ROMAN  CATHOLIC  TRADITION 

Tradition  - falsehood that tradition has equal weight with the scriptures, specifically Catholic tradition, but this matter is in no way restricted to the Catholic Church. Actually the church foundation has already been laid, and you can only build on that foundation.

Ephesians 2:19-22   "  Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellow-citizens with the saints, and of the household of God; And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone; In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord: In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit. "

None of us has any business to usurp the authority of God and His written Word - The Bible, and then presumptuously claim our traditions has equal weight with the inspired scriptures or even claim our man made traditions trump the Bible teachings. 

The Roman Catholic Church teaches and claims that Catholic Tradition has equal weight with the scriptures - that is with The Bible.  This is an extremely serious false doctrine. 

Let me quote from Roman Catholic doctrine regarding this matter. From this is the Catholic Faith, by R.N. Mugford

 Session 3 : God Speaks:

The Transmission of Divine Revelation Through Scripture, Tradition and the Church's Magisterium

" Major Wingfield, the founder of Tennis, taught the game by word of mouth before he wrote down the Rules. Even today, Tennis does not consist simply of the Rule Book, but it is also comprised of matches played, instruction by coaches and by one player of another and by books on "how to play successfully". There is also an official international governing body which interprets the Rules and helps make Tennis a living game. By all these means Tennis is "traditioned" (i.e. transmitted, handed on).

" This illustration helps us to understand God's appointed way of "traditioning" (passing on) His revelation. There is the key book, the Bible, or Sacred Scripture, but there are two other ways in which God's words and deeds in Salvation History are transmitted. (For Salvation History, see synopsis of Session 2). These are Tradition and the Magisterium.

" The word "Tradition" can be confusing, so carefully note:

" 1. Tradition can mean:  

" A. "Handing on" - the process of transmitting. In this sense, the Church has "traditioned" to us Sacred Scripture, as well as other elements of the Revelation entrusted to her.

" OR, it can mean:

" B, "What is handed on". (Actually we could include Scripture here. However, it is more convenient to talk of Scripture and Tradition).

" IT IS IN SENSE (B) THAT WE GENERALLY USE THE WORD TRADITION.

" 2. There is a difference between Tradition (with a capital "T") and tradition (with a small "t").

" One example of a tradition in the Church would be the former requirement of Mass (in the Western Rite) being celebrated in Latin. Today, Mass is normally celebrated in the language of the people. The Church has changed, and can change in the future, such non-essentials of her life. However, she will not - she cannot - change Tradition.

" 1.SACRED SCRIPTURE :

" The Bible consists of inspired books written under the special assistance of God the Holy Spirit and, therefore, teaching " without error the truth which God wanted to put in the sacred writings for the sake of our salvation ". Vatican Council 2, Dogmatic Constitution on Divine Revelation, #11. It consists of the Old Testament (46 Books written approximately between the years 900 B.C. and 160 B.C.- that is, before the  coming of Christ) and the New Testament (27 Books- Gospels, Acts, Epistles and Apocalypse- written approximately between the years 50 A.D. and 100 A.D.). Most of the Bible was transmitted by the word of mouth before being written (e.g. the Prophetical Books of the Old Testament and the Gospels of the New Testament). The Church did not include in the Bible writings which were not an authentic witness to the Revelation.

" 2    SACRED TRADITION:

" This has several elements. There are writing of:

 " A. The Fathers of the Church: Saintly writers of the early centuries A.D., whom the Church recognizes as superb commentators on the Faith.

 " B. The teaching of the Doctors of the Church: Some of the Fathers, plus writers and preachers from later periods of Church history.

" C. The basic forms of the Church's liturgy (her worship).

 " D. The doctrine defined by Ecumenical (universal) Councils: From Nicaea 1, 325 A.D. to Vatican Council 2, 1962-1965.

 " E. Professions of the Faith: e.g. the Apostles' and Nicene Creeds- from "credo", "I believe".

"  F. The teaching of the Popes throughout the centuries.

" Together, BOTH SCRIPTURE AND TRADITION  " form one sacred deposit of the Word of God, which is committed to the Church". Vatican Council 2, Dogmatic Constitution on Divine Revelation, #10. The Church transmits by Scripture and Tradition what was handed on by the Apostles, the inner core of Jesus' followers. Scripture and Tradition are "like a mirror, in which the Church, during its pilgrim journey on earth, contemplates God, from whom she receives everything, until such time as she is brought to see Him face to face as He really is". Vatican Council 2, Dogmatic Constitution on Divine Revelation, #7. "...the Church does not draw her certainty about all revealed truths from the Holy Scriptures alone. Hence, both Scripture and Tradition must be accepted and honored with equal feelings of devotion and reverence". Vatican Council 2, Dogmatic Constitution on Divine Revelation, #8.

" The Catholic Church differs form Orthodox and Protestant churches in the exact role she assigns to Tradition.

" A. The Orthodox churches place great emphasis on Tradition (Paradosis) but deny the place of the Pope in interpreting it.

" B. Historically, most Protestant churches have confined Revelation to Scripture alone. "The Bible and the Bible alone is the religion of Protestants". (Wm. Chillingworth, Anglican Theologian, 1602-1644). The Anglican Church does recognize some element of Tradition but asserts that nothing can be taught as necessary to eternal salvation but such as can be proved from Scripture.

" The Catholic teaching that both Scripture and Tradition are ways of coming to know God's truth matches our everyday experience. Doubtless you learned the "Our Father" ("Lord's Prayer") by word of mouth from someone, then saw it in a book outside the Bible, before you ever saw it in Scripture!

" 3. MAGISTERIUM:

" This is the teaching authority of the Church. Expressed in the Pope, The Bishop of Rome, and in the Bishops acting in communion with him, it passes on and interprets Revelation (Scripture and Tradition). "... the task of giving an authentic interpretation of the Word of God, whether in its written form or in the form of Tradition, has been entrusted to the living teaching office of the Church alone. Its authority in this matter is exercised in the name of Jesus Christ. Yet this Magisterium is not superior to the Word of God, but is its servant. It teaches only what has been handed on to it. At the divine command and with the help of the Holy Spirit, it listens to this devotedly, guards it with dedication and expresses it faithfully. All that it proposes for belief as being divinely revealed is drawn from the single deposit of faith." Vatican Council 11, Dogmatic Constitution on Divine Revelation, # 10. "

So let me summarize this a bit. In summary Catholic doctrine teaches  " the (Catholic) Church does not draw her certainty about all revealed truths from the Holy Scriptures alone. Hence, both Scripture and Tradition must be accepted and honored with equal feelings of devotion and reverence "

So they believe their own traditions handed down by the  (1) The Fathers of the (Catholic) Church,  and the   (2) The teaching of the Doctors of the (Catholic) Church,  and   (3) The basic forms of the (Catholic) Church's liturgy,   and the  (4) The doctrine defined by Ecumenical (universal) Councils,   and additionally the  (5) Professions of the Faith,   and the   (6) The teaching of the Popes throughout the centuries,  must be accepted and honoured by Catholics with equal feelings of devotion and reverence to that of the Bible.  So essentially their doctrine places a great deal of weight upon tradition, and does not therefore believe the Bible to be the sole authority that we must look to in matters of doctrine and moral standards, but rather their own traditions have equal weight to that of the Bible.

Additionally they claim that only the Catholic Magisterium has the right and authority to interpret scripture let me quote Catholic doctrine regarding this  " ... the task of giving an authentic interpretation of the Word of God, whether in its written form or in the form of Tradition, has been entrusted to the living teaching office of the Church alone. "   They claim only the Pope and the Catholic Bishops working in communion with him are able to give an authentic interpretation of the Word of God !! Then they make the further claim that they cannot make mistakes in regards to doctrine !!  They also claim the Catholic Church will never stray into error in believing and teaching God's words and deed among us !! And to top it off they claim that when the Pope speaks   ' ex cathedra ' that he is infallible in defining doctrine regarding faith and morals. They claim the Catholic Church is infallible and that the Pope is infallible.

Do you sense that somebody is trying to control you here ?

 None of us has any right or authority to add our own human  traditions to scripture, and then claim these traditions of men have equal weight with the inspired word of God the Bible. The foundation and corner stone has been lain down already almost 2,000 years ago. That foundation is the Bible. The Bible is complete the way it is. The foundation has been laid already, and all we can legitimately do is build on that foundation. If you decide you don't like the foundation and want to build yourself another foundation, then you are not part of God's true house the true Church of God.

Ephesians 2:19-22   "  Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God; And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone; In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord: In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit. "

So to suggest just because the traditions of your particular church group should deviate from the Bible - then this means your traditions supercede or trump the scriptures is simply folly.

The Bible teaches that the Bible itself is the inspired word of God.

2 Timothy 3:15-17   "  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. 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 Peter 1:20-21  " Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation.  For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit. "

The Bible teaches all scripture is given by inspiration of God, and that the foundation has been laid down already (which consists of the apostles, and prophets with Christ being the chief cornerstone).

The prophets include people like Moses, David, Daniel, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Isaiah, Zechariah, and so on, and the apostles are of course also the twelve apostles of Christ (like Peter, John, Matthew, etc.)  and the apostle to the Gentiles (Paul) and naturally Jesus Christ Himself. These are the individuals God worked through and inspired to have the Bible written and put together. It was not done in one day.

We who speak the English language today have various translations we can use. The original Old Testament was written in Hebrew, and the original New Testament written in Greek. The most accurate English translations I have come across are the Authorized King James Version and the New King James Version. Even in the Authorized King James Version there are a few translation errors, but basically it is very, very accurate.

Some translations like the Living Bible, put the text in modern language, but unfortunately are full of doctrinal errors. For accuracy I would strongly suggest you stick to the Authorized King James and New King James Versions. Not many of us understand Hebrew or Greek, so we must rely upon translations.

Do not make the mistake, or assumption that just any Bible translation is good enough. This is because translators have quite often simply interpreted the scriptures to fit in with their particular viewpoints, and narrow doctrinal points of view.

The Catholic version of scriptures differs from the Protestant version. The New Testament Books are the same, but the following books have been added by the Catholic Church to the Old Testament namely:  Tobit, Judith, Baruch, Sirach, the Prayer of Azariah and the Song of the Three Young Men in Daniel 1, some sections of Esther, Wisdom and 1 and 2 Maccabees.

Jewish rabbis in around 100A.D. at the Council of Jamnia rejected any such additions to scripture, regarding Old Testament Books. So we can be very confident that translations like the Authorized King James Version are complete the way they are.

There are dire warnings in the book of Revelations against adding to or taking away anything written in that particular book.

Revelations 22:18-19  "  For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book:  And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book. "

There are also other warnings to make sure not to add to or diminish what God has passed down to us through His servants.

Deuteronomy 4:2  " Ye shall not add unto the word which I command you, neither shall ye diminish ought from it, that ye may keep the commandments of the LORD your God which I command you. "

Joshua 1:7-8  "  Only be thou strong and very courageous, that thou mayest observe to do according to all the law, which Moses my servant commanded thee: turn not from it to the right hand or to the left, that thou mayest prosper whithersoever thou goest.  This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success. "

The foundation of God's church was completed almost 2,000 years ago. We can only build on that foundation. We have no right or authority to add anything to the foundation. If we do not want to build on that foundation, and decide our particular group will create a different foundation - then we are simply not part of God's true building, since we are not built on the foundation, and are not built on the Rock.

Matthew 7:24-27  "  Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock:  And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock. And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand: And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it. "

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