The following are quotes from the church fathers affirming the ‘material sufficiency’ of the Scriptures. All quotes are taken from http://www.ccel.org/fathers2/ (emphasis mine):
Justin Martyr
And Trypho said, "Prove this; for, as you see, the day advances, and we are not prepared for such perilous replies; since never yet have we heard any man investigating, or searching into, or proving these matters; nor would we have tolerated your conversation, had you not referred everything to the Scriptures: for you are very zealous in adducing proofs from them; and you are of opinion that there is no God above the Maker of all things."
–Justin Martyr, Dialogue of Justin, ch.56
http://www.ccel.org/fathers2/ANF-01/anf01-48.htm#P4499_940094
Irenaeus
Such, then, is their system, which neither the prophets announced, nor the Lord taught, nor the apostles delivered, but of which they boast that beyond all others they have a perfect knowledge. They gather their views from other sources than the Scriptures; and, to use a common proverb, they strive to weave ropes of sand, while they endeavour to adapt with an air of probability to their own peculiar assertions the parables of the Lord, the sayings of the prophets, and the words of the apostles, in order that their scheme may not seem altogether without support. In doing so, however, they disregard the order and the connection of the Scriptures, and so far as in them lies, dismember and destroy the truth.
–Irenaeus, Against Heresies 1.8.1
http://www.ccel.org/fathers2/ANF-01/anf01-58.htm#P6307_1447755
We have learned from none others the plan of our salvation, than from those through whom the Gospel has come down to us, which they did at one time proclaim in public, and, at a later period, by the will of God, handed down to us in the Scriptures, to be the ground and pillar of our faith. For it is unlawful to assert that they preached before they possessed "perfect knowledge," as some do even venture to say, boasting themselves as improvers of the apostles. For, after our Lord rose from the dead, [the apostles] were invested with power from on high when the Holy Spirit came down [upon them], were filled from all [His gifts], and had perfect knowledge: they departed to the ends of the earth, preaching the glad tidings of the good things [sent] from God to us, and proclaiming the peace of heaven to men, who indeed do all equally and individually possess the Gospel of God.
–Irenaeus, Against Heresies 3.1.1
http://www.ccel.org/fathers2/ANF-01/anf01-60.htm#P7297_1937859
But that all his Epistles are consonant to these declarations, I shall, when expounding the apostle, show from the Epistles themselves, in the right place. But while I bring out by these proofs the truths of Scripture, and set forth briefly and compendiously things which are stated in various ways, do thou also attend to them with patience, and not deem them prolix; taking this into account, that proofs [of the things which are] contained in the Scriptures cannot be shown except from the Scriptures themselves.
–Irenaeus, Against Heresies 3.12.9
http://www.ccel.org/fathers2/ANF-01/anf01-60.htm#P7525_2024213
Clement of
And after a little again he draws the inference that the Scriptures owed their origin to the divine providence, asserting as follows: "For we know that God enjoined these things, and we say nothing apart from the Scriptures."
-Clement of
http://www.ccel.org/fathers2/ANF-02/anf02-67.htm#P8931_2507342
For we may not give our adhesion to men on a bare statement by them, who might equally state the opposite. But if it is not enough merely to state the opinion, but if what is stated must be confirmed, we do not wait for the testimony of men, but we establish the matter that is in question by the voice of the Lord, which is the surest of all demonstrations, or rather is the only demonstration; in which knowledge those who have merely tasted the Scriptures are believers; while those who, having advanced further, and become correct expounders of the truth, are Gnostics. Since also, in what pertains to life, craftsmen are superior to ordinary people, and model what is beyond common notions; so, consequently, we also, giving a complete exhibition of the Scriptures from the Scriptures themselves, from faith persuade by demonstration.
-Clement of
http://www.ccel.org/fathers2/ANF-02/anf02-69.htm#P9717_2735027
Tertullian
I revere the fullness of His Scripture, in which He manifests to me both the Creator and the creation. In the gospel, moreover, I discover a Minister and Witness of the Creator, even His Word. But whether all things were made out of any underlying Matter, I have as yet failed anywhere to find. Where such a statement is written, Hermogenes' shop must tell us. If it is nowhere written, then let it fear the woe which impends on all who add to or take away from the written word.
–Tertullian, Against Hermogenes, ch.22
http://www.ccel.org/fathers2/ANF-03/anf03-37.htm#P8439_2382281
Let them, then, prove to us that those angels derived their flesh from the stars. If they do not prove it because it is not written, neither will the flesh of Christ get its origin there from, for which they borrowed the precedent of the angels. It is plain that the angels bore a flesh which was not naturally their own; their nature being of a spiritual substance, although in some sense peculiar to themselves, corporeal; and yet they could be transfigured into human shape, and for the time be able to appear and have intercourse with men. Since, therefore, it has not been told us whence they obtained their flesh, it remains for us not to doubt in our minds that a property of angelic power is this, to assume to themselves bodily Shape out of no material substance. How much more, you say, is it (within their competence to take a body) out of some material substance? That is true enough. But there is no evidence of this, because Scripture says nothing.
-Tertullian, On the Flesh of Christ, ch.6
http://www.ccel.org/fathers2/ANF-03/anf03-39.htm#P9339_2564145
What sort of truth is that which they patronize, when they commend it to us with a lie? Well, but they actually treat of the Scriptures and recommend (their opinions) out of the Scriptures! To be sure they do. From what other source could they derive arguments concerning the things of the faith, except from the records of the faith?
-Tertullian, Prescription Against Heretics, ch.14
http://www.ccel.org/fathers2/ANF-03/anf03-24.htm#P3318_1168273
Cyprian
I have been constrained to obey your so needful wish, so that as much as my limited powers, instructed by the aid of divine inspiration, are sufficient, some arms, as it were, and defences might be brought forth from the Lord's precepts for the brethren who are about to fight. For it is little to arouse God's people by the trumpet call of our voice, unless we confirm the faith of believers, and their valour dedicated and devoted to God, by the divine readings.
–Cyprian, Treatise XI. Exhortation to Martyrdom, Addressed to Fortunatus 1
http://www.ccel.org/fathers2/ANF-05/anf05-121.htm#P7735_2602222
Lactantius
And since he did not do this, being carried away by his distinguished knowledge of the sacred writings, so that he was content with those things alone in which faith consists, I have undertaken, with the favour of God, to do this, and at the same time to prepare the way for the imitation of others.
–Lactantius, The Divine Institutes 5.4
http://www.ccel.org/fathers2/ANF-07/anf07-08.htm#P1724_691511
Athanasius
“Vainly then do they run about with the pretext that they have demanded Councils for the faith's sake; for divine Scripture is sufficient above all things; but if a Council be needed on the point, there are the proceedings of the Fathers, for the Nicene Bishops did not neglect this matter, but stated the doctrine so exactly, that persons reading their words honestly, cannot but be reminded by them of the religion towards Christ announced in divine Scripture.”
-Athanasius, De Synodis 1.6
http://www.ccel.org/fathers2/NPNF2-04/Npnf2-04-64.htm#P7325_2907692
Hilary
of
For he is the best student who does not read his thoughts into the book, but lets it reveal its own; who draws from it its sense, and does not import his own into it, nor force upon its words a meaning which he had determined was the right one before he opened its pages. Since then we are to discourse of the things of God, let us assume that God has full knowledge of Himself, and bow with humble reverence to His words. For He Whom we can only know through His own utterances is the fitting witness concerning Himself.
-Hilary of
http://www.ccel.org/fathers2/NPNF2-09/Npnf2-09-08.htm#P922_571094
Cyril
of
Have thou ever in thy mind this seal, which for the present has been lightly touched in my discourse, by way of summary, but shall be stated, should the Lord permit, to the best of my power with the proof from the Scriptures. For concerning the divine and holy mysteries of the Faith, not even a casual statement must be delivered without the Holy Scriptures; nor must we be drawn aside by mere plausibility and artifices of speech. Even to me, who tell thee these things, give not absolute credence, unless thou receive the proof of the things which I announce from the Divine Scriptures. For this salvation which we believe depends not on ingenious reasoning, but on demonstration of the Holy Scriptures.
–Cyril of
http://www.ccel.org/fathers2/NPNF2-07/Npnf2-07-09.htm#P452_92480
Why then dost thou busy thyself about things which not even the Holy Ghost has written in the Scriptures? Thou that knowest not the things which are written, busiest thou thyself about the things which are not written? There are many questions in the Divine Scriptures; what is written we comprehend not, why do we busy ourselves about what is not written? It is sufficient for us to know that God hath begotten One Only Son.
–Cyril of
http://www.ccel.org/fathers2/NPNF2-07/Npnf2-07-16.htm#P1279_343329
Ambrose
Men of the world give many further rules about the way to speak, which I think we may pass over; as, for instance, the way jesting should be conducted. For though at times jests may be proper and pleasant, yet they are unsuited to the clerical life. For how can we adopt those things which we do not find in the holy Scriptures?
-Ambrose, On the Duties of the Clergy 1.23 (part 102)
http://www.ccel.org/fathers2/NPNF2-10/Npnf2-10-08.htm#P766_141455
Gregory
of Nyssa
We now proceed to their next position, after a short defining and confirmation of our own doctrine. For an inspired testimony is a sure test of the truth of any doctrine: and so it seems to me that ours may be well guaranteed by a quotation from the divine words.
-Gregory of Nyssa, Against Eunomius 1.22
http://www.ccel.org/fathers2/NPNF2-05/Npnf2-05-12.htm#P674_299019
John
Chrysostom
"For doctrine." For thence we shall know, whether we ought to learn or to be ignorant of anything. And thence we may disprove what is false, thence we may be corrected and brought to a right mind, may be comforted and consoled, and if anything is deficient, we may have it added to us. "That the man of God may be perfect." For this is the exhortation of the Scripture given, that the man of God may be rendered perfect by it; without this therefore he cannot be perfect. Thou hast the Scriptures, he says, in place of me. If thou wouldest learn anything, thou mayest learn it from them. And if he thus wrote to Timothy, who was filled with the Spirit, how much more to us! "Thoroughly furnished unto all good works"; not merely taking part in them, he means, but "thoroughly furnished."
-John Chrysostom, Homilies on the Second Epistle of Paul to Timothy, Homily 9 http://www.ccel.org/fathers2/NPNF1-13/npnf1-13-109.htm#P3466_2418760
Augustine
The
right will is, therefore, well-directed love, and the wrong will is ill-directed love. Love, then, yearning to have what is loved,
is desire; and having and enjoying it, is joy; fleeing what is opposed to it, it is fear; and feeling what is opposed to it, when
it has befallen it, it is sadness. Now these motions are evil if the love is evil; good if the love is good. What we assert let us
prove from Scripture. The apostle "desires to depart, and to be with Christ." And, "My soul desired to long for Thy judgments;" or
if it is more appropriate to say, "My soul longed to desire Thy judgments."
-Augustine, City of
http://www.ccel.org/fathers2/NPNF1-02/npnf1-02-20.htm#P2339_1320857
Faustus most plausibly refers to what Jesus said of Himself. But how is this to be known except from the narratives of His disciples? And if we do not believe them when they tell us that Christ was born of a virgin, how shall we believe what they record as said by Christ of Himself?
–Augustine, Reply to Faustus the Manichaean 28.4
http://www.ccel.org/fathers2/NPNF1-04/npnf1-04-41.htm#P2402_1453839
For among the things that are plainly laid down in Scripture are to be found all matters that concern faith and the manner of life,-to wit, hope and love, of which I have spoken in the previous book. After this, when we have made ourselves to a certain extent familiar with the language of Scripture, we may proceed to open up and investigate the obscure passages, and in doing so draw examples from the plainer expressions to throw light upon the more obscure, and use the evidence of passages about which there is no doubt to remove all hesitation in regard to the doubtful passages.
-Augustine, On Christian Doctrine 2.9
http://www.ccel.org/fathers2/NPNF1-02/npnf1-02-33.htm#P4860_2631510
Theodoret
of Cyrrhus
Orth.-Do not, I beg you, bring in human reason. I shall yield to scripture alone.
Eran.-You shall receive no argument unconfirmed by Holy Scripture, and if you bring me any solution of the question deduced from Holy Scripture I will receive it, and will in no wise gainsay it.
–Theodoret of Cyrrhus, Dialogue 1
http://www.ccel.org/fathers2/NPNF2-03/Npnf2-03-19.htm#P2808_866499
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Also, some helpful audio on this topic can be found at:
http://www.straitgate.com/webster/
http://www.straitgate.com/aom/dl/99.htm (Jan. 30, Feb. 6)
Suggested reading:
- Eric Svendsen, Evangelical Answers (Lindenhurst, New York: Reformation Press, 1999).
- David King and William Webster, Holy Scripture: The Ground and Pillar of Our Faith, Vol. I-III (
- William Webster, The Church of Rome at the Bar of History (Carlisle, Pennsylvania: The Banner of Truth Trust, 1995).
Material Sufficiency
According to
The Church Fathers