why was Luther's sola scriptura (scripture alone) a challenge to the Catholic Church?

RickJ

It's a challenge to Historic Christianity in general.

1. Neither Christ, the Apostles nor the Christians of the first 1500 years adhered to it.

2. It is contradictory in and of itself: If the Bible is the sole authority, then somewhere in the Bible we should find it saying so. We don't.

3. The books that we know of as the New Testament were not agreed on until the 300's...so there was no "Bible" for the first 300 or so years of Christianity.

Starman

The Catholic Church wanted to continue to be considered the sole authority on all christian spiritual matters and felt that its authority was being challenged.

Actually, both the OT and those of the NT tell us that the scriptures were written for our illumination and guidance.


“All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work” (2 Tim. 3:16–17).

Catholic Living Bible:
Isa 8:16 Write down all these things I am going to do, says the Lord, and seal it up for the future. Entrust it to some godly man to pass on down to godly men of future generations.

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In fact, we are told that the knowledge gained via the scriptures is inextricably tied to our salvation.


The gaining of wisdom and salvation is attributed to study of the scriptures:

Catholic Living Bible:
2 Tim 3:15 You know how, when you were a small child, you were taught the holy Scriptures; and it is these that make you wise to accept God's salvation by trusting in Jesus Christ.
New American Bible for Catholics:

John 20:31 But these are written that you may [come to] believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that through this belief you may have life in his name.


Paul used the scriptures as his only source of authority:

King James:
Acts 17:2 And Paul, as his manner was, went in unto them, and three sabbath days reasoned with them out of the scriptures,


The Bereans were commended for viewing the scriptures as the authority with which to evaluate truth.

King James:
Acts 17:10 And the brethren immediately sent away Paul and Silas by night unto Berea: who coming thither went into the synagogue of the Jews.
11 These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so


Here are some very informative links about Martin Luther and sola scriptura.

Sola Scriptura or Prima Luther? What Did Martin Luther Really Believe About the Bible?

THE SOLA SCRIPTURA PRINCIPLE, DOES THE BIBLE TEACH IT?