REFUTING MARTIN LUTHER’S CLAIM THAT A SIMPLE MAN WITH SCRIPTURE HAS MORE AUTHORITY THAN THE POPE OR A COUNCIL By Jonathan Loquez

[Martin Luther said: “A simple man with scripture has more authority than the Pope or a council.”] 

Martin Luther’s claim that a simple man with scripture has more authority than the Pope or a council is riddled with errors. Ironically, Luther’s claim speaks the opposite. Hence, it’s the other way around. The Pope(successor of Peter) and the other bishops(successors of the apostles in general) have more authority than any man with scriptures. The Bible says in Hebrews 5:12 that guidance is needed to interpret scriptures. That’s why our Lord Jesus Christ appointed apostles. A very good example can be found in the book of Acts—Philip and the Ethiopian.

«Now an angel of the Lord said to Philip, “Go south to the road—the desert road—that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.” So he started out, and on his way he met an Ethiopian eunuch, an important official in charge of all the treasury of the Kandake (which means “queen of the Ethiopians”). This man had gone to Jerusalem to worship, and on his way home was sitting in his chariot reading the Book of Isaiah the prophet. The Spirit told Philip, “Go to that chariot and stay near it.”

Then Philip ran up to the chariot and heard the man reading Isaiah the prophet. “Do you understand what you are reading?” Philip asked.

“How can I,” he said, “unless someone explains it to me?” So he invited Philip to come up and sit with him.

This is the passage of Scripture the eunuch was reading:

“He was led like a sheep to the slaughter, and as a lamb before its shearer is silent, so he did not open his mouth. In his humiliation he was deprived of justice. Who can speak of his descendants? For his life was taken from the earth.” The eunuch asked Philip, “Tell me, please, who is the prophet talking about, himself or someone else?” Then Philip began with that very passage of Scripture and told him the good news about Jesus.

As they traveled along the road, they came to some water and the eunuch said, “Look, here is water. What can stand in the way of my being baptized?” And he gave orders to stop the chariot. Then both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water and Philip baptized him. When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord suddenly took Philip away, and the eunuch did not see him again, but went on his way rejoicing. Philip, however, appeared at Azotus and traveled about, preaching the gospel in all the towns until he reached Caesarea.» (Acts 8:26-40, NIV)

This passage in Acts explicitly tells us that the Ethiopian eunuch has no authority whatsoever(though he has scriptures in hand). Indeed, scriptures is not a matter of private interpretation. Luther’s claim is truly unbiblical.

«Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation.

For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.»  (2Peter 1:20-21, KJV)

Proper guidance is really needed in interpreting the scriptures. That’s why we have this so called Magisterium or teaching authority of the Church. This teaching office of the Church consists of the Pope(successor of Peter) and other bishops (successors of the apostles in general). Our Lord Jesus Christ Himself gave this authority to His apostles (cf. Luke 10:16). And the blessed apostles by the power of the Holy Spirit handed down this authority to their legitimate successors(Pope and other bishops) in accordance with the scriptures (cf. Acts 1:20). .

“And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.” (Matt. 16:18-19, NIV)

“Truly I tell you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.” (Matt. 18:18, NIV)

And when controversy arises, a Church council is called in to settle the disputes. It is an assembly of the bishops of the whole Church convened to discuss and settle matters of Church doctrine and practice. Notably, the first Church council is the Council of Jerusalem in 48 A.D. (cf. Acts 15).

“Where there is no governor, the people shall fall: but there is safety where there is much counsel.” (Proverbs 11:14, DRB) .

“Designs are brought to nothing where there is no counsel: but where there are many counselors, they are established.” (Proverbs 15:22, DRB) 

Therefore, Martin Luther’s claim that a simple man with scripture has more authority than the Pope or a council is a big lie. His claim is unbiblical, indeed. . .

PRO DEO ET ECCLESIA!