Answer 1

My opponent here is assuming two things: The Church has to be infallible (which is no doubt a result of his presupposition that Rome is infallible) and that the verse in question assumes the infallibility of  “the pillar and foundation of the truth.” First Timothy 3:15 says: “but in case I am delayed, I write so that you will know how one ought to conduct himself in the household of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and support of the truth.” Nowhere in this verse is an infallible church assumed. One only needs to look at the church of Corinth to see that the church as a body errs at times. This is because while we are a body of believers, we are yet still a body of sinners who are being sanctified.

God has indeed promised us that the gates of hell would not prevail against His Church. But instead of this being indicative of an infallible church, this demonstrates to us that it is God who is our protector and rock. We are built on the testimony of the apostles, but are held firm by the one who called us onto Himself and redeemed us in Christ.

2 Thessalonians 2:15 states: “So then, brethren, stand firm and hold to the traditions which you were taught, whether by word of mouth or by letter from us.” We who espouse Sola Scriptura do not believe such an admonishment has ceased at all. Indeed, we are to stand firm in the faith, and hold to what we are taught from the apostles. However, my opponent assumes that “traditions” here is in reference to his concept of “Apostolic Tradition” and he assumes that any unwritten admonishments by the apostles exist to this day. However, he can neither prove that a tradition finds its root in the apostles, nor can he effectively demonstrate that what Paul is talking about here is the “Roman Catholic concept of Tradition.” We who believe in Sola Scriptura contend that the teachings of the apostles were inscripturated.

It is for this reason that God supplied godly teachers. You are making an assumption, first of all, that one has to have an infallible canon list and a fully completed Bible in order to attain a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ. Secondly, you are assuming that we who believe in Sola Scriptura have eliminated the need for teachers, or said that godly pastors are spurious. But nothing could be further from the truth. God always has, and always will, raise up workers who are teaching and defending the truth. And God makes His truth very clear in His Word, from page one onward.

Answer 4

The letter of 2nd Timothy is probably Paul’s final letter