Tradition vs Scripture?

Question

I agree that the Word of God was passed down through Scripture and Oral Tradition. However, Biblically, Oral Tradition NEVER Contradicted Scripture, and vise versa. Whenever Jesus wanted to correct the Jews' tradition, he ALWAYS used Scripture, and so did his disciples. Clearly, we are not to teach ANYTHING that was not originally Taught by Jesus and his Disciples.

If Jesus and his Disciples used Scripture to Test and Correct Tradition (Oral or Written), why is that we have absolutely no problem with accepting some traditions that have absolutely no basis in scripture?

Also, why do we give more credence to the student rather than to the teacher? It seems like we accept the tradition of a church father even when there is no evidence the Apostles themselves ever accepted or taught that particular tradition.

Ludwig Ott, who's writings are used to teach Catholic priests, even admitted that the Immaculate Conception and the Perpetual Virginity of Mary is not in scripture.

Answer 1

EVERY Christian and Jew has traditions and these traditions are all based on scripture. It's just a matter of picking the scripture. What is the chief activity of a yeshiva? Arguing about scripture! Why are there so many Protestant denominations? Disagreements about interpreting scripture! If scripture is so unambiguous, what is the fighting all about? And the traditions that can't be directly found in scripture are always logical extrapolations from what IS in scripture. It's just a matter of how hard one cares to think about the theological ramifications of a passage.

People who interpret scripture are the teaching "students" you complain about, but if they didn't do it, a good deal of the scriptures would be incomprehensible and self-contradictory. One either looks in scripture and decides what it means for one's life or one decides what one wants to do and looks for scripture passages to justify it. Both ways "work" on some level and they are often hard to tell apart.

Answer 2

Tell me where the Bible says that the Bible is the only authority for a Christian. Where does the Bible say we must use “Biblical authority” alone?

Since "Jesus and His disciples" did not have any New Testament Canon whatsoever...my God, how in the world did the Church get started and grow???

The Church (i.e., what you are calling "tradition" but what St. Paul calls "the Body of Christ") canonized Scripture.

No Church - No Bible - NOT the other way around!!

Or, are you trying to say that Paul, Mark, Barnabas and Luke ran around on missionary journeys with a Red Letter Edition KJV (Bonded Leather) in their knapsacks??

Answer 3

Sola Scriptura is a man made concept that is not found in the Bible.

But if I should be delayed, you should know how to behave in the household of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and foundation of truth. - 1 Tim 3: 15

The Church is the pillar and foundation of the truth, not the bible. The Bible was put together by the Church from inspired documents.

Answer 4

Traditions of men are strictly prohibited by the Bible.

Mark 7:7 Howbeit in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.

Mark 7:8 For laying aside the commandment of God, ye hold the tradition of men, as the washing of pots and cups: and many other such like things ye do.

Answer 5

scripture is greater than custom and claimed so by using Isaiah and Jesus apparently Catholic theologians will each and every now and then attempt and say scriptures have purely the authority that the church bestows on the scriptures..... yet frankly... it incredibly is a serious mistake and inconsistent with the scriptures. The scriptures and God words are foundational and authoritative

Answer 6

I believe that Jesus answered that one in Mark 7

6 He replied, "Isaiah was right when he prophesied about you hypocrites; as it is written:
" 'These people honor me with their lips,
but their hearts are far from me.
7 They worship me in vain;
their teachings are but rules taught by men.'

8 You have let go of the commands of God and are holding on to the traditions of men."

9 And he said to them: "You have a fine way of setting aside the commands of God in order to observe your own traditions!

Answer 7

You are perfectly correct. The problem is we are human and not perfect. It is easier to accept and follow a tradition than to speak out against it and do what is scripturally based. I'm a Christian that doesn't celebrate traditional Christian holidays because they are based on secular beliefs.

Answer 8

sola scriptura. we must never forget that the bible is the vehicle of the Word of God.

Answer 9

Exactly what traditions are those you mention? you need to be more specific if we are to answer you.

Answer 10

You are quite correct!