EXTRA-BIBLICAL WRITINGS BY STEVE FINNELL

Without extra-Biblical writings, the so-called Christian denominations would fall like a house of cards in a hurricane.

The question is would you be able to remain in your denomination if you based your religious doctrines on the Bible alone? Is the foundation and the building of your faith located in the Scriptures alone or is it in creed books, statements of faith, or other extra-Biblical writings?

2 Peter 3:15-16 and regard the patience of our Lord as salvation; just as also our beloved brother Paul, according to the wisdom given him, wrote to you, 16 as also in all his letters, speaking in them of these things, in which are some things hard to understand, which the untaught and unstable distort, as they also do the rest of the Scriptures,to their own destruction.

The apostle Peter said the letters Paul wrote were Scriptures. Peter never said Paul copied the man-made creeds of the scribes and Pharisees nor any other extra-Biblical writings.

2 Timothy 3:14-15 You, however, continue in the things you have learned and become convinced of, knowing from whom you have learned them, 15 and that from childhood you have known the sacred writings which are able to give you wisdom that leads to salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.

Extra-Biblical writings are not sacred writings.Where did Timothy get the information to practice his faith and make him wise to salvation? He got it from the words of the apostles, the apostles words were sacred writings (Scriptures). Paul did not say, one word about learning salvation from man-made creed books nor any other extra-Biblical writings.

1 Thessalonians 2:13 For this reason we also constantly thank God that when you received the word of God which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men, but for what it really is, the word of God, which also performs its work in you who believe.

When Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy delivered the word of God to the Thessalonians, they did not hand them man-made creed books nor teach them from other extra-Biblical writings.

Ephesians 3:1-5 For this reason I Paul...3. that by revelation there was made know to me the mystery, as I wrote before in brief. 4 By referring to this, when you read you can understand my insight into the mystery of Christ, 5 which in other generations was not made known to the sons of men, as it has now been revealed to His holy apostles and prophets in the Spirit;

The apostle Paul said the mystery of Christ has now been revealed. It was not revealed in the second century nor the twenty first century. There are no more apostles and prophets. Insights into the mystery of of Christ was made know to Paul by revelation, as it was to the rest of the apostles and prophets.They did not learn the mystery of Christ from catechisms nor other man-made extra-Biblical books.

1 Galatians 1:11-12 For I would have you know brethren, that the gospel which was preached by me is not according to man. 12 For I neither received it from man, nor was I taught it, but I received it through a revelation of Jesus Christ.

Can men study books written by the early church fathers; and then say, we did not receive it from man? When preachers attain their doctrine from creed books and other extra-Biblical writings; can they say we did not receive it from man? The apostle Paul did not attend seminary and study extra-Biblical dogma.

1 Peter 1:20-21 But know this first of all. that no prophecy of Scripture is a matter of one's own interpretation. 21 for no prophecy was ever made by an act of human will, but men moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God.

You can only quote true prophecy by quoting the Bible.

John 16:5-15 ...13 But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all truth...

The Holy Spirit guided the apostles into all truth. The apostles had all the truth. All the truth is found in the Bible and the Bible alone.

The early church fathers were not guided into all truth by the Holy Spirit.

The writers of church catechisms were not guided into all truth by the Holy Spirit.

The writers of Bible commentaries were not guided into all truth by the Holy Spirit.

The writers of denominational creed books were not guided into all truth by the Holy Spirit.

The writers of EXTRA-BIBLICAL writings were not and are not guided into all truth by the Holy Spirit.

ALL TRUTH IS FOUND IN THE BIBLE AND THE BIBLE ALONE!

THE QUESTION REMAINS CAN THE DOCTRINES OF YOUR DENOMINATION BE SUPPORTED BY SCRIPTURE ALONE?