Catholics have often been asked to prove their Faith from Scripture alone, this is a strange rule set up by protestants, who have only a part of the Holy Bible. The sad thing is they do not see the big picture of what God has planned for us. Scripture comes from Tradition, it was the historical act of parting the Red Sea or the Crucifixion that occurred first and was later written down. So, the Bible alone is a strawman argument.

The doctrines and beliefs that Catholics profess have been studied and analyzed by the Church Fathers and documented in Council documents, meetings, epistles, rules, etc.. There’s no need for us to place ourselves above centuries of holy men, appointed by a direct line, (by the laying on of hands), of the Apostles. A few Catholics may not know how to explain these doctrines, but we trust that God can take care of His Church, to keep her from error. If a fallen, sinner can take care of his family, much more can God. However, one may protest that God cannot do so and remain outside the Church, it is that person’s free will to do so.

Since, lay Catholics do not opt to spend their lives in academic study; but choose to raise holy families, they might not have an answer, that may satisfy the objections of protestants. It doesn’t matter. The Church is made up of the clergy and lay people, just as Israel was made up of judges and lay people.

Not everyone is made to be a teacher, each one has his own role in the Church; and that’s what St. James says, “Be ye not many masters, my brethren, knowing that you receive the greater judgment.” [James 3:1] Then, St. Paul says, “For as in one body we have many members, but all the members have not the same office.”[Romans 12:4]

However, people need an answer, for why they are wrong about using only the broken bible that they have, as a rule of Faith. They may not agree, but they have to thank the Catholic Church for the Scriptures they hold in their hands. History is proof that it was St. Jerome, a Catholic monk, disciple of St. Gregory of Nazianzus, who translated the Bible into Latin (the universal language of the Catholic Church). St. Jerome’s translation into Latin and the tedious work of Catholic monks, copying by hand, the scriptures is what we have today as the Holy Bible.

The Hebrew Scriptures were the only Bible the early Christian church knew, and as the young religion spread out through the Greek-speaking world, Christians adopted the Septuagint. In the meantime, many of the books of the Christian Bible, the New Testament, were first written or recorded in Greek, and others in Aramaic…In 405 St. Jerome finished translating a Latin version that was based in part on the Septuagint, and this version, the Vulgate,... became the standard of Western Christianity for a thousand years or more. (Britannica)

Tradition Vs tradition

The Holy Bible contains several passages speaking of the necessity of Apostolic Tradition. These were not mere human traditions; in fact, it is from scripture that we get a passage condemning human traditions:

“Beware lest any man cheat you by philosophy, and vain deceit; according to the tradition of men, according to the elements of the world, and not according to Christ” [Colossians 2:8]

However, scripture distinguishes between man’s traditions and the Tradition of the Apostles, from which also arose the New Testament:

Forasmuch as many have taken in hand to set forth in order a narration of the things that have been accomplished among us; According as they have delivered them unto us, who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and ministers of the word: It seemed good to me also, having diligently attained to all things from the beginning, to write to thee in order, most excellent Theophilus, That thou mayest know the verity of those words in which thou hast been instructed. [Luke 1:1-4]

This is that disciple who giveth testimony of these things, and hath written these things; and we know that his testimony is true. But there are also many other things which Jesus did; which, if they were written every one, the world itself, I think, would not be able to contain the books that should be written. [John 21: 24-25]

Therefore, while warning and distinguishing between human and Apostolic witness/Tradition; scripture is clear that we have to hold on to the Apostolic Traditions that were faithfully handed down.

Therefore, brethren, stand fast; and hold the traditions which you have learned, whether by word, or by our epistle. [2 Thessalonians 2:14]

“And we charge you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you withdraw yourselves from every brother walking disorderly, and not according to the tradition which they have received of us.” [2 Thessalonians 3:6]

St. John, the evangelist, also states that many things that Jesus did were not written down; but can the Word or work of God be lost? Maybe for some people, God’s Word can be lost, because they are thinking as humans, they do not know how God thinks:

“For my thoughts are not your thoughts: nor your ways my ways, saith the Lord.” [Isaias (Isaiah) 55:8]

but Scripture says,

So shall my word be, which shall go forth from my mouth: it shall not return to me void, but it shall do whatsoever I please, and shall prosper in the things for which I sent it. [Isaias (Isaiah) 55:11]

We Catholics believe that even the unwritten Word of Christ, is held in what we call the Deposit of Faith - Sacred Tradition. It is the Holy Spirit who guards this Deposit.

But the Paraclete, the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things, and bring all things to your mind, whatsoever I shall have said to you. [John 14:26]

How can oral Tradition be handed down faithfully?

With men this is impossible: but with God all things are possible. [Matthew 19:26]

For, amen I say to you, if you have faith as a grain of mustard seed, you shall say to this mountain, Remove from hence hither, and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible to you. [Matthew 17:19]

The Oral Apostolic Tradition is handed down faithfully, not because of any strength or wisdom of man, but because God has made it possible. Seeing the faith of the Church, God has made nothing impossible for her, who is the mystical body of Jesus Christ.

Some may claim to be the True Church, the burden of proof rests on them. Only the Catholic Church has written proof of a continuous chain of disciples going back to Christ. And it makes sense because, as the mystical body, (with Christ as head), there can be only one body, one spirit, in Christ. (A head with two or more bodies, this is how ridiculous it is to think of many churches. See my article explaining, why the Church has to be one.) Scripture says:

So we being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another. [Romans 12:5]

For we, being many, are one bread, one body, all that partake of one bread. [1 Corinthians 10:17]

One body and one Spirit; as you are called in one hope of your calling. [Ephesians 4:4]

And let the peace of Christ rejoice in your hearts, wherein also you are called in one body: and be ye thankful. [Colossians 3:15]

A church or denomination that doesn’t agree with the Apostolic Church, is not part of the same body. They are not even in agreement with each other, except in their agreement against the One Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church in Rome. This is their unity, against the Church, established by Christ. Their doctrines are not of Christ, for they pick and choose what they want to believe, and Christ says that no commandment can be set aside.

To deny one doctrine is sufficient to deny them all.

He therefore that shall break one of these least commandments, and shall so teach men, shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven. But he that shall do and teach, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. [Matthew 5:19]

In order to deny the Catholic religion, people have to invent new teachings to call themselves believers. So the Holy Eucharist, the most magnificent miracle of Christ is denied by them and made merely into a symbol. For them Christ says,

And in vain do they worship me, teaching doctrines and commandments of men.[Matthew 15:9]

However, for the Faithful, who hold on to the Faith that was passed on via the Apostles, Christ says:

“He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them; he it is that loveth me. And he that loveth me, shall be loved of my Father: and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him.” [John 14:21]

Speaking about the Jewish and Gentile (other sheep) believers who would be part of His Church, Christ says,

“And other sheep I have, that are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice, and there shall be one fold and one shepherd.” [John 10:16]

St. Paul warns that after his death, false prophets, false shepherds will arise and try to destroy the flock of Christ, but the shepherds that have been appointed have to remain true and firm in the Faith, handed down to them.

I know that, after my departure, ravening wolves will enter in among you, not sparing the flock. [Acts of Apostles 20:29]

What is the necessity of one flock and one fold remaining intact after centuries?

And Jesus knowing their thoughts, said to them: Every kingdom divided against itself shall be made desolate: and every city or house divided against itself shall not stand.[Matthew 12:25]

That they all may be one, as thou, Father, in me, and I in thee; that they also may be one in us; that the world may believe that thou hast sent me.[John 17:21]

A house divided cannot stand and the unity of the flock of Christ is the PROOF that God has sent Christ. Unfortunately, the numerous denominations are an anti-witness to Christ, before the world.

Christ, Himself warns of false teachers, that will split the flock:

For many will come in my name saying, I am Christ: and they will seduce many.[Matthew 24:5]

Who said: Take heed you be not seduced; for many will come in my name, saying, I am he; and the time is at hand: go ye not therefore after them.[Luke 21:8]

Many will say to me in that day: Lord, Lord, have not we prophesied in thy name, and cast out devils in thy name, and done many miracles in thy name. And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, you that work iniquity. Every one therefore that heareth these my words, and doth them, shall be likened to a wise man that built his house upon a rock, And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and they beat upon that house, and it fell not, for it was founded on a rock. [Matthew 7:22-25]

The Church is founded on Christ - the Rock and, He has made Peter into a rock to be His visible Vicar on earth.

Tradition and Apostolic Succession

Think about it, the apostles lived with Christ, they were hand-picked by Jesus Christ, to be His witnesses, to the whole world. They held and kept safe everything that they had learned from Him. If they had to sit down and write everything, books would be numerous, but they would not be able to preach to souls; and neither would people read those tomes.

In fact, that is not how the Word of God works. The Word is like a seed that is planted in the hearts of believers, it is small in the beginning; (compare the New Testament, with the Old Testament itself, and then to other books, it is a tiny book) but then it grows, within the heart of the believer. As one grows in the Faith, his understanding and his belief gets stronger. God sends him insights, for to know God is to love Him. So, it only makes sense that what was written, was the most essential; not every teaching was written down, some were preached verbally:

“these are written, that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God: and that believing, you may have life in his name.” [John 20:31]

Thus Paul tells the Corinthians,

“Now I praise you, brethren, that in all things you are mindful of me: and keep my ordinances as I have delivered them to you.” [1 Corinthians 11:2]

To ensure that the apostolic tradition would be passed down after the deaths of the apostles, Paul told Timothy,

“And the things which thou hast heard of me by many witnesses, the same commend to faithful men, who shall be fit to teach others also.” [2 Timothy 2:2].

In this passage St. Paul refers to the first four generations of apostolic succession—his own generation, Timothy’s generation, the generation Timothy will teach, and the generation they in turn will teach. The line of teaching will continue, because it is really Christ teaching through the Apostles, giving them His Teaching, His mind, His thoughts:

For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that we may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ. [1 Corinthians 2:16]

For this cause have I sent to you Timothy, who is my dearest son and faithful in the Lord; who will put you in mind of my ways, which are in Christ Jesus; as I teach everywhere in every church. [1 Corinthians 4:17]

Do teachers need to be sent by Christ?

I know him, because I am from him, and he hath sent me. [John 7:29]

If Christ, Himself had to be sent, which man can simply pick up the Scriptures and begin teaching? Yet, this is non-Catholic tradition. Christ has made it clear that He sends the Apostles and those who succeed them.

He said therefore to them again: Peace be to you. As the Father hath sent me, I also send you. [John 20:21]

I have manifested thy name to the men whom thou hast given me out of the world. Thine they were, and to me thou gavest them; and they have kept thy word.  Now they have known, that all things which thou hast given me, are from thee: Because the words which thou gavest me, I have given to them; and they have received them, and have known in very deed that I came out from thee, and they have believed that thou didst send me.  I pray for them: I pray not for the world, but for them whom thou hast given me…Sanctify them in truth. Thy word is truth.  As thou hast sent me into the world, I also have sent them into the world.  And for them do I sanctify myself, that they also may be sanctified in truth.  And not for them only do I pray, but for them also who through their word shall believe in me; [John 17: 6-20]

What Scripture says of those sent:

And how shall they preach unless they be sent, as it is written: How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, of them that bring glad tidings of good things  [Romans 10:15]

And when Simon saw, that by the imposition of the hands of the apostles, the Holy Ghost was given,, [Acts of Apostles 8:18]

Neglect not the grace that is in thee, which was given thee by prophesy, with imposition of the hands of the priesthood. [1 Timothy 4:14]

The imposition of hands continues from Christ, through Apostolic times, to the Catholic bishops and priests of today. This is all part of Sacred Tradition. In part II of this article, you will find what the early Church Fathers say about receiving teachings from Apostolic Tradition.

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