jesus and the apostles relied on extrabiblical traditions as binding and authoritative.
The seminar explores how the early Church resolved doctrinal disputes through councils rather than individual interpretation, establishing a pattern that continued through the ecumenical councils which defined essential Christian doctrines. Ben tackles the challenging "canon conundrum" – how Protestants must rely on Church authority to establish which books belong in the Bible while simultaneously rejecting that same authority in matters of interpretation and practice.
Drawing from Church Fathers like St. Basil and St. Irenaeus, Ben reveals how the earliest Christians viewed Scripture and Tradition not as competing authorities but as complementary expressions of divine revelation. Even Protestant scholars acknowledge that the early Church didn't limit "inspiration" to canonical writings alone.
Whether you're an Orthodox Christian seeking to better understand and articulate your faith, a Protestant curious about Orthodox perspectives, or simply interested in Christian history and theology, this seminar provides valuable insights into how the earliest Christians understood authority, revelation, and the relationship between Scripture and Tradition. Join us for this illuminating exploration of a foundational theological difference that continues to shape Christian dialogue today.
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Chapters

1. Introduction to the Seminar Series (00:00:00)

2. Defining Sola Scriptura (00:04:46)

3. Scripture and Tradition in the Bible (00:13:44)

4. The Acts 15 Council Model (00:22:15)

5. Lost Books and the Canon Conundrum (00:25:15)

6. The Word of God Beyond Scripture (00:31:50)

7. Patristic Witness and Response to Objections (00:35:35)