[Wonder Warthog]

"Being a part of a culture, you would naturally use cultural references — that Jesus did this with Hebrew culture does not mean that Hebrew culture is superior.

Uh, I never said Hebrew culture was superior....just that Jesus taught from both the Hebrew written scripture AND the spoken Hebrew religious tradition. Note that that does not imply that Hebrew written scripture and Hebrew spoken tradition are "on an equal footing".

"I'm sorry; but nowhere do I see that tradition should be set on equal footing with scripture

Of course you can't see it. You're a Protestant, and have been taught from your childhood that "only the Bible" is valid. But the simple fact is that I have claimed no such thing.

"nowhere does the Bible say that tradition can save, yet we are told to "receive with meekness the implanted word that has the power to save your souls" (James 1:21)

Uh, "implanted word" could refer to either written OR spoken word.

"John does not say "in the beginning was the tradition, and the tradition was with God, and the tradition was God […] and the tradition became flesh and lived among us"; no, John says that of the word — that is why Jesus fulfills the Law, the Prophets, and the Scripture: He is the Word."

And God SAID, let there be light...... Note...NOT "..and God WROTE". God SPOKE, THEN he "wrote" the universe. Note that the spoken word came first.

"And see the above: the very fact that the word creates he universe undermines the assertion you make that tradition is on equal footing.

Again...."God SAID"....not "God WROTE". If anything, the ordering implies that tradition (spoken word) is superior to scripture (written word). Not that I am by any means claiming that.

But I think that since Jesus himself used both written AND spoken Hebrew concepts says AT MINIMUM that the New Testament writings and Christian tradition are both valid sources of knowledge and understanding about Jesus and salvation......NOT "sola scriptura".

[OneWingedShark]

You are wrong; verbal communication is not tradition.
That there is spoken word does not make something tradition.

tradition

1. the handing down of statements, beliefs, legends, customs, information, etc., from generation to generation, especially by word of mouth or by practice: a story that has come down to us by popular tradition.
2. something that is handed down: the traditions of the Eskimos.
3. a long-established or inherited way of thinking or acting: The rebellious students wanted to break with tradition.
4. a continuing pattern of culture beliefs or practices.
5. a customary or characteristic method or manner: The winner took a victory lap in the usual track tradition.
6. Theology.
   1. (among Jews) body of laws and doctrines, or any one of them, held to have been received from Moses and originally handed down orally from generation to generation.
   2. (among Christians) a body of teachings, or any one of them, held to have been delivered by Christ and His apostles but not originally committed to writing.
   3. (among Muslims) a hadith.
7. Law. an act of handing over something to another, especially in a formal legal manner; delivery; transfer.

Note that the theology/Jews definition is... misleading; otherwise Jesus would not have been able to say by your tradition you make the law of God of no effect.