Scripture, tradition, and church authority
Catholic teaching understands Scripture and Tradition as one sacred deposit of faith interpreted authentically by the Church's teaching office, with bishops in communion with the pope.
Historical context
All three traditions receive the biblical witness, but they differ over the authority of later tradition, councils, episcopal succession, and teaching offices.
Scripture
- 2 Timothy 3:16–17 — The letter describes Scripture as God-breathed and useful for teaching, correction, and training.
- 2 Thessalonians 2:15 — Paul urges the community to hold to the teachings handed on to it, whether spoken or written.
- Acts 15:1–29 — The Jerusalem assembly debates Gentile inclusion, hears witnesses, and sends a communal decision by letter.
Primary sources
Dei Verbum §10 states:
Vatican II's Dei Verbum describes Scripture and Tradition as one deposit of God's word.
Sacred tradition and Sacred Scripture form one sacred deposit of the word of God
Passage context and translation
A Catholic conciliar formulation of revelation's transmission, not a quotation from the New Testament.
After the excerpt
committed to the Church.
Sources and further reading
Related records
- The Church and the Pope
- Councils and Teaching
- Catholic understanding of episcopal continuity
- Scripture, public reading, and the canon
- Ministry and succession in early sources
- What is Catholicism?
- Scripture and Tradition
- WHY COMMUNION WITH ROME?
- WHY SCRIPTURE AND TRADITION?
- WHY A UNIVERSAL CHURCH?
- Canons and Pastoral Discipline
- Church and Unity
- Donatism
- The saints, their memory, and intercession
- Holy Orders and Church Ministry
- Rome
- Trent
- Scripture, Tradition, and Magisterium