WHY SCRIPTURE AND TRADITION?
Catholics hold that Scripture and apostolic Tradition transmit the one deposit of faith, served by the bishops' teaching office in communion with the pope.
Historical context
Catholic teaching distinguishes apostolic Tradition from local customs and describes Scripture and Tradition as closely joined in transmitting revelation. The teaching office serves and interprets that deposit; its precise authority is a developed ecclesial doctrine.
Avoid overclaiming
Catholic doctrine does not place the Magisterium above God's word: Dei Verbum says it serves that word. Nor does 'Tradition' mean that every historical custom is an unchangeable apostolic doctrine.
Strongest alternative reading
Orthodox Christians also locate Scripture within received Tradition, but dispute the Catholic account of a universal papal teaching office. Classical Protestants distinguish apostolic oral teaching from later tradition and treat Scripture as the final test of councils and confessions.
Key points
- Apostolic preaching
- inspired books
- living transmission
- the Church's teaching office
Common questions
- How is an apostolic tradition distinguished from a later custom?
- What authority does this church claim for identifying and interpreting the deposit of faith?
Scripture
- 2 Thessalonians 2:13-17
- 2 Timothy 3:14-17
- Acts 15:6-29
- Mark 7:1-13
- Deuteronomy 6:4-9; 2 Timothy 1:13-14; 2:1-2 — Israel teaches the covenant in daily life; Timothy is to guard received teaching and entrust it to reliable teachers.
- 1 Corinthians 15:1-8; 2 Thessalonians 2:15 — Paul identifies the gospel he received and delivered, and tells the Thessalonians to hold teaching received by word or letter.
- Mark 7:6-13; Acts 17:10-12; 2 Timothy 3:14-17 — Jesus condemns traditions that nullify God's command; the Bereans examine the Scriptures; Timothy learns Scripture within an inherited life of faith.
Primary sources
Dei Verbum §10 states:
Vatican II's Dei Verbum calls Scripture and Tradition 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.
Irenaeus appeals to publicly accessible apostolic churches in a dispute over allegedly secret teaching.
should we not have recourse to the most ancient Churches with which the apostles held constant intercourse
Passage context and translation
Irenaeus describes the apostolic churches as public witnesses when doctrinal disputes arise.
Before the excerpt
Suppose there arise a dispute relative to some important question among us,
After the excerpt
and learn from them what is certain and clear in regard to the present question?
Cyril requires scriptural demonstration even from the catechist teaching the baptismal faith.
For concerning the divine and holy mysteries of the Faith, not even a casual statement must be delivered without the Holy Scriptures
Passage context and translation
Cyril summarizes the baptismal faith and promises scriptural demonstration. In the same paragraph he tells his hearers not to give even his own teaching absolute credence without such demonstration. He is not writing a Reformation confession or rejecting the Church's received creed.
After the excerpt
nor must we be drawn aside by mere plausibility and artifices of speech.
Basil defends written teaching and received unwritten practices while explaining his doxology concerning the Spirit.
Of the beliefs and practices whether generally accepted or publicly enjoined which are preserved in the Church some we possess derived from written teaching; others we have received delivered to us in a mystery by the tradition of the apostles
Passage context and translation
Sections 65-67 defend the doxological wording 'with the Spirit' and discuss inherited worship. Basil's examples include the sign of the cross, eastward prayer, and baptismal and eucharistic practices. These are his claims about received apostolic practice, not independent first-century documentation of each example.
Before the excerpt
It remains for me to trace the origin of the word with; to explain what force it has, and to show that it is in harmony with Scripture.
After the excerpt
and both of these in relation to true religion have the same force.