2 Modes of Transmission of Divine Revelation

• Sacred Tradition
• Sacred Scripture

In keeping with the Lord's command, the Gospel was handed on in two ways: Orally by the apostles who handed on, by the spoken word of their preaching, by the example they gave, by the institution the established, what they themselves received - whether from the lips of Christ, from his way of life and his works, or whether they had learned it at the prompting of the Holy Spirit; in Writing by those apostles and other men associated with the apostles who, under the inspiration of the same Holy Spirit, committed the message of salvation to writing.[1]

Sacred Sripture and Sacred Tradition make up a single sacred deposit of faith. Although they are two distinct modes of transmitting the Word of God, they have one common source: the Incarnate Word, Jesus Christ. Born of them, therefore, must be accepted and honored with equal sentiments of devotion and reverence The Scripture itself affirms that it does not offer a complete account of what Jesus did (cf. Jn. 21:25), so there must be another source of faith, namely the Christian Tradition.

The Christian Tradition is Contained:

• in the early Church History
• in the decrees of early Councils
• in primitive liturgies
• in the Acts of the Martyrs
• in the books of the early Fathers and Doctors of the Church and ecclesiastical writers
• in inscriptions in the Catacombs
• on Christian archaeological monuments

The Magisterium of the Church is the living teaching office of the Church, that is, the Pope and the Bishops in communion with him. It has the authority to interpret authentically the word of God whether in its written or oral form, which its exercises in the name of Jesus Christ. Its task are to listen devoutly to the word of God, to guard it delicately, and to expound it faithfully. [2]

Sources: 

1. Catechism of the Catholic Church, 76
2. De Guzman C. SThD. (2006) The Faith Enumerated. Pasay, Philippines: Daughters of St. Paul.

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Author

AB-Philosophy undergraduate at Notre Dame of Marbel University.