Many Christians believe the Bible alone contains everything God intended to reveal. But what did Christ actually entrust to His Apostles?
The Catholic Church has always taught that one Divine Revelation was handed down in two inseparable ways: Sacred Scripture, the inspired written Word of God, and Sacred Tradition, the living Word faithfully transmitted through the Apostles.
These are not two different revelations. They flow from the same divine source, together form the Deposit of Faith, and are faithfully preserved and authentically interpreted by the Church under the guidance of the Holy Ghost.
As Saint Paul writes:
“Therefore, brethren, stand fast; and hold the traditions which you have learned, whether by word, or by our epistle.”
— 2 Thessalonians 2:14 (Douay–Rheims)
Drawing upon Sacred Scripture, the Roman Catechism, the Catechism of St. Pius X, the Fathers of the Church, and traditional Catholic theology, this Short explains why Sacred Scripture and Sacred Tradition cannot be separated.
