Scripture, Tradition and Church: An Historical Survey

The word ‘tradition’ is notoriously ambiguous. It often denotes the sum total of the Christian heritage passed down from previous ages. Scripture is just one item of tradition in this allembracing sense. The act of handing on this heritage is sometimes described as ‘active tradition’, the stress being on the process rather than the content. A third meaning is identical to the first save that the Scriptures are excluded. As this essay concerns Scripture and tradition the word tradition will normally have this meaning: those non-scriptural writings, liturgical practices, etc. inherited from the Christian past. In this sense tradition can be seen either as a collection of items (writings, practices, etc.) or as a body of doctrine (that taught by these items). This is a helpful ambiguity in the use of the term. Manifestly heretical writings and practices are not normally reckoned as part of tradition but it does not follow that the whole of tradition is orthodox, from any point of view. ‘Supplementary tradition’ will be used to denote that content of tradition which goes beyond Scripture (usually doctrine but sometimes also practices).