I can find verses that condemn tradition, but is this necessary? If you believe a certain way then this wii not be worth the time or effort. Tradition not based on scripture was a leading reason for the jews rejection of the Messiah which resides in Judaism today…
JL: Yes we can find in scripture the condemning of traditions of men made a doctrine to nullify the Word of God.
The Church RECEIVED her beliefs from the Word of God, handed down by the Apostles, whether by WORD (Oral Apostolic Tradition) or EPISTLE (Scripture), 2 THES 2:14. The Church was orally teaching, preaching, converting and faithfully passing on that Apostolic Tradition about twenty years before the first word of the NT was written. Except for John all the apostles were dead before the NT was completely written and centuries before a set canon of books.
The Scriptures tell us to HOLD FAST to BOTH, oral AND written, Traditions. Yet many ignore their proclaimed only authority, inventing a tradition of men, to nullify scripture. Going outside scripture saying ALL Oral Tradition is now in scripture. Even though scripture clearly says we are to hold BOTH. There isn’t any scripture telling us Oral Traditions are ALL now in the written Word. But there are several that tell us to hold Tradition. The burden of proof would be on those who claim ALL Tradition is in scripture. Both are the Word of God.
[1Thes2:13 For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when **ye RECEIVED the WORD OF GOD which ye
HEARD of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but as it is
IN TRUTH, the WORD OF GOD, which effectually worketh also in you that believe.]
Oral Divine or Apostolic Traditions are discerned by the Church with the guidance of the Holy Spirit. Oral and Written Traditions cannot be contradictory. Oral Traditions are found in the constant lived out life of the Church. It is discerned from teachings of councils, popes, writings of the Fathers, creeds, prayers, liturgy, etc…
There are traditions of men and Divine Tradition. Divine Traditions are those Traditions handed on by the apostles whether by word (oral) or epistle (scripture) 2Thes2:15. There are also traditions of men. Christ didn’t even condemn traditions of men EXCEPT when those traditions of men nullify the Word. [Mk7:13 **Making the word of God of none effect through your tradition, which ye have delivered: and many such like things do ye.]
Examples of traditions of men, made a doctrine, to nullify the Word, would be. Faith alone saves, born again the minute one believes, baptism profession only, belivers only baptism, sola scriptura, scripture interprets scripture, all oral Apostolic Tradition now in scripture, OSAS, invisible church, irresistible grace, dispensationalism, secret rapture. None of those are taught in the Bible they actually contradict it.
A doctrine taught by the apostles orally would be the
canon of the bible, The evidence is found in the lived out Traditions of the Church and those books agreement with that Tradition. Another,
infant baptism, the evidence is found in the scriptures, where it is implied, and the constant lived out Tradition of the Church. Others would be
the Trinity. The evidence is found in the scriptures, where it is implied, and the lived out Tradition of the Church as discerned and defined by Councils or the Pope.
The mode of baptism by immersion is not taught in the bible. It is only known thru the lived out Tradition of the early Church. When the Lord’s prayer is concluded with; for thine is the kingdom, the power and the glory now and forever. That is an oral Tradition coming from the liturgy (worship service) being said after the Lord’s Prayer.
1Tim6: Timothy,
KEEP THAT WHICH IS COMMITTED TO THY TRUST, avoiding profane and vain babblings,
Philip4:9
THOSE THINGS, which
YE HAVE both
LEARNED, and
RECEIVED, and
HEARD, and
SEEN IN ME, DO
Jn14: 26: But the Comforter, which is
THE HOLY GHOST, whom the Father will send in my name, he
SHALL TEACH YOU ALL THINGS, and bring all things to your remembrance,
WHATSOEVER I have
SAID UNTO YOU.
2Tim2:1 Thou therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. 2 And
THE THINGS that
THOU HAST HEARD OF ME among many witnesses,
THE SAME COMMIT thou
TO FAITHFUL MEN, who shall be **ABLE TO TEACH OTHERS **also.
2Tim1:13
HOLD FAST the form of
SOUND WORDS, which thou hast
HEARD OF ME, in faith and love which is in Christ Jesus. 14
THAT GOOD THING which was
COMMITTED unto thee
KEEP BY THE HOLY GHOST which dwelleth
IN US.
[2Thes3:6 Now we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye **WITHDRAW yourselves FROM EVERY BROTHER THAT WALKETH disorderly, and NOT AFTER THE TRADITION which he RECEIVED OF US.]
As far as, 2Tm3:16-17, teaching scripture ALONE it doesn’t. In fact Paul tells Timothy to USE his teaching authority (magisterial authority) USING both scripture and Oral Tradition. You need to back up just to verse 14.
[2Tm3:14 But **CONTINUE THOU IN THE THINGS WHICH THOU HAST LEARNED AND hast BEEN ASSURED OF,
knowing of whom thou hast learned them;]
Now pick up VERSE 15-17 and continue into chapter 4. There we see Timothy an overseer (bishop) IS the teaching AUTHORITY. That authority, Timothy, is to PREACH THE WORD, REPROVE, REBUKE, EXHORT WITH DOCTRINE. Making full use of his MINISTRY.
[Verse:15 And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. 16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: 17 That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.
2Tm4:1 I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom; 2 PREACH THE WORD; be instant in season, out of season; REPROVE, REBUKE, EXHORT WITH all long suffering and DOCTRINE. 3 For THE TIME WILL COME WHEN THEY WILL NOT ENDURE SOUND DOCTRINE; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; 4 AND THEY SHALL TURN AWAY THEIR EARS FROM THE TRUTH, and shall be turned unto fables. 5 But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, MAKE FULL PROOF OF THY MINISTRY]
[2TIM 2:1 Thou therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. 2 And **the THINGS that
thou hast HEARD OF ME among many witnesses,
the same commit thou
to faithful men, who shall be
able to teach others also.]
[2 TIM 1:13 **HOLD FAST THE form of SOUND WORDS, which thou hast
HEARD OF ME, in faith and love which is in Christ Jesus. 14 That good thing which was
COMMITTED unto thee keep by the Holy Ghost which dwelleth
in us.]
Why do you think Baptist interpret scripture differently than Presbyterians? And Presbyterians differently than Pentecosts, etc. They all have the same scriptures and all claim to be led by the same Holy Spirit in their interpretation. Each use their own passed on oral traditions handed down to interpret scripture. Sola Scriptura has done nothing but create a Tower of Babel, scattering people of faith into thousands of contentious denominations. All speaking their own faith language no longer understanding the one faith language delivered once to the saints, the Church, 1Tm3:15 But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in THE HOUSE OF GOD, which is THE CHURCH of the living God,
THE PILLAR AND GROUND OF TRUTH. Sola Scriptura is nothing more than a tradition of men, Satan’s playground. The scriptures their sole authority tells them the Church is the pillar and ground of truth. Mt18:17 And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church: but
IF HE NEGLECT TO HEAR THE CHRUCH, let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a publican.
