Tradition and Scripture
Jesus urged compliance with tradition:
Matthew 23:1 Then Jesus spoke to the multitudes and to his disciples,
2 Saying: The scribes and the Pharisees have sitten on the chair of Moses.
3 All things therefore whatsoever they shall say to you, observe and do: but according
to their works do ye not; for they say, and do not.
Jesus condemned the occasional mis-application of the traditions:
Matthew 7:6 But he answering, said to them: Well did Isaias prophesy of you
hypocrites, as it is written: This people honoureth me with their lips, but their heart
is far from me. And in vain to they worship me, teaching doctrines and precepts of men.
Paul warns of man-centered 'traditions' or philosophy:
Colossians 2:8 Beware lest any man cheat you by philosophy, and vain deceit;
according to the tradition of men, according to the elements of the world, and not
according to Christ...
Christian tradition's parts, oral and written, are equally praised by Paul:
2 Thessalonians 1:14 Therefore, brethren, stand fast; and hold the traditions which
you have learned, whether by word, or by our epistle.
2 Thessalonians 3:6 And we charge you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus
Christ, that you withdraw yourselves from every brother walking disorderly, and not
according to the tradition which they have received of us.
QUESTION: Doesn't the Bible contain all of the 'tradition' of Jesus?
ANSWER: The Bible was not organized formally until the Council of Carthage (AD 400),
determining which books truly were inspired. There was a larger body of writings and
oral traditions also recognized and accepted by the Church, often called Church
'tradition.' Just as the Old Testament had the Jewish Mishah (a larger work of Rabbis
who interpreted the Law), Christians had 'Tradition' which also revealed the correct
application of Christ's teachings.
The Old Testament writings ('Scripture' in this day and time) and oral/written teacings
of the Church (14) are given equal status and value:
1 Timothy 3:14 But continue thou in those things which thou hast learned, and which
have been committed to thee: knowing of whom thou hast learned them;
15 And because from thy infancy thou hast known the holy scriptures, which can instruct
thee to salvation, by the faith which is in Christ Jesus.
16 All scripture, inspired of God, is profitable to teach, to reprove, to correct, to
instruct in justice,
17 That the man of God may be perfect, furnished to every good work.
2 Timothy 2:2 And the things which thou hast heard of me by many witnesses, the same
commend to faithful men, who shall be fit to teach others also.
QUESTION: Isn't Paul referring to those teachings written in the New Testament canon?
ANSWER: At the writing of 2 Timothy, all of the Canon hadn't been written, not
organized, nor distributed to all of the individual local Churches. Thus, oral
teachings were regarded as authoritative.
Not everything that Jesus did or taught was written in the New Testament Scriptures:
John 21:25 But there are also many other things which Jesus did; which, if they were
written every one, the world itself, I think, would not be able to contain the books
that should be written.
Jesus continued to teach the disciples after the Resurrection and before the Ascension:
Luke 24:45 Then he opened their understanding, that they might understand the
scriptures.
Acts 1:3 To whom also he shewed himself alive after his passion, by many proofs, for
forty days appearing to them, and speaking of the kingdom of God.
QUESTION: Wouldn't this have been a review of His previous teachings?
ANSWER: There is no written record of the forty days of teaching of Jesus, yet that
would have been shared with the Church through oral teaching and would have been
valuable since the disciples had full 'understanding' of the meanings.
The Old Testament is called 'Scripture' with only one correct (not private)
interpretation:
Matthew 22:29 And Jesus answering, said to them: You err, not knowing the Scriptures,
nor the power of God.
Peter calls Paul's teaching 'Scripture' with only one correct interpretation:
2 Peter 3:15 And account the longsuffering of our Lord, salvation; as also our most
dear brother Paul, according to the wisdom given him, hath written to you:
16 As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are certain
things hard to be understood, which the unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also
the other scriptures, to their own destruction.
Peter declares that 'private interpretation' of prophecy is unacceptable:
2 Peter 1:20 Understanding this first, that no prophecy of scripture is made by
private interpretation.
21 For prophecy came not by the will of man at any time: but the holy men of God spoke,
inspired by the Holy Ghost.
QUESTION: Doesn't this statement apply to the origin (the prophet) of the prophecy, and
not to the understanding of it?
ANSWER: Since there is one specific meaning to the prophecy, the actual giving of the
prophecy and accompanying correct interpretation are both essential since removing
either element would render the prophecy useless.
Jesus promises divine guidance to the Apostles in their future teaching:
John 14:26 But the Paraclete, the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name,
he will teach you all things, and bring all things to your mind, whatsoever I shall
have said to you.
John 16:13 But when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will teach you all truth. For
he shall not speak of himself; but what things soever he shall hear, he shall speak;
and the things that are to come, he shall shew you.
QUESTION: Isn't this divine guidance given to all believers?
ANSWER: Not to the degree to which it was given to the Apostles, and only to the degree
that Christians agree with the Apostles' teachings:
Acts 2:42 42 And they were persevering in the doctrine of the apostles, and in the
communication of the breaking of bread, and in prayers.
CONCLUSIONS:
1. There must be a consistent, non-contradictory doctrine of faith traceable back to
Christ, through the Apostles and early Church Fathers.
2. If the Church Fathers up to AD 400 may be trusted to compile the New Testament and
judge which books were truly inspired, then we should be able to trust the majority of
their other writings using consistency as a guide for orthdoxy.
3. The writings and practices of the Church through the Council of Carthage reflect
the doctrine and practices of the Roman Catholic Church.
4. Therefore, the Roman Catholic Church is the true Church of Christ.
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