Submission to God's Word Alone in Sola Scriptura
Submission to God's Word alone, a core tenet of sola Scriptura, emphasizes that the Bible is the ultimate and sufficient authority for Christian faith and practice. This principle asserts that believers should regulate their lives and beliefs according to the divine revelation found in Scripture [5].
The Bible itself attests to its divine origin and authority. Paul writes in 2 Timothy 3:16 that "All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness" [5]. This indicates that the Scriptures are not merely human writings but are given by the inspiration of God, or "God-breathed" (Greek: theopneustos). Other passages reinforce this, stating that Scripture is given by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit [5]. For instance, Acts 1:16 and 2 Peter 1:21 affirm that prophets spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.
Jesus frequently sanctioned the authority of Scripture by appealing to it in his teachings and ministry. He quoted from the Old Testament, as seen when he resisted temptation by saying, "It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God’" (Luke 4:4) [5, 10]. John Gill, a Baptist commentator, notes that Jesus' response to temptation in Luke 4:4 suggests that human nature can be sustained by divine power without ordinary means, and that even bread requires a divine blessing to support life [10]. Jesus also taught out of the Scriptures, as recorded in Luke 24:27 [5].
The concept of submission to God's Word is intrinsically linked to the understanding of God's singular authority. The unity of God is presented as a fundamental reason for obeying Him exclusively [1]. Deuteronomy 4:39-40 and 6:4-5 highlight this, stating that there is no God but the Lord, and therefore, one should love Him supremely. This unity is asserted by God Himself in Isaiah 44:6, 8 and 45:18, 21, and affirmed by Christ, Moses, and the apostles [1]. The Hebrew word for God, Elohim, though plural in form, is commonly used throughout the Bible to denote the singular Divine Being, emphasizing His unique status [4].
The idea of submission extends to all aspects of life, including civil authority, as stated in Romans 13:1: "Let every soule submit him selfe vnto the auctorite of ye hyer powers. For there is no power but of God" [2]. However, the ultimate submission is to God's revealed will.
The sola Scriptura principle contrasts with views that place tradition or human reason on par with or above Scripture. Adam Clarke, a Methodist commentator, emphasizes the importance of adhering to sound doctrine, advising, "Take heed to thy doctrine, that the matter be pure and orthodox; that thou teach nothing for truth but what God has revealed" [7]. This highlights the belief that doctrine must be derived directly from God's revelation in Scripture.
The Bible is referred to by various names that underscore its authority and divine origin, such as "the Word," "the Word of God," "the Word of Christ," "the Word of truth," "Holy Scriptures," and "the Book of the Lord" [5]. These titles reinforce the idea that it is the authoritative communication from God to humanity. The content of this Word is considered essential for salvation, as 1 Corinthians 15:2 suggests that the gospel, as delivered through the Scriptures, is the means by which people are saved [8].
The divine nature of God's pronouncements is further illustrated by His oaths. In Isaiah 45:23, God declares, "I have sworn by myself... the word is gone out of my mouth in righteousness" [6, 9]. John Gill interprets this as Christ swearing by Himself, indicating the great importance and certainty of what follows, particularly concerning the subjection of every creature to Him [6]. This divine oath underscores the immutable and unconditional nature of God's decrees and purposes, which are revealed in His Word [3, 11].
Sources
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Unity of God — A ground for obeying him exclusively -- De 4:39,40. A ground for loving him supremely -- De 6:4,5; Mr 12:29,30. Asserted by God himself. -- Isa 44:6,8; 45:18,21. Christ. -- Mr 12:29; Joh 17:3. Moses. -- De 4:39; 6:4. Apostles. -- 1Co 8:4,6; Eph 4:6; 1Ti 2:5. Consistent with the deity of Christ and of the Holy Spirit -- Joh 10:30; 1Jo 5:7; Joh 14:9-11. Exhibited in His greatness and wonderful works. -- 2Sa 7:22; Ps 86:10. His works of creation and providence. -- Isa 44:24; 45:5-8. His being alone possessed of fore-knowledge. -- Isa 46:9-11. His exercise”
- Romans “Romans 13:1 (Tyndale) — Let every soule submit him selfe vnto the auctorite of ye hyer powers. For there is no power but of God.”
- Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Predestination — This word is properly used only with reference to God's plan or purpose of salvation. The Greek word rendered "predestinate" is found only in these six passages, Acts 4:28; Rom. 8:29, 30; 1 Cor. 2:7; Eph. 1:5, 11; and in all of them it has the same meaning. They teach that the eternal, sovereign, immutable, and unconditional decree or "determinate purpose" of God governs all events. This doctrine of predestination or election is beset with many difficulties. It belongs to the "secret things" of God. But if we take the revealed word of God as our guid”
- Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: God — (A.S. and Dutch God; Dan. Gud; Ger. Gott), the name of the Divine Being. It is the rendering (1) of the Hebrew 'El, from a word meaning to be strong; (2) of 'Eloah_, plural _'Elohim. The singular form, Eloah, is used only in poetry. The plural form is more commonly used in all parts of the Bible, The Hebrew word Jehovah (q.v.), the only other word generally employed to denote the Supreme Being, is uniformly rendered in the Authorized Version by "LORD," printed in small capitals. The existence of God is taken for granted in the Bible. There is nowhere any argume”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Scriptures, The — Given by inspiration of God -- 2Ti 3:16. Given by inspiration of the Holy Spirit -- Ac 1:16; Heb 3:7; 2Pe 1:21. Christ sanctioned, by appealing to them -- Mt 4:4; Mr 12:10; Joh 7:42. Christ taught out of -- Lu 24:27. Are called the Word. -- Jas 1:21-23; 1Pe 2:2. Word of God. -- Lu 11:28; Heb 4:12. Word of Christ. -- Col 3:16. Word of truth. -- Jas 1:18. Holy Scriptures. -- Ro 1:2; 2Ti 3:15. Scripture of truth. -- Da 10:21. Book. -- Ps 40:7; Re 22:19. Book of the Lord. -- Isa 34:16. Book of the law. -- Ne 8:3; Ga 3:10. Law of the Lord. -- Ps 1:2; Isa”
- Isaiah (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Isaiah 45:23: I have sworn by myself,.... Christ being the true God, he could swear by no greater, Heb 6:13, this shows that what follows, and is here sworn unto, is of great importance, and strictly true, and would certainly be accomplished: the word is gone out of my mouth in righteousness; both what goes before, that such that look unto him shall be saved; and also what follows, concerning the subjection of every creature to him; this was what he had resolved in his mind, and declared in his word, by promise and prophecy, should be; and as it was agreeably to truth and justic”
- 1 Timothy (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on 1 Timothy 4:16: Take heed unto thyself - See that the life of God remains and the work of God prospers in thine own soul. Take heed to thy doctrine, that the matter be pure and orthodox; that thou teach nothing for truth but what God has revealed. Continue in them - i.e., In taking heed to thyself and to thy doctrine; for this must be thy continual study. Without this, the Divine influence shall recede from thy heart, and the Divine gift from thy intellect; and, like Samson shorn of his strength, thou wilt soon become as another man, as any common man; thy power will depart from”
- 1 Corinthians (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on 1 Corinthians 15:2: By which also ye are saved,.... It was the means of their salvation, and had been made the power of God unto salvation to them. Salvation is inseparably connected with true faith in Christ as a Saviour, and with a hearty belief of his resurrection from the dead, which is the earnest and pledge of the resurrection of the saints; and because of the certainty of it in the promise of God, through the obedience and death of Christ, and in the faith and hope of believers, which are sure and certain things, they are said to be saved already. To which the apostle puts ”
- Romans (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Romans 14:11: For it is written,.... In Isa 45:23; though Justin Martyr (o) cites a like passage with what follows, as out of Ezekiel 37, but no such words appear there, either in the Hebrew text, or Septuagint version: as I live, saith the Lord; the form of an oath used often by the Lord; who because he could swear by no greater, he swore by himself, by his own life; signifying, that what he was about to say, would as surely come to pass, as that he lived; and in the original text in Isaiah it is, "I have sworn by myself"; which being generally expressed, the apostle, perfectly”
- Luke (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Luke 4:4: And Jesus answered him, saying, it is written,.... In Deu 8:3 that man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God; suggesting hereby, that when it is the will of God, human nature may be maintained by the influence of divine power, without the use of ordinary means; and that bread itself, without a divine blessing, would not support life; and so not this stone, or stones, if turned into it: wherefore, it became him, as man, to depend upon God, submit to his will, and wait the issue of providence, who had brought him thither, and not take any such steps to r”
- Psalms (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Psalms 89:34: Once have I sworn by my holiness,.... Swearing is ascribed to God after the manner of men, and is done in condescension to the weakness of his people, and to remove doubts and hesitations from them, relating to things spiritual and eternal; as to his everlasting love to them, his covenant with them in Christ, and their perseverance in his grace; and it is made by himself, or one or other of his perfections, as here by his "holiness"; see Amo 4:2, and indeed his holiness being his nature, is no other than he himself, the holy God; and because he could swear by no grea”