St. John Chrysostom and Sola Scriptura

 

Roman Catholic apologist Dave Armstrong wrote an article in which he asserts that John Chrysostom taught against the doctrine of Sola Scriptura. He gives several quotes from Chrysostom. I will simply list the first two quotes here and then provide a response (Armstrong also gives a quote which is commonly used to support the doctrine of purgatory, prayers for the dead, etc., however that is another topic, so I wanted to deal with the first two here). 

“So then, brethren, stand fast, and hold the traditions which ye were taught, whether by word, or by Epistle of ours.” Hence it is manifest, that they did not deliver all things by Epistle, but many things also unwritten, and in like manner both the one and the other are worthy of credit. Therefore let us think the tradition of the Church also worthy of credit. It is a tradition, seek no farther. Here he shows that there were many who were shaken. (On Second Thessalonians, Homily IV)

"Not by letters alone did Paul instruct his disciple in his duty, but before by words also which he shows, both in many other passages, as where he says, “whether by word or our Epistle” (2 Thess. ii. 15.), and especially here. Let us not therefore suppose that anything relating to doctrine was spoken imperfectly. For many things he delivered to him without writing. Of these therefore he reminds him, when he says, “Hold fast the form of sound words, which thou hast heard of me.” (Homily III on 2 Timothy – on 2 Tim 1:13-18)

If one thinks these quotes somehow "debunk" Sola Scriptura, it is quite clear that they did not grasp a clear definition of what Sola Scriptura actually is!

Sola Scriptura simply says that everything that is needed for salvation is contained in the written Word. As Protestants, we recognize the fact that "tradition" is not a dirty word (to use Dave's own language) as long as it is not elevated to or above the authority of the Bible. Not all of the teachings of Jesus and the apostles are contained in the Bible (John 21:25).  That is all that Chrysostom is saying here. This is not an issue at all for those who are committed to Sola Scriptura. 

This common Roman Catholic misunderstanding has been addressed multiple times. Here are some quotes from Protestant scholars and theologians addressing this sort of issue:

"We respond by acknowledging that the Bible can speak positively of “tradition” (paradosis) as authoritative truth that we should receive and pass down to others. Tradition is not inherently evil, but can be a useful vehicle for the truth. If tradition is faithful to God’s Word, it should be followed (1 Cor. 11:2). Those who heard the preaching of the apostles were to pass it along to others (2 Tim. 2:2), for the preaching of the apostles was the Word of God (1 Thess. 2:13), just as is their writing (1 Cor. 14:37)." (Joel Beeke, Reformed Systematic Theology: Revelation and God, source) 

"Sola Scriptura simply means that all truth necessary for our salvation and spiritual life is taught either explicitly or implicitly in Scripture. It is not a claim that all truth of every kind is found in Scripture....Nor does sola Scriptura claim that everything Jesus or the apostles ever taught is preserved in Scripture. It only means that everything necessary, everything binding on our consciences, and everything God requires of us is given to us in Scripture (2 Peter 1:3)." (John MacArthur, "What does Sola Scriptura Mean?",  https://www.ligonier.org/blog/what-does-sola-scriptura-mean/, taken from the book Sola Scriptura: The Protestant Position on the Bible) 

" All things in Scripture are not alike plain in themselves, nor alike clear unto all:(p) yet those things which are necessary to be known, believed, and observed for salvation, are so clearly propounded and opened in some place of Scripture or other, that not only the learned, but the unlearned, in a due use of the ordinary means, may attain unto a sufficient understanding of them." (Westminster Confession of Faith, 1.7, source) 

All doctrines which are necessary to be believed for salvation are clear and unambiguous in Scripture (doctrines such as The Trinity/the deity of Christ, justification by faith, the bodily resurrection, the inspiration of Scripture, substitutionary atonement, all of which are clear in the Bible). Not all truth is contained in Scripture. Some of Jesus' teachings as well as Paul's teachings are not in the Bible.

For more information on the meaning of tradition in the early church, see Philip Schaff's section in History of the Christian Church, Vol 3, Chapter 9, Section 118.