Irenaeus, Tradition and Scripture
Today being the feast day of St. Irenaeus, I thought I’d point out that Irenaeus (though not in a perfect way) shows how the Apostolic Tradition is the proclaimed message of the Apostles that was later transcribed into Scripture: “We have learned from none others the plan of our salvation, than from those through whom the Gospel has come down to us, which they did at one time proclaim in public, and, at a later period, by the will of God, handed down to us in the Scriptures, to be the ground and pillar of our faith” (Against Heretics, 3.1.1). Two simple things to notice. First, observe how Irenaeus uses the technical phrase of the body of tradition being passed on, “handed down to us in Scripture”. The Scripture is the “handed down” tradition. Second, this follows the pattern of Paul himself, who wrote, “Therefore, brethren, stand fast and hold the traditions which you were taught, whether by word or our epistle” (2 Thessalonians 2.15). Not only are they (by word or by letter) autho...