II. The Relationship Between Tradition and
Sacred Scripture
One common
source. . .
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"Sacred Tradition and Sacred Scripture, then, are bound closely together, and
communicate one with the other. For both of them, flowing out from the same
divine well-spring, come together in some fashion to form one thing, and move
towards the same goal."40 Each of them makes present and fruitful
in the Church the mystery of Christ, who promised to remain with his own
"always, to the close of the age".41
. . . two
distinct modes of transmission
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"Sacred Scripture is the speech of God as it is put down in writing under
the breath of the Holy Spirit."42
"and
[Holy] Tradition transmits in its entirety the Word of God which has been
entrusted to the apostles by Christ the Lord and the Holy Spirit. It transmits
it to the successors of the apostles so that, enlightened by the Spirit of
truth, they may faithfully preserve, expound and spread it abroad by their
preaching."43
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As a result the Church, to whom the transmission and interpretation of
Revelation is entrusted, "does not derive her certainty about all revealed
truths from the holy Scriptures alone. Both Scripture and Tradition must be
accepted and honoured with equal sentiments of devotion and
reverence."44
Apostolic
Tradition and ecclesial traditions
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The Tradition here in question comes from the apostles and hands on what they
received from Jesus' teaching and example and what they learned from the Holy
Spirit. the first generation of Christians did not yet have a written New
Testament, and the New Testament itself demonstrates the process of living
Tradition.
Tradition is to be distinguished from the various theological,
disciplinary, liturgical or devotional traditions, born in the local churches
over time. These are the particular forms, adapted to different places and
times, in which the great Tradition is expressed. In the light of Tradition,
these traditions can be retained, modified or even abandoned under the guidance
of the Church's Magisterium.
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