Beth-El Baptist Church
03/05/06
Greg Tomlinson
Is there any truth to the three authorities identified in the Roman Catechism (Tradition, Magisterium, Scripture)?
According to Roman Catholic doctrine there are three authorities, each with the same equal authority and yet it is fundamentally over this issue that the church split into two predominate group the Catholics and the Protestants.
1. What is tradition?
According to Webster’s 1828 dictionary tradition is “The delivery of opinions, doctrines, practices, rites and customs from father to son, or from ancestors to posterity; the transmission of any opinions or practice from forefathers to descendants by oral communication, without written memorials.”
Traditions, for purposes of discussion, are the passing down of religious beliefs and activities and are adhered to due to the authority of those passing them down regardless of their truth and usefulness.
2. What does Jesus say about tradition as authority?
Matthew 15:1-9
Mark 7:1-13
According to Jesus tradition is not to be the ultimate authority since it can and will contradict the commandments of God. The commandments of God are found in the scriptures and Jesus is more specifically speaking about the Pentateuch, the Law of Moses. A tradition that is contrary to the written word of God is an invalid tradition.
3. What are other scriptures regarding the role of tradition?
Colossians 2:8
2 Thessalonians 3:6-12
1 Peter 1:17-23
We need to be very careful about what we believe regarding what we have been told is true. There are many traditions that are contrary to scripture and Paul encourages us to be careful of them so that we follow after Christ and not after men’s teachings and philosophies.
According to Paul, we also need to follow certain traditions. These would be traditions that encourage diligent activity so that we do not become a burden on anybody. These traditions would also ultimately find their source in the scriptures for they and they alone describe what is meant by disorderly conduct.
4. What is the Magisterium?
According to the Catholic Dictionary, Magisterium is
“The Church's divinely appointed authority to teach the truths of religion,
"Going therefore, teach ye all nations... teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you" (Matt. xxviii, 19-20). This teaching is infallible: "And behold I am with you all days, even to the consummation of the world" (ibid.).
The solemn magisterium is that which is exercised only rarely by formal and authentic definitions of councils or popes. Its matter comprises dogmatic definitions of æcumenical councils or of the popes teaching ex cathedra, or of particular councils, if their decrees are universally accepted or approved in solemn form by the pope; also creeds and professions of faith put forward or solemnly approved by pope or æcumenical council. The ordinary magisterium is continually exercised by the Church especially in her universal practices connected with faith and morals, in the unanimous consent of the Fathers (q.v.) and theologians, in the decisions of Roman Congregations concerning faith and morals, in the common sense (q.v.) of the faithful, and various historical documents in which the faith is declared. All these are founts of a teaching which as a whole is infallible. They have to be studied separately to determine how far and in what conditions each of them is an infallible source of truth.”
The understanding of the magisterium is the hierarchy of priests, bishops, and terminating in the pope. It is these officials of the Roman Catholic Church who are ultimately responsible for the definitions and teachings of the Catholic faith.
5. What does Jesus say about Magisterium?
Matthew 23:1-10
In this passage there are many things that Jesus says about magisterium or human authority in regards to spiritual and religious matters. Jesus says to obey them but do not follow after them. The obedience is out of respect for their position of authority. Your actions, however, is to be different. As Christians we are not to create heavy burdens or actions related to obedience for others. We are to live according to our own teachings and not bring attention to ourselves as spiritual and religious leaders. We are to be servants.
Jesus also says that we are not to call others Rabbi, teacher, master or father. This is again in regard to spiritual and religious matters. No man is to be responsible for our obedience to the Word of God for we are to be obedient to the scriptures more than to men.
6. What are other scriptures regarding the role of the magisterium?
Acts 5:28-31
1 Corinthians 4:15-17; 11:1
Ephesians 5:1-2
Philippians 3:17-20
1 Thessalonians 1:6-7
Hebrews 6:10-12; 13:7, 17
Although we are to be obedient to those in authority over us they are not to be more authoritative than God. The limitation of the authority of the magisterium is God. Those that call us to be obedient to what God clearly says are to be obeyed, but those who call us to be disobedient to God are not to be obeyed. Either way our example is to be Jesus Christ who is the living word of God. Thus it is the scriptures that supplant magisterium as authoritative.
7.
What is scripture?
According to the Webster’s 1828 Dictionary, scripture is “Appropriately, and by
way of distinction, the books of the Old and New Testament; the Bible”
Scriptures is what is found between the covers of the Bible.
8. What does Jesus say about scripture?
Matthew 4:3-10; 21:42; 22:29; 26:54-56
Luke 4:21; 10:26; 24:27; 45
John 5:39; 7:38; 10:35; 13:18; 17:17
Jesus sees the scriptures at the ultimate authority for arbitration of all matters. When asked questions, Jesus often resorted to pointing the questioner back to the scriptures. During the temptation by Satan, Jesus overcame the temptation by use of the scriptures.
9. What are other scriptures regarding the role of the scriptures?
Acts 17:2-3, 11; 18:28
Romans 10:11; 15:4
1 Corinthians 15:3-4
Galatians 3:22; 4:30
1 Timothy 5:18
2 Timothy 3:14-17
James 2:8-9
2 Peter 1:20-21
It is the scriptures that are the real authority for they were given directly by God. They are then the very Word of God. They are not just words about God, but they are words from God and they guide us through life. They are to be read, understood, preached, and obeyed.
10. How should a Christian reconcile these authorities?
Matthew 6:24
1 Corinthians 11:1
Ephesians 5:1-2
In a nutshell, we do not reconcile these authorities. It is scripture and scripture alone that is our true authority. The difficulty with multiple authorities is that ultimately one of them will have to give way to another and it ceases to be the authority. It is impossible to obey scriptures, men, and tradition when one or more disagrees with the other. As long as they are in agreement, everything is fine. Once there is disagreement then one must by necessity take the priority.
We are to have only one true and final authority. While traditions and magisterium may not be bad, they are not to replace scripture. Scripture is the final authority for it is the very word of God. We are called to follow not after men, or their teachings but we are to follow after God, after Jesus Christ. As long as the men under whose teaching we sit follow after Jesus then we are to follow after them.