Scripture, Tradition, or Both?

Protestants who believe in sola scriptura insist that Catholic Tradition are not "biblical", but rather are traditions of men. They quote Mark 7:4-13 as proof:

"and when they come from the market place, they do not eat unless they purify themselves; and there are many other traditions which they observe, the washing of cups and pots and vessels of bronze.) And the Pharisees and the scribes asked him, "Why do your disciples not live according to the tradition of the elders, but eat with hands defiled?" And he said to them, "Well did Isaiah prophesy of you hypocrites, as it is written, 'This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me; in vain do they worship me, teaching as doctrines the precepts of men.' You leave the commandment of God, and hold fast the tradition of men." And he said to them, "You have a fine way of rejecting the commandment of God, in order to keep your tradition! For Moses said, 'Honor your father and your mother'; and, 'He who speaks evil of father or mother, let him surely die'; but you say, 'If a man tells his father or his mother, What you would have gained from me is Corban' (that is, given to God) then you no longer permit him to do anything for his father or mother, thus making void the word of God through your tradition which you hand on. And many such things you do."

A common problem with such an argument is the lack of contextual support for the proposition; for example, this passage is actually dealing with the Pharisees' selfish adaption of the Corban Rule to benefit themselves. In other words, the tradition Jesus was attacking was this tradition the Pharisees had initiated which eliminated the covenant bond and responsibilities of taking care of one's parents. Jesus was not attacking Tradition itself. Devastating to the Protestant argument is the fact that Mark 7:6-8 shows Jesus quoting a version of Isaiah 29:13 found only in the Greek Septuagint - which contains the Old Testament canon rejected by Protestants!

Jesus was careful to distinguish between true doctrinal tradition and sinful behavior of men. He acknowledged the authority of the Pharisees, who sit on "Moses' seat", despite their shortcomings, saying:

The scribes and Pharisees sit on Moses’ seat; so practice and observe whatever they tell you, but not what they do; for they preach, but do not practice" (Matt. 23:2-3)

In addition to never claiming it is the sole rule of faith, the Bible specifically asserts that not all of the Gospel is contained in it:

"But there are also many other things which Jesus did; were every one of them to be written, I suppose that the world itself could not contain the books that would be written."(John 21:25)

From the times during the Old Testament, sacred Tradition included an oral component:

"And as for me, this is my covenant with them, says the Lord: my spirit which is upon you, and my words which I have put in your mouth, shall not depart out of your mouth, or out of the mouth of your children, or out of the mouth of your children's children, says the Lord, from this time forth and for evermore." (Is 59:21)

Indeed, one of the prophesies fulfilled by the birth of Jesus was that "He shall be called a Nazarene" (Mt 2:23), yet that prophesy is found nowhere in the Old Testament. Clearly, there were things passed down orally instead of being written down. The words of Jesus make it clear that this process was to continue:

"He who hears you hears me, and he who rejects you rejects me, and he who rejects me rejects him who sent me." (Lk 10:16)

Even Jesus' promise of the Holy Spirit's guidance would take place in this same manner:

"When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth; for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come." (Jn 16:13)

In fact, after the Apostles were commanded by Jesus to "preach the gospel" (note the command was not to write a Bible), John states that he would prefer not to have to write:

"Though I have much to write to you, I would rather not use paper and ink, but I hope to come to see you and talk with you face to face, so that our joy may be complete." (2 John 12)

St. Paul also encourages tradition:

"So then, brethren, stand firm and hold to the traditions which you were taught by us, either by word of mouth or by letter." (2 Thess 2:15)

"I commend you because you remember me in everything and maintain the traditions even as I have delivered them to you." (1 Cor 11:2 )

"What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, do; and the God of peace will be with you." (Phil 4:9 )

"Take as your norm the sound words that you heard from me, in the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus." (2 Timothy 1:13 )

Finally, in Jesus' moving prayer for Christian unity, He refers to an oral Tradition:

"I do not pray for these only, but also for those who believe in me through their word, that they may all be one; even as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that thou hast sent me." (Jn 17:20-21 )

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