Scripture and Tradition
One well or two streams? How the written word and the handed-down faith hold authority
This concerns the relationship between written Scripture and the Church's transmitted teaching (paradosis) as sources of authority. Early witnesses like Irenaeus and Basil appealed to both, and the question became a defining divide at the Reformation. Catholics and Orthodox hold Scripture and Tradition together as inseparable, while Protestants assert sola scriptura, that Scripture alone is the final authority. The Council of Trent and Reformation debates sharpened this difference.
How it traveled
- 1 CorinthiansEphesus · 67explains
- Against Heresies: Book IIILyons · 202explains
- The Prescription Against Heretics.— · 220explains
- The Chaplet, or De Corona.— · 220explains
- The Church History of EusebiusCaesarea · 339explains
- De Spiritu SanctoCaesarea (Cappadocia) · 379explains
- A Commentary on the Acts of the ApostlesConstantinople (Istanbul) · 407explains
- The Homilies of St. John ChrysostomConstantinople (Istanbul) · 407explains
- The Homilies of St. John Chrysostom on Philippians, Colossians, and ThessaloniansConstantinople (Istanbul) · 407explains
- The Homilies of St. John Chrysostom on Paul's Epistle to the RomansConstantinople (Istanbul) · 407explains
- Homilies on First CorinthiansConstantinople (Istanbul) · 407explains
- The Homilies of St. John Chrysostom on the Gospel of St. JohnConstantinople (Istanbul) · 407explains
- The Apology of Rufinus. Addressed to Apronianus, in Reply to Jerome's Letter to PammachiusAquileia · 411applies
- The Letters of St. JeromeBethlehem · 420explains
- Reply to Faustus the ManichæanHippo Regius · 430explains
- On Christian DoctrineHippo Regius · 430explains
- The ConfessionsHippo Regius · 430explains
- Letters of St. AugustinHippo Regius · 430explains
- City of GodHippo Regius · 430explains
- On the Morals of the Catholic ChurchHippo Regius · 430explains
- On the Profit of BelievingHippo Regius · 430explains
- A Treatise on Nature and GraceHippo Regius · 430explains
- The Commonitory of Vincent of Lérins, For the Antiquity and Universality of the Catholic Faith Against the Profane Novelties of All HeresiesLérins · 445explains
- John of Damascus: Exposition of the Orthodox FaithDamascus · 749explains
- ExordiumWittenberg · 1546explains
- Discussion: Second PartWittenberg · 1546applies
- Commentary on GalatiansWittenberg · 1546applies
- Erasmus’ ScepticismWittenberg · 1546challenges
- The Sovereignty of GodWittenberg · 1546challenges
- Book First. of the Knowledge of God the CreatorGeneva · 1564explains
- Book Fourth. of the Holy Catholic ChurchGeneva · 1564explains
- Book Third. the Mode of Obtaining the Grace of Christ. the Benefits It Confers, and the Effects Resulting from ItGeneva · 1564explains
- Prefatory MaterialGeneva · 1564explains
- A Treatise Concerning Religious Affections, in Three PartsNorthampton, Massachusetts · 1758explains
- A History of the Work of RedemptionNorthampton, Massachusetts · 1758explains
- Thoughts on the Revival of Religion in New EnglandNorthampton, Massachusetts · 1758applies
Key passages(20)
Bible, Church, Tradition: An Eastern Orthodox View · Georges Florovsky
Tradition and Traditions · Yves Congar
So then, brothers, stand firm, and hold the traditions which you were taught by us, whether by word, or by letter.
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Against Heresies: Book III · Irenaeus of Lyons
1. When, however, they are confuted from the Scriptures, they turn round and accuse these same Scriptures, as if they were not correct, nor of authority, and [assert] that they are ambiguous, and that
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Book First. of the Knowledge of God the Creator · John Calvin
ALL THE PRINCIPLES OF PIETY SUBVERTED BY FANATICS, WHO SUBSTITUTE REVELATIONS FOR SCRIPTURE. Sections. 1. The temper and error of the Libertines, who take to themselves the name of spiritual, briefl
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Book Fourth. of the Holy Catholic Church · John Calvin
17. I understand what their answer will be—viz. that these traditions are not from themselves, but from God. For to prevent the Church from erring, it is guided by the Holy Spirit, whose authority res
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Book Fourth. of the Holy Catholic Church · John Calvin
18. For this reason we freely inveigh against that tyranny of human traditions which is haughtily obtruded upon us in the name of the Church. Nor do we hold the Church in derision (as our adversaries,
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The Commonitory of Vincent of Lérins, For the Antiquity and Universality of the Catholic Faith Against the Profane Novelties of All Heresies · Vincent of Lérins
A General Rule for distinguishing the Truth of the Catholic Faith from the Falsehood of Heretical Pravity. [4.] I have often then inquired earnestly and attentively of very many men eminent for sanct
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The Commonitory of Vincent of Lérins, For the Antiquity and Universality of the Catholic Faith Against the Profane Novelties of All Heresies · Vincent of Lérins
Recapitulation. [76.] This being the case, it is now time that we should recapitulate, at the close of this second Commonitory, what was said in that and in the preceding. We said above, that it has
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Book Fourth. of the Holy Catholic Church · John Calvin
7. But there is one memorable example which may suffice for all. In the council which the priests and Pharisees assembled at Jerusalem against Christ (John 11:47), what is wanting, in so far as extern
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Sect. XXXVI. NOW let us come to the New Testament. Paul saith, (Rom. i. 2,) that the Gospel was promised “by the Prophets in the Holy Scriptures.” And, (Rom. iii. 21,) that the righteousness of faith
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The Commonitory of Vincent of Lérins, For the Antiquity and Universality of the Catholic Faith Against the Profane Novelties of All Heresies · Vincent of Lérins
What Rule is to be observed in the Interpretation of Scripture. [70.] But it will be said, If the words, the sentiments, the promises of Scripture, are appealed to by the Devil and his disciples, of
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Now I praise you, brothers, that you remember me in all things, and hold firm the traditions, even as I delivered them to you.
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A Commentary on the Acts of the Apostles · John Chrysostom
Say, what are the Scriptures for? For as much as in you lies, it is all undone. What is Is. xxx. 10), we read, they said of old to the Prophets: but ye do worse, saying, Speak:1 Tim. iv. 13.) For it i
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A Treatise on Nature and Grace · Augustine of Hippo
Chapter 15 [XIV.]—Not Everything [of Doctrinal Truth] is Written in Scripture in So Many Words. That, too, which is said to him, “that it is nowhere written in so many words, A man can be without sin
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Against Heresies: Book III · Irenaeus of Lyons
1. It is within the power of all, therefore, in every Church, who may wish to see the truth, to contemplate clearly the tradition of the apostles manifested throughout the whole world; and we are in a
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Against Heresies: Book III · Irenaeus of Lyons
1. Since, therefore, the tradition from the apostles does thus exist in the Church, and is permanent among us, let us revert to the Scriptural proof furnished by those apostles who did also write the
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Book Fourth. of the Holy Catholic Church · John Calvin
13. And that my readers may the better understand the hinge on which the question chiefly turns, I will briefly explain what our opponents demand, and what we resist. When they deny that the Church ca
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De Spiritu Sancto · Basil of Caesarea
Chapter XXVII. Of the origin of the word “with,” and what force it has. Also concerning the unwritten laws of the church. 65. The word “in,” say our opponents, “is exactly appropriate to the Spirit,
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De Spiritu Sancto · Basil of Caesarea
The special point about St. Basil’s use of δόγματα is that he uses the word of doctrines and practices privately and tacitly sanctioned in the Church (like ἀπόρρητα, which is used of the esoteric doct
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Modern teachers who discuss this idea
Modern and living teachers whose books take up Scripture and Tradition. These works are still in copyright, so we can’t show the text here — each links out to the book.
- Yves CongarTradition and Traditions(1960)View on Amazon→
- Georges FlorovskyBible, Church, Tradition: An Eastern Orthodox View(1972)View on Amazon→