"Ok; where is the EVIDENCE of 'Apostolic tradition' to be found in the bible?"
1 Cor. 11:2
2 Thess. 2:15
2 Thess. 3:6
2 Tim. 2:2 ....
from Paul.
And on to John: what is the significance of this: "There are also many other things that Jesus did, but if these were t be described individually, I do not think the whole world would contain the books that would be written"? This same John recalls Jesus saying this: "The Advocate, the Holy Spirit Whom the Father will send in My Name --- He will teach you everything and remind you of all I have told you."
Ether John's saying it's all insignificant and not worth looking into,
~OR~ there's much --- not a little, but "much"---- which the Holy Spirit is going to remind and teach the Church.
John come back to this unwritten "much-ness" repeatedly:
2 John 1:12 - "Although I have much to write to you, I do not intend to use paper and ink, Instead, I hope to visit you and speak face to face so that our joy may be complete."
And
3 John 1:13-14 - "I have much to write to you, but I do not wish to write with pen and ink. Instead, I hope to see you soon, when we can talk face to face."
Again: insignificant? Or so significant that he insistently repeated it and said he had to tell them face to face?
How would you find out what was taught by the Apostles bet not written in the Four Gospels or the NT Letters? Would it be reasonable to look into the writings of their disciples?
Disciples of John the Evangelist
OK, is there another reasonably way? How about looking at the local churches St. John and his disciples founded, and find out what teachings and practices they have faithfully transmitted through the earliest centuries as of Apostolic origin?
If you find substantial agreement on doctrines and practices from one end of the Church to the other --- local churches in Asia, Africa, and Europe -- which the churches treasure as having been handed on to them by the Apostolic founders, isn't that evidence of the Holy Spirit leading all these churches in the same direction?
Or did the Church just kinda "peter out" after the first century, whereupon the Holy Spirit, forgetting He was to remind them of "everything," curled up and fell asleep? --- not to reawaken until 1400 years later, when this is what he "reminded" the "reformed" churches: "Verily, forget all that stuff"? I
And
3 John 1:13-14 - "I have much to write to you, but I do not wish to write with pen and ink. Instead, I hope to see you soon, when we can talk face to face."
Prideful Catholics; so SURE that the ECFs did a GOOD job in filling in the gaps of teaching in the book that Rome assembled.
Poor Catholics; so SURE that the ECFs did a BAD job in filling in the gaps of teaching in the book that Rome assembled; that their Dear Mary; the Untier of Knots; has had to make NUMEROUS appearances on Earth to add even MORE stuff that evidently got left out; too!
Disciples of John the Evangelist
OK, is there another reasonably way? How about looking at the local churches St. John and his disciples founded, and find out what teachings and practices they have faithfully transmitted through the earliest centuries as of Apostolic origin?
I'll bite; just what DID these guys write about the FALSE teachiungs and practices evidenced in the first three chapters of that final book that JOHN wrote?
What do they say about them?
I'm sure you have the data at your fingertips that you will share with your Noobies at Easter; Right?