Musing

[Bezant]

Would there be a different Christianity, or a Christianity at all, if the Oral Tradition had been written and codified centuries earlier?

 

[Telstar]

If you mean “would the Catholic Church’s teachings be any different”, or any other form of Christianity that’s based upon it, then I would probably have to say no. It would still be the same as it is now, since the oral traditions were very carefully followed by the Bishops, and the faith was protected by the Holy Spirit. Also, I believe the early Epistles were written down (they were actual letters) and copied, to be used for teaching others, from very early on.

I doubt very much that it would have made any difference in the Church, at all. It probably would have made it more difficult for the reformers and their followers to make the same accusations against the Church that they’ve made in the past, or make now, but I think the ‘reformation’ might still have happened. Maybe it would have toned down some of those folks that say, “It never happened like that in the early church, because they didn’t believe in all that stuff! The Church just made it all up, hundreds of years later!” But, alas, we’ll never know for sure if that would have made any difference, at all.

 

[christosdavid]

I for one wouldve loved the Apostles to write a systematic theology and current history review. whether things would be different (quite likely) they would certainly be alot easier to defend.

 

[Cavaradossi]

It certainly would’ve prevented Sola Scriptura from ever coming about, I would think.

 

[valentino]

Would there be a different Christianity, or a Christianity at all, if the Oral Tradition had been written and codified centuries earlier?

Nral tradition was the only means of communication for the most part.In time when things became more organized and people had the time and the means to put their practices in writing they did so.Everyone could follow a more universal set of practices.

 

[JonNC]

It certainly would’ve prevented Sola Scriptura from ever coming about, I would think.

I would agree. Certainly it would have eliminated what the Lutheran reformers saw as the need for it.

Jon

 

[exnihilo]

It certainly would’ve prevented Sola Scriptura from ever coming about, I would think.

I disagree. Man can always invent reasons for disbelieving something. It could always be claimed that these were false writings and thus can be completely ignored. Depending on who wrote the work it could also be claimed that the author does not have the final authority. Some folks would claim that the theology was written for that particular time and not intended for modern man. And many would certainly say that the codified laws need to be properly interpreted.

Consider the US Constitution. It is supposed to be the supreme governing document but for most people the meaning is fluid and there is certainly no absolute consensus on what it means even though we also have other documents which explain what was meant.