We received an email questioning the authority of scripture. Sounds a lot like Gen 3:1, doesn’t it? The author of the email believes that tradition is of equal authority with scripture. Here was our reply to his email:

You read into the verses that you select things that are not even there. You said, "Scripture mandates the use of tradition." But you would have to be referring to what Paul said in 2 Thessalonians for that. And there he makes it plain in the context what traditions he’s talking about (things like working to feed yourself as opposed to being a freeloading busybody mooching off the congregation [2 Thes 2:15; 3:6-14]).

Now you would think that if the traditions Paul was talking about in 2 Thes were any of the traditions you are referring to, perhaps one or two of them would somehow show up in at least one of Paul’s epistles. But they don’t.

Paul never once, anywhere in his epistles, mentions anything about prayers for the dead, making the sign of the cross, use of images, the exaltation of Mary, priests (as a clergy), extreme unction, purgatory, prayers to Mary, popes, holy water, cardinals, canonization of dead saints, lent, celibacy (except in a negative sense as the doctrine of devils), the rosary, killing believers (except in a negative sense), the sale of indulgences, the sacraments, transubstantiation, auricular confession, adoration of the wafer, the scapular, immaculate conception, assumption of Mary, or Mary as the mother of the Church or as the mother of God.

Do you know why? It’s because these are the traditions of men warned against in Col 2:8. Tradition is mentioned 13 times in the Bible, and 11 times it is in a negative context. Specifically, Paul says, "Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ," (Col 2:8).

Of course, you believe that the church has the authority to establish these traditions and, therefore, that tradition is of equal authority with scripture (declared by the Council of Trent in 1546).

But Jesus rejected tradition outright. Catholic Church tradition is used by the Catholic Church in the same way that the Pharisees used tradition in Mk 7, and with the same results. Jesus said, "Howbeit in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men" (v.7); "laying aside the commandment of God, ye hold the tradition of men" (v.8); "Full well ye reject the commandment of God, that ye may keep your own tradition" (v.9); and "making the word of God of none effect through your tradition" (v. 13).

Jesus always spoke against tradition but never against the scriptures. When Jesus revealed himself to the disciples on the road to Emmaus, he "expounded unto them IN ALL THE SCRIPTURES the things concerning himself." (Lk 24:27)

When challenged by the Pharisees, he said, "Search THE SCRIPTURES; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me." (Jn 5:39)

After the Lord’s ministry, the scriptures, not tradition in the Catholic sense, were what the people believed. When the Bereans wanted to "check out" Paul's preaching, they "searched THE SCRIPTURES daily, whether those things were so." (Acts 17:11)

When Apollos preached Jesus, he showed the people "by the scriptures that Jesus was Christ." (Acts 18:28)

When Philip dealt with the Ethiopian eunuch, he "opened his mouth, and began at the same scripture, and preached unto him Jesus." (Acts 8:35)

You stated that there are other sayings and writings that were referred to by the apostles. True enough, but every time something is referred to in the Bible that was not written (i.e., Acts 17:28), it is NEVER used to contradict, subtract from or add to scripture. Yet in the Catholic Church, tradition commonly does all three of these based on its own authority. Just look:

Catholic Church tradition demands that its priests be called Father absolutely contrary to the command of Jesus in Matt 23:9.

Catholic Church tradition teaches that Mary was a perpetual virgin absolutely contrary to Mk 6:3, Jn 2:17 and Ps 69:8-9.

Catholic Church tradition allows for images and genuflection before those images upon being seated in the church absolutely contrary to Ex 20:4-5 and multitudes of scriptures showing the results of using images as "aids to worship."

Catholic Church tradition teaches the use of the rosary which is absolute confusion when compared to Matt 6:7.

Catholic Church tradition teaches transubstantiation, and therefore the consumption of literal blood, in absolute contradiction of Gen 9:4, Lev 17:10 and Acts 15:20.

And on and on this list goes.

If I were inclined to uphold tradition, upon seeing these verses, I would reject it full scale - and so I have. I was in St. Anthony's Seminary in San Antonio, in 1968, studying to become a priest. In the entire year of schooling we never ONCE opened a Bible. Not one time!! You know why? The reason that we didn’t open a Bible is that the Bible is less important in the practice of Roman Catholicism than the tradition that contradicts it. Just ask a Roman Catholic how many times he has read through the Bible cover to cover.

The Bible says that all scripture is given by inspiration of God and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: that the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works - 2 Tim 3:16-17. In the seminary they were trying to furnish us unto all good works and yet they never once opened a Bible??!! Who are you trying to kid??

You said, "It is through the teaching authority and Apostolic Tradition (2 Thess. 2:15; 3:6; 1 Cor. 11:2) of this Church [referring to the Roman Catholic Church], who is guided by the Holy Spirit (John 14:16,26; 16:13), that we know of the divine inspiration of the Scriptures, and the manifold wisdom of God. (cf. Ephesians 3:10)." But aren’t you forgetting something?

In all of your reference to history, why have you never spoken of the Bible being on the forbidden book list in the Catholic Church (Council of Valencia 1229)? Isn't that weird considering that Jesus himself said "Man shall not live by bread alone, but by EVERY WORD that proceedeth out of the mouth of God" (Matt 4:4). So, the Catholic Church cut off the people from their very source of life!!

You recite the parts of history and tradition that make the Catholic Church look good in the sight of men. But where are your comments regarding the millions of Christians martyred by the Catholic Church (Inquisition instituted by the Council of Verona 1184) because they wouldn't submit to the tradition? This is not the work of Christians; this is the work of devils!!

You use the Bible to prove what you already believe. You don't believe the Bible. Thus, you will write me to justify what you believe or to argue against what you don't believe. But that is a waste of time. The Bible is to be believed (Lk 24:25) not used by unbelievers to justify their sins (Lk 16:15-17).

Hope this helps,

Pastor Welder