Traditions

" So then, brethren, stand firm and hold to the traditions which you were taught, whether by word of mouth or by letter from us." (2 Thessalonians 2:15 NAS)

The word "traditions" is used in 2 Thessalonians 2:15 to refer to the teachings of Paul and the other apostles (1 Corinthians 11:2, 23, 15:1-11) specifically referring to their oral teachings and the letters of Peter, Paul and the other apostles. The letters would eventually make up much of the New Testament. There is no mention of successors of the apostles or a magisterium or ruling court of the church in the future. Roman Catholics might claim that Protestants have a problem with maintaining sola scriptura because it was the Catholic Church who gave the canon of our New Testament (officially recognized in the Fourth Century). Therefore, it follows that the New Testament gets its authority and origin from the Church. However in context, where 1 Corinthians and 1 Thessalonians mention "traditions," these traditions are the oral and written words of the apostles. There is nothing here suggesting that the authority continues from the apostles to those that follow. Even early church fathers regularly quote as authoritative from the words of the apostles and the words of Jesus in the gospels at the same time, or before the church was even formed (cf. Justin Martyr First Apology 33, 34, 36, 38)!

A Case for Sola Scriptura

Sola Scriptura is the understanding that the Scriptures (66 books of the Old and New Testaments) are the supreme or final authority in matters of faith and practice. As the final authority, only the Scriptures are infallible. This is not to say that there are no other authorities to guide the life of the believer, but that only Scripture is the ultimate authority. Teachers, pastors, church fathers and even tradition are authoritative, but Scripture trumps them all.

Roman Catholics believe that Scripture, Tradition and the interpretive power of the Magisterium are equally authoritative. In practice, Scripture can offer support, but the Church is supreme. They come by this through Matthew 16:13-19 and Matthew 18:18-20. In the Matthew 16 passage Jesus asks his disciples to clarify who they think He is, Simon says that Jesus is the Christ (Messiah) the Son of God. At this, Jesus changes Simon’s name to Peter, meaning “rock” and tells all present that upon this “Rock” (petra) I will build my church. The name of Peter (petros) is a different word for rock than that upon which the Church will be built.

Most Protestants believe this is indicative that Jesus is referring to the confession of Peter as the foundation of the Church, not Peter himself. In 1 Corinthians 10:4, Jesus is referred to as rock (petra) clarifying what Jesus meant in Matthew 16. Jesus is called the only foundation for the church and all that is built upon it. However, to Peter Jesus gives the keys to the Kingdom of Heaven and the power of binding and loosing (singular). In Matthew 18, the binding and loosing (plural) is given to all the disciples. Rather than singling Peter out as the first Pope, which in the early centuries, the church also did not accept, Jesus was commending the confession of the one who was bold!

Which is supreme: the Church or the Scripture? For Roman Catholics, the Church has the final authority as demonstrated in Matthew 16 and 18. Jesus gives authority to the apostles before there is any New Testament Scripture. However, the Scripture the early church had was the Old Testament which Jesus had called Scripture (Mark 12:24; Matthew 21:42) and the words of the Apostles and Jesus Himself as recorded in the gospels. Paul referred to the Old Testament as authoritative (Romans 15:4) and, interestingly, Peter referred to the teachings of Paul, written and oral, as Scripture on par with his words and the words of the Old Testament (2 Peter 3:15-16). Certainly, the New Testament did not take shape until later, but it should be clear that the apostles took their authority from the words of Jesus, the Old Testament, and the words of the Apostles even as the church was beginning. The Church did not produce the New Testament. The New Testament in oral and written form (letters) was already there.

Pray: "Lord, help us to give an answer to everyone who might disagree with us, but to do so with gentleness and respect. Amen"