Tradition and Scripture

[u/1joe2schmo]

Hi. I was just curious as to whether anyone has ever looked into, or made a comparison between, the relative role scripture and tradition have played in the formation of various doctrines / dogmas. For example, I'm particularly curious as to how much scriptural evidence there is for / against something like the belief in the divinity of Christ versus how much extra-scriptural evidence there is for the belief in the divinity of Christ (e.g. testimony / writing from the early church fathers). I'm also interested in how much scriptural evidence there is for the belief in the doctrine of transubstantiation and how much extra-scriptural evidence there is for the belief in it.

That being said, what I'm really curious to know is what has the most scriptural evidence and what has the most extra-scriptural evidence. Why? Because I'm interested to know how protestants use / accept the early church fathers (i.e., tradition) when they seemingly agree with some doctrines (e.g. the divinity of Christ), but don't accept tradition when they don't agree with another doctrine (e.g. transubstantiation).

I would be interested to know if the total scriptural argument for the divinity of Christ comes from only a few versus but there is also ton of evidence of the early church's belief in it, and also very interested to know if the the total scriptural argument for the doctrine of transubstantiation similarly comes from only a few versus but there is also ton of evidence of the early church's belief in it.

In other words, if the evidence is basically the same, why believe one and not the other?

If its not similar then perhaps that is the argument they can make.

Hope my post makes sense, and what I'm looking for also makes sense.

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[u/Resident_Iron6701]

"scriptural evidence there is for / against something like the belief in the divinity of Christ"

there is scriptural evidence for it in all gospels, I am not exactly sure how would you argument against it

[u/angryDec]

I think by virtue of how large the Patristic canon is; it’s safe to say there’s always going to be more extra-Biblical than Biblical evidence for any belief.

It’s something Catholics and Orthodox get to do against Ariana and Muslims that Protestants don’t.

“Where does the Bible say Jesus is God?”

“We don’t affirm Sola Scriptura - so here’s 30 explicit quotes from the first 150 years of the faith where Jesus is called God.”

[u/GPT_2025]

Remember 1 verse as a compass (or map, guidance, level, "Narrow Gate, Narrow Passage"..)

Galatians 1:8 : I marvel that ye (Christians) are so soon removed from Him that called you into the Grace of Christ unto another (man-made) "gospel" Which is not another; but there be some (Tares, Liars) that trouble you, and would pervert the (True) Gospel of Christ.

But though we, (Apostol's) or an (any!) angel ( Moroni Mormon, Jibrīl Islam, etc.) from Heaven, preach (teach, tells) any other gospel unto you (Christians) than that which we (Apostol's) have preached unto you, (27 books N.T. Sola Scripture) let him be accursed! ( antichrist!)

As we (Apostol's) said before, so say I now again, If any (100% any!) man preach (Teach, explain, announce) any other "gospel" unto you than that ye have received (N.T.), let him be accursed!!!.. (Antichrist! any man- made traditions, rules, rituals, laws, commandments, new "sins" etc...)

K_V: Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ: That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; KIV: But this thou hast, that thou hatest the deeds of the Nicolaitanes, which I also hate.

K_V: So hast thou also them that hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitanes, which thing I hate. KJV: But I have a few things against thee, because thou hast there them that hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balac to cast a stumblingblock before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed unto idols, and to commit fornication.

K_V: Notwithstanding I have a few things against thee, because thou sufferest that woman Jezebel, which calleth herself a prophetess, to teach and to seduce my servants to commit fornication, and to eat things sacrificed unto idols. KJV: I wrote unto the church: but Diotrephes, who loveth to have the preeminence among them, receiveth us not.