That was a typo! What I meant to write was
"The Scriptures are from God."
Surely we all know that.
They come to us through a chain of custody and transmission, just as does everything that was handed down to us.
Otherwise, they would not be here for us today, since none --- not one --- of the original autograph manuscripts is now in existence, as far as we know.
What we have is what came to us through a chain of human beings who, obedient to God and reverent towards His revelation, copied, replicated, annotated, published, translated, laid down their lives to propagate and to defend.
This "handing down" is, literally, Tradition.
And one of the precious things handed down to us from this chain of transmission, this God-pleasing succession of faithful human beings, is Scripture.
And just as the Chosen People existed for a long, long time (how many generations from Abraham to Moses?) before there was a written Torah, the Church existed a long time (many generations) before there was a complete canon of Scripture.
Did you ever consider the fact that Paul urged his local churches to be faithful to the Gospel many times --- surely hundreds of times ---- before one written Gospel even existed?
His converts didn't become Christians because they had read a text and believed some written testimony. They believed because the Gospel --- the Good News of salvation in Christ --- was conveyed he them by preaching (Oral Tradition)---- faith comes from hearing and by the conduct and example of Paul and his many fellow workers.
This was inspired, and authoritative too. Not just the relatively few selections that were written down.
"The Scriptures are from God."
Surely we all know that.
I'm glad to hear you clear that up....though we've been told numerous times the Roman Catholic church "gave" us Scripture.
This "handing down" is, literally, Tradition.
No it's not. "Tradition" comprises Roman Catholic beliefs not found in the NT.
It would be better to call this transmission.
And just as the Chosen People existed for a long, long time (how many generations from Abraham to Moses?) before there was a written Torah, the Church existed a long time (many generations) before there was a complete canon of Scripture.
And God would visit them. I'd rather have the visit than the word....I think!
Did you ever consider the fact that Paul urged his local churches to be faithful to the Gospel many times --- surely hundreds of times ---- before one written Gospel even existed?
You forget they had the OT. One can understand Christ in the OT.
His converts didn't become Christians because they had read a text and believed some written testimony. They believed because the Gospel --- the Good News of salvation in Christ --- was conveyed he them by preaching (Oral Tradition)----
I agree there was preaching of the Gospel.
However, what Paul didn't tell them was the Immaculate Conception, the Assumption, purgatory, indulgences, etc.
...faith comes from hearing and by the conduct and example of Paul and his many fellow workers.
To be correct....16However, they did not all heed the good news; for Isaiah says, “LORD, WHO HAS BELIEVED OUR REPORT?” 17So faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ. Romans 10:16-17 NASB
Note: Paul referred back to the written word in this passage.
In fact, he cites the written word many times in Romans and his other writings. The appeal to the text is always there.