The bible isint supposed to be the only source of truth is it. tradition is equal to the bible.
The idea that all revealed truth is to be found in "66 books" is not only not in Scripture, it is contradicted by Scripture
(1 Corinthians 11:2, 2 Thessalonians 2:15, 2 Thessalonians 3:6, 1 Timothy 3:15, 2 Peter 1:20-21, 2 Peter 3:16). It is a concept unheard of in the Old Testament, where the authority of those who sat on the Chair of Moses (Matthew 23:2-3) existed. In addition to this, for 400 years, there was no defined canon of "Sacred Scripture" aside from the Old Testament; there was no "New Testament"; there was only Tradition and non-canonical books and letters.
2007-07-26 07:59:08 · 9 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Our Lord founded a Church (Matthew 16:18-19), not a book, which was to be the pillar and ground of Truth (1 Timothy 3:15). We can know what this Church teaches by looking not only at Sacred Scripture, but into History and by reading what the earliest Christians have written, what those who've sat on the Chair of Peter have spoken consistently with Scripture and Tradition, and what they've solemnly defined. To believe that the Bible is our only source of Christian Truth is unbiblical and illogical.
2007-07-26 07:59:25 · update #1
I would love to hear any response that doesnt say that isint biblical since I have proved them wrong.
2007-07-26 08:00:17 · update #2
lol! yes, they are so obsessed with the Bible even though they don't even know (or maybe refuse to know) who are the people responsible for Its compilation and preservation of it.
2007-07-26 08:03:09 · answer #1 · answered by Perceptive 5 · 3⤊ 1⤋
If you take the time to examine the scriptures you have listed, they all basically urge the Christians of their time to pay attention to two things. The first is the teachings that the apostles gave in person, and the second is the teachings that they wrote in their letters.
Last time I checked, none of the apostle were still around to give teachings "in person". There is only one source for us of their teachings, and that is the book of Acts in the Bible. The Bible also contents the writing of the apostles.
So if I am to accept what those scriptures you listed say, they I must go to the pages of the Bible to find both their traditions (their teachings and actions in the book of Acts) and their writing.
A declaration of a Pope or any other church official has a hard time being covered as a "tradition taught by Paul". (Even if it happens to be one of the Popes by the name).
Jesus did mention those who sat the int Chair of Moses. But I wonder if you have taken the time to read what he said about them? He spoke in Matthew 15 about how the tradition those men had added transgressed the law of Moses, and in Mark 7 about how it caused the word of God to have no effect.
If you take the time to study history, you would know that complete copies of the New Testament already existed as early as 225 AD, and are in museums today. The individual books date back much early, with copies still existing that are less then 30 years removed from the originals. In the case of the Gospel of John, they have a copy placed with 17 years of the original.
It was not until the death sentence was removed in the early 300s for being a Christian that they were able to hold the first official council to official approve the cannon of scripture. but it was in use long before that. Besides, if you actually knew your Catholic history, you would know that the Nicene Council never issued a final list on the cannon of scripture. It would be the 1500s before the Catholic church official approved the list of Bible books.
But when I read through the scriptures, I find no where that it states traditions are "God-breathed" or "profitable for doctrine". That is a claim that is reserved for the written scriptures alone.
2007-07-26 15:25:19 · answer #2 · answered by dewcoons 7 · 0⤊ 3⤋
First off, Christians are not supposed to worship anything other than God...so the term worship the Bible is a little off kilter...I agree with some of your points..However, the books they put in the New Testament seem to be the most consistent with Historical Facts, as well as written within a very short time of Christs death, many people were interviewed and the accounts were pretty much the same. Some of the other books and letters not included were written hundreds and even a thousand years after the Death of Christ which is why they did not include them.
If we continued to follow tradition, then we would possible have one church branch versus 500(not sure of the exact #) different sects, and beliefs. Theoretically we should be following what is written in the Bible as to what the Churches are supposed to be like.. The changes in beliefs have come from traditions instead of following what the Bible says the church is supposed to be like. If we continued to follow old testament tradtions, then we would be sacrificing bulls, sheep, doves etc to attone for our sins.We would also basically be Jewish (I know they don't do the whole animal sacrificing thing now) since they follow the Old Testemant laws. This would be totally unnecessary since as Evangelicals or Christians we believe that Jesus was the attonement for our sins..
Where else would you like for us to get our truth from? Traditions of man...or the Word of God? I personally am going to go with the Word of God...since Jesus is quoted in the New Testament...and I have never met a perfect human being....
Your opinion is very thought provoking, I just don't happen to really agree with all of it.
2007-07-26 15:14:28 · answer #3 · answered by Nicole B 4 · 0⤊ 2⤋
If evangelicals worshiped the Bible, they would have images of it that they prostrated themselves before, and offered incense and prayers to. They don't do that. But in your church tradition, images, incense and prayers are offered to dead people. That's worship. And the Bible condemns all such as idolatry. But your church tradition explains that all away as not really being worship at all; it's just this... and it's just that...
Jesus said about the Scribes and Pharisees, "They worship me in vain; their teachings are but rules taught by men... You have a fine way of setting aside the commands of God in order to observe your own traditions... Thus you nullify the word of God by your tradition that you have handed down" (Mark 7:6-13). Tradition can NEVER be equal to God's word!
And if you knew the Bible as well as you infer, you would know of the many instances where those who have sat on the Chair of Peter have spoken inconsistently with Scripture because of their preference for tradition. Purgatory, Mariolatry, penances and so much more... have come about by twisting the Scriptures - to their own destruction (2 Pet 3:16). I would rather be found guilty of giving God's word too much consideration than not enough.
2007-07-26 15:23:38 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 3⤋
Jesus said "I am the way, the truth and the light.". First we need to know Jesus to know the truth. We need to seek Him constantly to know the way for ourselves. In Him is everything and nothing is missing. Now the Bible I believe reflects the Truth. It is there to help guide us and draw us closer to Jesus. We use it to inspire and also correct. If we have a question God can us this to answer and confirm. The Bible cannot contain everything about God, that will only be reveled when we see Him. He did give us the Bible though to help us through this life.
2007-07-26 15:16:13 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
As a Christian who LOVES the Bible, I will give you my thoughts. I believe the Bible to be the best source of God's truth for us today. I don't think it contains the "whole" truth but instead contains the whole truth we need. There is no other source that I would trust as much as the Bible but there are still many sources that could be included as useful sources of truth. For example, I can see the truth of God's power by looking at the night sky. But that power is confirmed by the Words God provided to me!
Be blessed!
2007-07-26 15:07:20 · answer #6 · answered by Cool Dad 3 · 1⤊ 2⤋
Tradition for the sake of tradition is meaningless. If we do things out of empty duty and not from our hearts it is just a meaningless procedure. Jesus came to set the hypocrites free from their phony traditions and show them that loving God and people from our hearts is what's going to change us.
2007-07-26 15:05:04 · answer #7 · answered by ? 6 · 1⤊ 1⤋
I don't believe that tradition is equal to the Bible.
2007-07-26 15:03:06 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 3⤋
Because they're new or inexperienced souls trying to feel safe by believing in dogmatic absolutes.
2007-07-26 15:11:19 · answer #9 · answered by MysticMaze 6 · 1⤊ 2⤋