Tradition Or Scripture

Sacred Scripture is the very word of God and it conveys to us God’s truths. However, there is another way that God has used to reveal to us His Holy Truths – Tradition. Sadly, there are many people who try to live by only relying on the Sacred Scriptures. They are like men who live on bread alone and die because they do not also have water. Therefore, let us take a moment and prove why both Tradition and Scripture are necessary for our faith.

Firstly, anyone who studies the Gospels will quickly realize that they contain only a summary of Christ’s life. At the end of Saint John the Evangelist’s Gospel, John says that “There are many other things which Jesus did, which if they were written every one, the world itself, I think, would not be able to contain all the books written.” Every day, Jesus gave lengthy lectures to packed crowds. It is very foolish, indeed, to believe that all four of the Gospels contain everything Jesus did and said. During the forty days after Christ’s resurrection, he gave his Apostles very important information on His government and administration. This information could have been about His earthly kingdom, His heavenly kingdom, or both. This information was obviously very important, however, we barely find anything on this subject. Therefore, it is evident that Christ willed many things to be believed, even if they were never committed to writing.

Second, in one of Saint Paul’s letters to the Thessalonians, he persuades them to keep their faith and the traditions which they have received by word of mouth or by the letters which they have received. In another letter, Paul congratulates the Corinthians for having kept the traditions that he had given them. Finally, In several of Paul’s other writings, it is evident that he had given them traditions that were not in writing. Paul’s letters further prove that Sacred Tradition is necessary in addition to the Bible.

Finally, those who viciously reject Tradition and put all their faith in the Bible are ironically forced to rely on tradition. They attest that these Sacred Books are the sole rule for Faith and that they are absolutely correct and divinely inspired. Ask yourself how they know this. For there are numerous books that claim to be the Gospel. Two examples of this are the Gospels of Saint Thomas and Saint Bartholomew. These two books were excluded from the Canon because they were found to have no title to inspiration. Why were some books admitted to the Gospel and why were others not? The Bible is a cornerstone of our faith; it is known and held to be true by us only by the Tradition of the Catholic Church. The Bible can only be held as true and reliable if, and only if one believes Sacred Tradition.

In sum, we are able to state with uncertainly that both the Bible and Sacred Tradition teach reliable aspects of our faith.

Adapted from Lectures for Boys by Rev. Francis Cuthbert Doyle. O.S.B.