Is Scripture the only infallible rule of faith, or is Church tradition also binding?
a passage states it a passage rules it out
Common ground
These are affirmed by more than one position, so a passage saying only this counts for none of them.
- Scripture is inspired by God and true
- Scripture is sufficient to refute heretics or to teach the faith (praise of Scripture alone decides nothing)
- Heretics misinterpret Scripture
- The 'rule of faith' or creed summarizes apostolic teaching
- Church teachers and councils are to be respected
Scripture the only infallible rule
Lutheran Reformed Anglican Baptistthe sole rule and standard according to which all dogmas together with [all] teachers should be estimated and judged are the prophetic and apostolic Scriptures of the Old and of the New Testament aloneFormula of Concord, Epitome, Rule and Norm, 1 (1577)
What sets it apart: The passage says nothing may be believed as necessary unless proved from Scripture, or that councils and church teachers are to be judged by Scripture as the final norm.
Formally defined: Formula of Concord (1577); Thirty-Nine Articles (1563/1571); Westminster Confession (1646)
No early passage in the library states it yet.
Scripture with binding Church tradition
Catholic Orthodoxreceives and venerates with an equal affection of piety, and reverence, all the books both of the Old and of the New Testament ... as also the said traditions, as well those appertaining to faith as to moralsCouncil of Trent, Session 4 (1546)
What sets it apart: The passage says some practice or doctrine is held from unwritten apostolic tradition with binding force, or that the Church's tradition holds equal authority with Scripture.
Formally defined: Council of Trent, Session 4 (1546); Synod of Jerusalem, Decree 2 (1672)
No early passage in the library states it yet.
Every deciding passage, earliest first
- No early passage decides between these positions yet.