Truth Unites Sola Scriptura is Totally Medieval, This Will Blow Your Mind
Mar 13, 2024
The podcast discusses the medieval roots of sola scriptura, highlighting theologians like Wessel Gansfort. It contrasts Protestant and Roman Catholic views on scripture and tradition, emphasizing the historical perspective on church authority. The chapter delves into the practicality of a singular church leader and explores the influence of Wessel Gansfort on Protestant reformers like Martin Luther.
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Sola Scriptura Has Medieval Roots
- Gavin Ortlund argues that sola Scriptura (scripture's unique authority over the church) existed well before the 16th century and is not a Protestant novelty.
- He traces a medieval tradition, rooted in Augustine, that views Scripture as infallible and post-apostolic church authorities as fallible and subordinate.
Wessel Gansfort's Proto‑Reformation Views
- Ortlund introduces Wessel Gansfort, a 15th-century Dutch theologian who sounded remarkably like later Protestants.
- Gansfort denied purgatory, transubstantiation, indulgences, and critiqued legalistic medieval spirituality.
Practical Case Against Papal Necessity
- Gansfort argued the papacy is not essential to the church's unity because a single human cannot oversee the whole world.
- He claimed the Holy Spirit, not the Roman pontiff, preserves the church's unity across distant peoples.