The Differences between Scripture and Tradition
Sacred Scripture is something tangible and is contained in inspired sacred "books." Sacred Tradition is a living reality (CCC 80-83). The Bible is the uniquely inspired part of Sacred Tradition. Sacred Tradition is the Bible as received, meditated on, contemplated, read and put into effect in the life of the Church. Tradition reveals in the sense that it amplifies or clarifies or actualizes the text of the Bible. What is important here is that everything in Sacred Tradition is necessarily related to the written Bible!
Still we can speak positively about both. Sacred Scripture and Sacred Tradition have much in common. Besides forming the content of Divine Revelation, they form what we call a single Sacred Deposit of Faith. It is called sacred because it comes from God. It is called a deposit because it has been left to us by Christ. It deals with faith because it contains what we must believe if we are to be followers of Christ. These two together, Sacred Scripture and Sacred Tradition form this single deposit. They may not be separated because they are both instruments of God's revelation which is one message. At least four points are shared in common by Sacred Scripture and Sacred Tradition:
1. Both are vehicles for God's revelation.
2. Both trace their origin to the Holy Spirit; Sacred Scripture is found in the sacred text and Sacred Tradition is found in the believing community.
3. Both draw on Christ, the Son of God and the source and summit of God's revelation, Who handed on to the Apostles what He came to teach: "What I say, therefore, I say as the Father has bidden me" (John 12:50).
Still we can speak positively about both. Sacred Scripture and Sacred Tradition have much in common. Besides forming the content of Divine Revelation, they form what we call a single Sacred Deposit of Faith. It is called sacred because it comes from God. It is called a deposit because it has been left to us by Christ. It deals with faith because it contains what we must believe if we are to be followers of Christ. These two together, Sacred Scripture and Sacred Tradition form this single deposit. They may not be separated because they are both instruments of God's revelation which is one message. At least four points are shared in common by Sacred Scripture and Sacred Tradition:
1. Both are vehicles for God's revelation.
2. Both trace their origin to the Holy Spirit; Sacred Scripture is found in the sacred text and Sacred Tradition is found in the believing community.
3. Both draw on Christ, the Son of God and the source and summit of God's revelation, Who handed on to the Apostles what He came to teach: "What I say, therefore, I say as the Father has bidden me" (John 12:50).
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