The Bible is the divinely inspired Word of God that Christians hold as the ultimate authority for faith and practice. However, Catholic tradition also plays an important role in Catholic theology and practice alongside Scripture. Here is a 9000 word examination of what the Bible teaches regarding the relationship between Scripture and tradition and whether Catholic tradition should have equal or greater authority than the Bible.
The Bible affirms its own authority and sufficiency as the Word of God. 2 Timothy 3:16-17 states, “All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.” The Bible claims divine origin and equips believers for every good work, indicating its complete sufficiency. Hebrews 4:12 calls it “living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword” able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart. Psalm 19:7-9 describes it as perfect, trustworthy, right, radiant, pure, enlightening the eyes, and enduring forever. The Bible presents itself as the fully sufficient Word of God, not needing any supplement.
In addition, the Bible warns against adding to or taking away from God’s Word. Deuteronomy 4:2 states, “You shall not add to the word that I command you, nor take from it, that you may keep the commandments of the Lord your God that I command you.” Revelation 22:18-19 contains a similar warning not to add to or take away from the book of Revelation. Proverbs 30:5-6 declares, “Every word of God proves true; he is a shield to those who take refuge in him. Do not add to his words, lest he rebuke you and you be found a liar.” These verses indicate that God’s Word is complete and must not be added to or taken away from.
The New Testament often elevates the authority of Scripture above tradition or human teaching. Matthew 15:1-9 recounts when the Pharisees accused Jesus’ disciples of breaking tradition by not washing their hands before eating. Jesus replied by quoting Isaiah 29:13, “in vain do they worship me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.” He stated that the Pharisees had elevated their traditions above the commandment of God. Mark 7:1-13 contains a parallel account where Jesus says their traditions made void the Word of God. In these instances, Jesus upheld the authority of Scripture above human religious tradition.
Furthermore, Colossians 2:8 warns, “See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ.” Here, human tradition is contrasted unfavorably with the supremacy of Christ. In the same epistle, Paul writes in Colossians 2:20-22, “If with Christ you died to the elemental spirits of the world, why, as if you were still alive in the world, do you submit to regulations—’Do not handle, Do not taste, Do not touch’ (referring to things that all perish as they are used)—according to human precepts and teachings?” This passage indicates that human regulations and teachings lack authority compared to biblical doctrine.
Galatians 1:6-9 pronounces a curse on anyone, even an angel, who preaches a gospel contrary to the one Paul preached in Scripture. This affirms that even early church tradition must be tested against the teaching of Scripture. 1 Thessalonians 2:13 praises the Thessalonian believers for accepting the preaching of the apostles not as the word of men but as the word of God. Scripture holds the highest authority, even above apostolic preaching and tradition.
2 Peter 1:16-21 explains that Scripture comes from men moved by the Holy Spirit, not from human interpretation or cleverly devised myths. Verse 19 affirms Scripture as “a lamp shining in a dark place” until the day dawns. The authority and sufficiency of Scripture is upheld above religious myth or human wisdom. Finally, Acts 17:10-11 praises the Berean Jews for examining the Scriptures daily to confirm the teachings they heard from Paul. Again, this confirms that even apostolic teaching must be tested against Scripture, which is the ultimate authority.
While Scripture affirms its own sufficiency and supremacy, it does not condemn all tradition outright. Traditions that are in line with biblical teaching and facilitate obedience to God’s Word have a proper subsidiary role. 1 Corinthians 11:2 praises the church for holding fast to the traditions Paul passed on to them. 2 Thessalonians 2:15 instructs believers to hold fast to the traditions they were taught by Paul, whether by spoken word or epistle. These verses endorse traditions that accord with Scripture.
Furthermore, Scripture itself demonstrates that not all doctrines are contained explicitly in its pages, but some are passed down through apostolic tradition. For example, the doctrine of the Trinity is intimated but not expressly defined in the Bible, yet was passed down from the apostles and formulated more precisely over the centuries. As Augustine stated, “Many truths lie concealed in the mysteries of Scripture, where the things that are openly related are symbolic of these hidden truths” (On Christian Doctrine 2.9.14). Biblical authors assume their audience understands certain traditions and practices based on oral teaching (2 Thessalonians 2:5). Thus, tradition may help preserve apostolic teaching not found explicitly in Scripture, provided it aligns with biblical revelation.
The authority of Scripture is also upheld by the early post-apostolic church. Irenaeus (ca. 130-202) declared Scripture as the “ground and pillar of our faith,” saying it is “perfect, as being the Word of God and His revelations” (Against Heresies 2.28.2; 2.27.1). Tertullian (ca. 160-225) similarly called the gospels the “instruments” of Christ with divine authority, saying “I adore the fullness of Scripture” (Prescription Against Heretics 17; 19). Athanasius (298-373) listed the 27 books of the New Testament as uniquely inspired Scripture alongside the Old Testament (Festal Letter 39). These early church fathers grounded doctrinal authority in Scripture while opposing teachings not founded on biblical revelation.
Augustine (354-430) wrote of the priority of Scripture over later church councils, commenting that he would not have believed the doctrine of the Trinity unless Scripture authority compelled him to (Letter 120). He added, “What more shall I teach you than what we read in the apostle? For Holy Scripture fixes the rule for our doctrine, lest we dare to be wiser than we ought.” (On Baptism Against the Donatists 1.14.23). Scripture remained foundational for doctrinal authority.
At the same time, early church fathers recognized the authority of apostolic tradition alongside Scripture in a subordinate role. Basil the Great (329-379) appealed to “the traditions we have received from the beginning” from “the Holy Spirit dwelling with the apostles” (On the Holy Spirit 27.66). Irenaeus commented that while Scripture is the ground of faith, the truth is found “in the whole Church throughout the whole world…[having] come down to us, guarded…by the successions of bishops” (Against Heresies 3.3.1-2). For Irenaeus and others, tradition preserved apostolic teaching and guarded against novel interpretations of Scripture.
In considering biblical teaching on the relationship between Scripture and tradition, several key points emerge:
1. Scripture affirms its own divine inspiration, authority, sufficiency, and supremacy as the fully sufficient Word of God.
2. The Bible itself warns against elevating human teaching or tradition above God’s Word or adding to Scripture.
3. Jesus upheld the authority of Scripture above human religious tradition. The New Testament elevates the authority of Scripture above early church tradition.
4. Traditions congruent with biblical teaching have a proper subordinate role under the authority of Scripture.
5. The church fathers held Scripture as the supreme doctrinal authority over later tradition while recognizing the subordinate role of apostolic tradition alongside Scripture.
6. Scripture does not contain all doctrinal details, so apostolic tradition preserves authoritative teaching not found explicitly in the Bible – yet Scripture remains the ultimate authority even over apostolic tradition.
Based on these biblical principles, Catholic tradition should not have equal or greater authority than Scripture. The Catechism of the Catholic Church itself affirms that Scripture is inspired by God and “as the supreme written authority” teaches God’s truth definitively (CCC 136). However, in Catholicism tradition is considered a parallel source of divine revelation and authority alongside Scripture. Doctrines not explicitly taught in Scripture are proclaimed divinely revealed based on tradition, such as the bodily assumption of Mary. Catholic doctrine elevates tradition beyond its proper subordinate role.
Scripture declares that the faith has been fully entrusted to believers once for all (Jude 1:3). Biblically speaking, public divine revelation ended with the apostles, so no later tradition can be infallible revelation equal to Scripture. The Bible alone is inspired by God, while tradition is a human process prone to error and corruption over time. Scripture has absolute authority because it comes directly from God. Tradition has an auxiliary role of clarifying and applying biblical truth but remains fallible.
The Bible repeatedly affirms it is sufficient for teaching, reproof, correction, training, and equipping Christians thoroughly for every good work (2 Timothy 3:16-17; Acts 20:27). No other source is needed. Scripture alone is “God-breathed” (2 Timothy 3:16), coming directly from the mouth of God. Jesus rebuked the Pharisees for nullifying Scripture by elevating their traditions (Mark 7:1-13). The Bereans were commended for testing even apostolic teaching against Scripture (Acts 17:11). We must do the same – measure all tradition by the standard of God’s Word, not elevate tradition to the same level of authority.
Scripture stands above the church, as God’s direct revelation has authority over the teaching of men. The supreme authority and infallibility of tradition cannot be supported biblically. Scripture alone is perfect, pure, and endures forever (Psalm 19:7-9; 1 Peter 1:25). It alone is the inerrant Word of God (2 Timothy 3:16; 2 Peter 1:20-21). No human teachings can ever claim the same authority.
Some object that relying on Scripture alone leads to problematic interpretations. This concern is valid; Scripture calls believers to humility, reason, conscience, godly counsel, and submission to spiritual leaders. But human fallibility is even more dangerous; church history demonstrates tradition often contradicts Scripture. Private interpretation of Scripture may be prone to error, but tradition set above Scripture has led to far more damaging heresies and false doctrines over the centuries.
In conclusion, the Bible teaches that Scripture alone has supreme and final authority as the inspired Word of God. Catholic tradition may have a subordinate role, but no legitimate basis exists for granting tradition equal or greater authority than Scripture itself. Upholding biblical authority requires Scripture alone as the ultimate authority for Christian faith and practice.