What is the apostolic tradition? What is the difference if any between apostolic tradition and the Bible?
A lot of misconception around the meaning of Tradition has been circulating in the midst of Christian communities, to the extent that some ideologies have based their teachings on scriptures only.
Apostolic Tradition is correctly defined as the Apostolic deposit of faith. The Christian faith is not just a mere concept in mind and thought but it is also lived. As we see in the book of Acts:
“Then those who gladly received his word were baptized; and that day about three thousand souls were added to them.And they continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers.” - Acts 2:41-42
Since the foundation of the church by our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, the apostles preached the Gospel (the good news) and taught the believers the faith and how to live it (practice it). Even St Paul the apostle says the following:
“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
“So then, brethren, stand firm and hold to the traditions that you were taught by us, either by word of mouth or by letter”- 2 Thes 2:15
“Now we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you keep away from any brother who is living in idleness and not in accord with the tradition that you received from us” - 2 Thes 3:6
Looking into how the church understood and practiced its faith since first-century Christianity, we see early important Christian figures (Church Fathers) that comment on Apostolic Tradition as the following:
“As I have already observed, the Church, having received this preaching and this faith, although scattered throughout the whole world, yet, as if occupying but one house, carefully preserves it. She also believes these points [of doctrine] just as if she had but one soul, and one and the same heart, and she proclaims them, and teaches them, and hands them down, with perfect harmony, as if she possessed only one mouth. For, although the languages of the world are dissimilar, yet the import of the Tradition is one and the same. For the churches that have been planted in Germany do not believe or hand down anything different, nor do those in Spain, nor those in Gaul, nor those in the East, nor those in Egypt, nor those in Libya, nor those that have been established in the central regions of the world. But as the sun, that creature of God, is one and the same throughout the whole world, so also the preaching of the truth shines everywhere, and enlightens all men who are willing to come to a knowledge of the truth. Nor will any one of the rulers in the churches, however eloquent he may be, teach doctrines different from these (for no one is greater than the Master); nor, on the other hand, will he who is deficient in power of expression inflict injury on the Tradition. For the faith being ever one and the same neither does one who is able at great length to discourse about it make any addition to it, nor does one who can say but little, diminish it.”
St. Irenaus Bishop of Lyon in Against Heresies 1:10:2 (A.D. 189)
“They preserving the Tradition of the blessed doctrine derived directly from the holy apostles, Peter, James, John, and Paul, the sons receiving it from the father (but few were like the fathers), came by God’s will to us also to deposit those ancestral and apostolic seeds. And well I know that they will exult; I do not mean delighted with this tribute, but on account of the preservation of the truth, according as they delivered it. For such a sketch as this, will, I think, be agreeable to a soul desirous of preserving the blessed Tradition.”
St Clement of Alexandria Miscellanies 1:1 (A.D. 207)
“[T]here are many who think they hold the opinions of Christ, and yet some of these think differently from their predecessors, yet, as the teaching of the Church, transmitted in orderly succession from the apostles, and remaining in the churches to the present day, is still preserved, that alone is to be accepted as truth that differs in no respect from ecclesiastical and apostolic Tradition.”
Origin Fundamental Doctrines Preface 2 (A.D. 225)
“[T]he Church is one, and as she is one, cannot be both within and without. For if she is with Novatian, she was not with Cornelius. But if she was with Cornelius, who succeeded the bishop Fabian by lawful ordination, and whom, beside the honor of the priesthood, the Lord glorified also with martyrdom, Novatian is not in the Church; nor can he be reckoned as a bishop, who, succeeding to no one, and despising the evangelical and apostolic Tradition, sprang from himself. For he who has not been ordained in the Church can neither have nor hold to the Church in any way.”
St. Cyprian of Carthage Letters 75:3 (A.D. 254)
“At that time there flourished in the Church Hegesippus, whom we know from what has gone before, and Dionysius, bishop of Corinth, and another bishop, Pinytus of Crete, and besides these, Philip, and Apollinarius, and Melito, and Musanus, and Modestus, and finally, Irenaeus. From them has come down to us in writing the sound and orthodox faith received from apostolic Tradition.”
Eusebius of Caesarea Church History 4:21:1 (A.D. 312)
“Again we write, again keeping to the apostolic traditions, we remind each other when we come together for prayer; and keeping the feast in common, with one mouth we truly give thanks to the Lord. Thus giving thanks unto him, and being followers of the saints, “we shall make our praise in the Lord all the day,” as the Psalmist says. So, when we rightly keep the feast, we shall be counted worthy of the joy that is in heaven.”
St Athanasius of Alexandria Festal Letters 2:7 (A.D. 330)
“Of the beliefs and practices that are preserved in the Church, whether generally accepted or publicly enjoined, some we possess derive from written teaching; others we have received “in a mystery” by the Tradition of the Apostles; and both of these have the same force in relation to true religion. And these no one will gainsay—no one, at all events, who is even moderately versed in the institutions of the Church. For were we to attempt to reject such customs as have no written authority, on the ground that the importance they possess is small, we should unintentionally injure the gospel in its very vitals; or, rather, should make our public definition a mere phrase and nothing more.”
St Basil the Great The Holy Spirit 27:66 (A.D. 375)
““So then, brethren, stand fast, and hold the traditions that you were taught, whether by word, or by letter of ours.” From this it is manifest that they did not deliver all things by letter, but many things also unwritten, and in like manner both the one and the other are worthy of credit. Therefore let us think the Tradition of the Church also worthy of credit. It is a Tradition, seek no farther.”
St John Chrysostom Homilies on Second Thessalonians 4:15 (c. A.D. 402)
This is just a small extract of the rich teachings on Holy Tradition, one can see important Christian figures (church fathers) from different eras in different geographical locations proclaiming the same faith, and the same teachings and asking the church to always preserve the Apostolic Tradition.
