Extensive reproof above. Thanks be to God for what is good.
A great labor of love for those with stone ears.
The Stromata, Book VII, Chapter XVI Clement (150-215 AD) goes into great detail about the use of scripture and tradition. The chapter title is Scripture the Criterion by Which Truth and Heresy Are Distinguished. He states, in part, the following:
But, as appears, many even down to our own time regard Mary, on account of the birth of her child, as having been in the puerperal state, although she was not. For some say that, after she brought forth, she was found, when examined, to be a virgin."
Now such to us are the Scriptures of the Lord, which gave birth to the truth and continue virgin, in the concealment of the mysteries of the truth. ...
Now all men, having the same judgment, some, following the Word speaking, frame for themselves proofs; while others, giving themselves up to pleasures, wrest Scripture, in accordance with their lusts. And the lover of truth, as I think, needs force of soul. For those who make the greatest attempts must fail in things of the highest importance; unless, receiving from the truth itself the rule of the truth, they cleave to the truth. But such people, in consequence of falling away from the right path, err in most individual points; as you might expect from not having the faculty for judging of what is true and false, strictly trained to select what is essential. For if they had, they would have obeyed the Scriptures.
...For we have, as the source of teaching, the Lord, both by the prophets, the Gospel, and the blessed apostles, "in divers manners and at sundry times," leading from the beginning of knowledge to the end. But if one should suppose that another origin was required, then no longer truly could an origin be preserved.
He, then, who of himself believes the Scripture and voice of the Lord, which by the Lord acts to the benefiting of men, is rightly [regarded] faithful. Certainly we use it as a criterion in the discovery of things....For we may not give our adhesion to men on a bare statement by them, who might equally state the opposite. But if it is not enough to state the opinion, but if what is stated must be confirmed, we do not wait for the testimony of men, but we establish the matter that is in question by the voice of the Lord, which is the surest of all demonstrations, in which knowledge those who have merely tasted the Scriptures are believers...
Clement has far more to say in this chapter-these are only some brief highlights. As Clement points out from the above passage; 1) people were adding to the scripture (note with Mary), 2) people would take passages of scripture and frame heretical beliefs from them, or 3) they use scripture to justify their actions rather than letting scripture expose their corruption.
Most importantly, Clement makes very clear that a truly faithful person will be guided by scripture and the Holy Spirit. "Apostolic tradition" to Clement was the teachings of the apostles. Clement states:
He, then, who of himself believes the Scripture and voice of the Lord, which by the Lord acts to the benefiting of men, is rightly [regarded] as faithful.