When some non-Catholic Christians say "Catholics should keep the Word of God not there Traditions"?

Question

Do you realize that what we say is "Apostolic Tradition" is actually two forms of Tradition, Oral Tradition, and Written Tradition (the Bible) which we believe has been passed down to us from the Apostles, and we recognize booth as the Word of God. Oral Tradition has always been held in the same rank as written tradition as seen in the writings of John Chrysostom:

"[Paul commands,] ‘Therefore, brethren, stand fast and hold the traditions which you have been taught, whether by word or by our letter’ [2 Thess. 2:15]. From this it is clear that they did not hand down everything by letter, but there is much also that was not written. Like that which was written, the unwritten too is worthy of belief. So let us regard the tradition of the Church also as worthy of belief. Is it a tradition? Seek no further" (Homilies on Second Thessalonians [A.D. 402]).

These things that we call Tradition aren't just made up things, do you get what I'm say? Because it really seems like you all don't

understand that there is a difference between "Apostolic Tradition" and Man-made tradition

their Traditions*

Answer 1

If Catholics could give up praying to sinners I would be satisfied

Answer 2

Apostolic tradition is what the New Testament is a crystallization of in part.Jesus condemned using mere human traditions and customs to break the commandments and Tradition of God(Matt15:3& Mark7:9)
.
St Paul in Coll2:8 warns the faithful against replacing Apostolic Tradition and Jesus teaching from it( remember there is almost no written portions of the NT at that timewith mere human traditions and ways of thinking.In 1 Cor11:2 instead of telling believers just to turn to the Bible(the Old Testament which was not yet a volume between 2 covers but disputed collections of scrolls)but to follow Apostolic Tradition(paradosis,that which is orally handed down).

In 2 Thess2:15 Paul orders the church to keep or hold fast to the tradition and in 2 Thess3:6 to avoid the teachings of those who do not follow the Tradition.

There would be no Bible without tradition(Mosaic and Apostolic) and the proper context of interpreting Scripture is in the Tradition by the authoritative Church,the Catholic Church, the Mother(and often grandmother and great-grandmother) of all the Churches.

Answer 3

I have much more to tell you, but you cannot bear it now. But when he comes, the Spirit of truth, he will guide you to all truth. He will not speak on his own, but he will speak what he hears, and will declare to you the things that are coming. (John 16:12-13)

The Catholic Church does not use Holy Scripture as the only basis of doctrine. It could not. The early Catholic church existed before and during the time that the New Testament was written (by Catholics).

There were hundreds of Christian writings during the first and second centuries. Which New Testament writings would become official was not fully decided until about 400 AD.

Catholics believe that the Holy Spirit was guiding the early church (and is guiding the church today) to make the correct choices about things like:
+ The Holy Trinity (which is also only hinted at in the Bible)
+ Going to church on Sunday instead of Saturday (which is actually directly against one of the Ten Commandments)
+ The Communion of Saints
+ Which writings include in the New Testament?

Things that are even more modern like
+ Slavery is bad. Slavery is never declared evil in the Bible. This was one of the justifications for slavery in the Confederate States.
+ Democracy is good. The Bible states that either God should be the leader of the nation like Israel before the kings or kings should be the leader, "Give to Caesar that which is Caesar's." This was talked about a lot during the American Revolution.

This second source of doctrine is called Apostolic Tradition.

Do Christians who do not allow the continuing guiding force of the Holy Spirit to make their beliefs more and more perfect, still endorse slavery as Colossians 3:22 commands, "Slaves, obey your human masters in everything"?

Therefore, brothers, stand firm and hold fast to the traditions that you were taught, either by an oral statement or by a letter of ours. (2 Thessalonians 2:15)

We instruct you, brothers, in the name of (our) Lord Jesus Christ,to shun any brother who conducts himself in a disorderly way and not according to the tradition they received from us. (2 Thessalonians 3:6)

I praise you because you remember me in everything and hold fast to the traditions, just as I handed them on to you. (1 Corinthians 11:2)

With love in Christ.

Answer 4

The early Christians preserved this Sacred Oral Tradition and passed it down to us. Let us not forget that there was no Bible, as we know it today, until after the Council of Nice in 3rd century.

"When, therefore, we have such proofs, it is not necessary to seek among others the truth which is easily obtained from the Church. For the apostles, like a rich man in a bank, deposited with her most copiously everything, which pertains to the truth; and everyone whosoever, wishes draws from her the drink of life. For she is the entrance of life, while all the rest are thieves and robbers. That is why it is surely necessary to avoid them, while cherishing with utmost diligence the things pertaining to the Church, and to lay hold of the tradition of truth. What then? If there should be a dispute over some kind of question, ought we not have recourse to the most ancient churches in which the apostles were familiar, and draw from them what is clear and certain in regard to that question? What if the apostles had not in fact left writings to us? Would it not be necessary to follow the order of tradition, which was handed down to those to whom they entrusted the Churches? (Against Heresies 3.4.1 [ca. A.D. 180])

Peace and every blessing!

Answer 5

Jesus warned us not to follow the traditions of man which would be presented as the doctrines of the church. Unfortunately, many of the traditions of the Catholic church were adopted from pagan traditions. Let me give you a few examples: praying to the dead (Paul, Mary, Peter...all dead); praying the rosary, the Bible never mentions prayer beads but they were first used by pagans; the use of relics (idols) for the purpose of worship; worshiping on the first day of the week, Sunday, was a pagan tradition before it was adopted by the Catholic church. None of the things that I cited were traditions of the apostles. Let me list a few more things that are man made traditions: purgatory, the eucarist, priestly forgiveness, the confessional box, penance, and the list goes on....

Before accepting any tradition, weigh it with the Bible and the test that is found in Isaiah 8:20 "To the law and to the testimony, if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them." If anything does not agree with what is taught in the Bible, it should be rejected as falsehood.

Answer 6

Catholics Should Seek To Be Born Again.
Traditions Have No Meaning In The Eyes Of The Lord.
Praise The Lord

Answer 7

Jesus condemned the traditions that the Pharisees kept that worked against the law of Moses. Fundamentalists misread this to say that Jesus condemned ALL oral tradition.

Sacred Tradition and Sacred Scripture do not contradict each other. If Sacred Tradition appears to contradict Scripture, you can be pretty sure that a misunderstanding of either Tradition or Scxripture is taking place.

Answer 8

Many people, including catholics confuse what "traditions" means for us. Simply put "tradition" from latin "tradire" means to hand down, to hand through. What has been been handed down? Not only the True faith in Jesus but His authority as well: Jesus while still living gave that authority to St peter, and before His ascension into Heaven gave all the apostles the divine commsion, and the Holy Spirt to forgive sins. His apostles, went out preaching, founding (establishing) churches, named Bishops, these bishops died and appointed succesors, these bishops ordained priests to dispense the sacraments, all the way until today. This authority when excersised in deciding matters of faith is called the "divine magisterium".
Is interesting that you are putting forth this question today, the feast of St peter and St Paul.

Answer 9

No they will continue to bash the Catholic Church (and bash Jesus Christ because the Catholic Church is His true church)which has been in existance since 33AD in order to try and justify their religion. Which if they realized is broken off from the Catholic Church and if not for the Catholic Church they would not even have a bible.

Answer 10

Jesus was pretty clear in Mark chapter 7 that you should not over ride God's written word with man made traditions.

All Roman Catholic oral traditions are man made traditions.

So are all Baptist oral traditions.

Remember that in October 1999, Pope John Paul, II apologized to Martin Luther.

Pastor Art

Answer 11

The Apostolic Fathers always appealed to the Scriptures, not to tradition.
Also, there are many traditions in the Roman Catholic Church that actually contradict what's revealed in Scripture.