The 40 Questions Most Frequently Asked
About The Catholic Church
By Non-Catholics
5. Traditions of Men?
By what right does the Catholic Church teach doctrines which are not found in the Bible? Is this not what St. Mark calls ''Making the word of God of no effect through your traditions?'' or what St. Matthew calls "Teaching for doctrines, the commandments of men"?
This certainly would present a problem for the sincere seeker after truth who believes that all
revelation is found in the Bible and the Bible ALONE.
By tradition we mean the official interpretation of the teaching Church, clarifying the written
teachings of the Apostles. It also includes the UNWRITTEN teaching of the Apostles and the
Church, handed down through the Fathers, the councils, the decisions of the Popes and the liturgy of
the Church.
Scripture is certainly the basis for this tradition. Christ sent His Apostles to teach:
- "All power in heaven and in earth has been given to me. Go, therefore, etc." St. Matt. 28:18-19
They were to teach with His authority and to teach all things He taught. They were to go and
PREACH:
- "Go into the whole world and preach the gospel to EVERY creature." St. Mark 16:15-16
They were to be WITNESSES:
- "In Jerusalem in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the utmost parts of the earth." Acts 1:8
Nowhere is there a command to WRITE anything. And so the Church has the duty and the
commission to teach all things that Christ taught whether or not those things have been committed
specifically to Holy Scripture.
Tradition itself is mentioned by St. Paul:
- "Hold to the form of sound teaching which thou hast heard from me." II Tim. 1:13
Not only was His written word to be obeyed; but also the doctrine committed to them by speech.
- "The things which thou hast heard from me through many witnesses, commend to trustworthy men,
who shall be competent in turn to teach others." II Tim. 2:2
In other words, the teaching of Paul was to be handed down through teachers who were to follow
him. In Romans he says:
- "How then are they to call upon Him whom they have not believed? But how are they to believe Him whom they have not heard? ... And how are men to preach unless they be sent?" Romans 10:14-15
We must remember that before the last Apostle, St. John, died, there had already been a succession
of four Popes -- St. Peter (33-67), Linus (67-79), Cletus (79-91), Clement (91-100).
These men who were accepted by the whole Christian Church as the supreme authorities in matters
of faith and morals, were teaching before the New Testament was completed. All the Apostles,
moreover, except John, were dead BEFORE the entire New Testament was written.
So Catholics do not believe that they are teaching doctrines of MEN, or the traditions of men, or
commandments of men. They are teaching DIVINE tradition.
In the texts mentioned in the question, Matthew 15:9 and Mark 7:13, Christ is speaking of the
Pharisees and their UNREASONABLE commandments.
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