[pgyanke]

Nonsense. The Word of God is and should be the rule. Since traditions are often of men the Word of God has to have precedence.

The Bible is the inerrant Word of God. It can't be contradicted. However, it is the story of our salvation, not a how-to on all matters of faith. That is why Jesus promised the Paraclete to always teach the Church. If that weren't so, He could have said, "I will teach the Apostles and you should write it down for all that follow." He didn't do this. He is building His Church (Matt 16:18) and He instructed His Apostles to preach, teach and baptize.

The Bible Itself teaches that it isn't all-inclusive:

John 20:30 And many other signs truly did Jesus in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book:

John 21:25 And there are also many other things which Jesus did, the which, if they should be written every one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that should be written. Amen.

The Church is supposed to fill in the gaps through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. Otherwise, what are we doing here? All revelation has occurred. There is no more to be learned. And yet, we are still supposed to learn and revelation continues to unfold. The Bible Itself points to the Church as the pillar of Truth...

1 Timothy 3:15 But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.

... and warns us against personal interpretation of Scripture...

2 Peter 1:20 Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation.

2 Peter 3: 16 As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction.

I quoted from KJV to avoid translation quibbles (even though it has been shown to have translation issues).

[Biggirl]

The newer Bibles have better translations then the KJV because of better Bible scholarship.

[what's up]

it is the story of our salvation, not a how-to on all matters of faith.

I never said the Bible was a how to on all matters. What I said was if a tradition or practice CONTRADICTS the Bible, the tradition or practice should not stand.

[Iscool]

The Bible is the inerrant Word of God. It can't be contradicted. However, it is the story of our salvation, not a how-to on all matters of faith.

It's a how-to on all matters of salvation...

[smvoice]

"All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works." 2 Tim. 3:16,17.

That pretty much tells me that it IS a "how-to on all matters of faith. Unless there is something you want to believe that is not in God's Word. That's a whole other issue..