Scripture Is Tradition, but Tradition Is Not Limited to Scripture

The post presents the Orthodox understanding of the relationship between Scripture and Holy Tradition through a series of points. It states that Scripture and Holy Tradition are not competing authorities; rather, Scripture is the divinely inspired written expression of Holy Tradition, and both transmit the same apostolic faith entrusted to the Church through Christ and the apostles.

Scripture exists within Tradition, not outside or independent of it. Before the New Testament was written and compiled, the Church was already preaching, baptizing, celebrating the Eucharist, and transmitting apostolic doctrine. The apostles did not establish Christianity by handing out a completed Bible; they transmitted the faith through preaching, worship, oral instruction, and eventually written testimony.

The Church did not emerge from the New Testament canon; the New Testament emerged from the Church. St. Paul commands Christians to preserve the apostolic teachings transmitted both orally and in writing, citing 2 Thessalonians 2:15: "So then, brethren, stand firm and hold to the traditions which you were taught by us, either by word of mouth or by letter."

The Greek word παραδόσεις (paradoseis) means "that which is handed down" or "transmitted." St. Paul makes no distinction in authority between apostolic teachings delivered orally and those delivered through written epistles. The post also addresses the formation of the canon, noting that the New Testament did not arrive with an inspired table of contents labeling its own canon.

The Church received, preserved, and circulated the apostolic writings over centuries. The same Church that transmitted the apostolic faith also recognized its authoritative written testimony as Tradition. To accept the canon of Scripture is to acknowledge the historical process of its transmission through Church Tradition.

The final point reiterates: Scripture is Tradition, but Tradition is not limited to Scripture.