The bond of Scripture and tradition

WORD OF FAITH: A breakdown of each week's upcoming Sunday readings to better understand the Word of God at Mass.

But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace to me was not without effect. — 1 Cor 15:10

In Sunday’s reading from 1 Corinthians 15, Saint Paul reminds the Corinthians of the Gospel he proclaimed, the same Gospel he received. This is a profound declaration: the Gospel is not something Paul invented, but a treasure handed down to him and entrusted to others. 

This passage offers us a window into the heart of what we call Sacred tradition, one of the two fonts of Divine Revelation, along with Sacred Scripture. Tradition is not simply the repetition of old customs; it is the living transmission of God’s Word, given to the apostles and passed down through the Church, under the guidance of the Holy Spirit. 

The Second Vatican Council’s document “Dei Verbum” (The Word of God) beautifully articulates the relationship between Scripture and tradition. It teaches: “Sacred tradition and Sacred Scripture make up a single sacred deposit of the Word of God, which is entrusted to the Church.” (Dei Verbum, 10)

Tradition and Scripture are inseparable because they both flow from the same divine source. Scripture is the written Word of God, while tradition preserves and transmits the fullness of the faith that Christ entrusted to the apostles. Together, they nourish and guide the Church, ensuring that the Gospel remains alive and effective in every age. 

The Catechism echoes ”Dei Verbum” and highlights how tradition operates: “Through tradition, the Church, in her doctrine, life and worship, perpetuates and transmits to every generation all that she herself is, all that she believes.” (CCC 78) This dynamic, living tradition is not static or outdated. It grows and deepens through prayer, study and the lived experience of the faithful. 

Pope Benedict XVI often spoke of tradition as a living encounter with Christ. He taught: “Tradition is not a collection of things or words, like a box of dead things. Tradition is the river of new life that flows from the origins, from Christ down to us, and makes us participate in God’s history with humanity.” 

For Benedict, tradition is dynamic — it connects us to Christ through the Church and allows the Holy Spirit to continually renew us. This perspective reminds us that tradition is not about preserving the past for its own sake; it is about living the faith here and now, in continuity with the apostles and the saints. 

Pope Francis emphasizes that tradition is inherently missionary. He says: “Tradition is the guarantee of the future, it is the root from which we take the sap that makes the tree grow … (It) is like the roots of the tree, which give life so that the tree grows, flowers and bears fruit.” 

Tradition equips us to bring the Gospel to the modern world. It is not a museum piece, but a source of strength and vitality, enabling the Church to respond to new challenges while remaining faithful to her mission. Just as Paul handed on the Gospel to the Corinthians, so are we called to share the faith in ways that resonate with our time, always grounded in the truth. 

Tradition is most vividly expressed in the lives of the saints. Consider the great saints who handed on the faith in their time, such as Saint Augustine, Saint Francis of Assisi or Saint Teresa of Avila. Their lives were steeped in Scripture and tradition, yet they found ways to present the faith anew to their contemporaries. Their witness shows us how tradition is both faithful and creative. It is faithful because it preserves the unchanging truth of the Gospel; it is creative because it finds new ways to communicate that truth in the language of every age. 

Saint Paul’s words to the Corinthians challenge us to ask: How are we handing on what we have received? Tradition is not something we simply inherit; it is something we are called to participate in. Every time we teach the faith to our children, live out the Gospel in our daily lives, or bring Christ’s love to others, we are participating in the living tradition of the Church. 

In a world that often values innovation over fidelity, the Church’s tradition reminds us of the timeless truths that anchor us. Yet it also calls us to be creative and missionary, finding new ways to proclaim the Gospel to a world in need. 

As we reflect on Sunday’s reading, let us give thanks for the gift of tradition, through which we encounter Christ and share in the richness of the faith. Let us commit to preserving and sharing this treasure, remembering the words of Pope Francis: “Tradition is the root from which we take the sap that makes the tree grow.”

May the Holy Spirit guide us in living and handing on the faith, so that, like Saint Paul, we may one day say with confidence: “I handed on to you as of first importance what I also received.”