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Dialogue on Tradition vs. 

“Scripture Alone”

 

Do Protestants accept “Scripture alone,” or do they unwittingly accept Tradition, too?

 

Gary Hoge

 

Please list the “unclear passages” of the Bible that apostolic oral tradition has clarified.

 

Well, here’s one: “The Father is greater than I” (John 14:28).

 

You write so much on the clarity of Scripture and the need for apostolic oral tradition to explain it. Surely you can produce some examples of this?

 

I just did.

 

1) I don’t believe Scripture is unclear or rather “incomplete,” lacking what was necessary to be understood by the original audience.

 

I’m sure Scripture was often more clear to its original audience than it is to us, but even to them it was sometimes unclear. That’s why Peter said that Paul’s writings contain some things that are “hard to understand” (2 Pet. 3:16). “Hard to understand” is the definition of “unclear.” Therefore, when you deny that Scripture is sometimes unclear, I can only assume you think Peter was wrong.

 

2) I don’t believe you possess genuine apostolic oral tradition that clarifies the Bible, at all. If such text existed it would be published so all could read it.

 

Read the Catechism of the Catholic Church and the decrees of the ecumenical councils.

 

To me it appears you argue for what you wished existed.

 

I could easily say the same of you. Your assertion that Scripture is perfectly clear flies in the face of Christians’ widespread inability to understand it.

 

I argue for sola scriptura. I can produce passages that clearly teach that truth and the text of the entire Bible itself. Therefore I argue for what is real, you for what is imaginary.

 

Why don’t you and [name of a Modalist participant on the board] get together and discuss the Bible’s clear teachings on the Trinity. It would be especially delightful to hear you both declare how Scripture clearly supports your own position. I’d pay money to see that. :-)

 

Cite the text of both the alleged “unclear” passage of Scripture and the text of apostolic oral tradition that “clarifies” it.

 

I cited a text: John 14:28, where Jesus says, “The Father is greater than I.” That text did indeed cause confusion in the early Church, much as you may wish it didn’t. Its orthodox meaning was clarified at the council of Nicea in 325 A.D.

 

As I and sola scripturists DO NOT believe authentic “apostolic oral tradition” exists outside of the Bible it is incumbent upon you to produce a text of this, to prove us wrong.

 

You want tradition? Okay. For one thing, I accept the apostolic tradition that Mark wrote the gospel we call “Mark.” Who do you think wrote it, and why? I also accept the apostolic tradition that Mark, who was not an apostle and who never saw Christ, was nevertheless inspired by God when he wrote his gospel. Do you believe this, too? If so, on what basis? I also accept the apostolic tradition that monogamy is the only acceptable form of Christian marriage. Do you believe this, too? If so, on what basis? I also accept the apostolic tradition that special revelation ceased after the death of the last apostle. Do you believe this, too? If so, on what basis?

 

Quite frankly, I consider your claim such tradition exists delusional. It is like those “Big foot” and “Lock Ness Monster” sightings, or like those reports of aliens invading Swamp Water Mississippi to inspect Farmer Elmer Fudd’s body cavities.

 

It seems to me you’re blind to the lens in your own eye. Like me, you accept the apostolic tradition that the twenty-seven books of the New Testament are the inspired word of God, despite the fact that only one of them claims to be, and despite the fact that several of them are anonymous. And even if you accept the second- and third-century tradition that tells you who wrote those books, on what basis – if not tradition – do you claim divine inspiration for books you know weren’t even written by an apostle?

 

The difference between you and me isn’t that I accept tradition and you don’t, it’s that I accept tradition and know I do, but you accept tradition and don’t know you do. Or do you think the New Testament just dropped out of heaven, leather-bound and with words of Christ in red at the end of the first century?