Analogy Apologetics book · Chapter 14 · Divine Revelation
Debated Verses: Scripture, Tradition & Church Authority
Work through sixteen passages often used in Catholic–Protestant discussions. In each passage, focus on the highlighted word or phrase, choose the reading that best fits the text, and then examine the Scripture chain that supports the Catholic interpretation and exposes what the competing readings leave unexplained.
Scripture · Tradition · Apostolic transmission · Church authority
What does the passage actually say?
Read the verse first. Choose the interpretation on the strength of the biblical text.
Verse 1 of 16
0 / 16 first tryHighlighted focus:
Choose the interpretation that best fits the passage.
Scripture chain
These passages support the correct reading and show what the competing interpretations fail to account for.
Read the passage in the RSV-CE ↗
How the passages fit together
Human vs. apostolic traditionMatthew 15, Mark 7, Colossians 2, 1 Corinthians 11, and 2 Thessalonians 2 distinguish human traditions that oppose God from apostolic traditions Christians are commanded to preserve.
Written and unwritten transmission2 Timothy 2, John 20–21, Acts 20, Jude, and 1 Corinthians 15 show a received apostolic deposit transmitted through preaching, memory, and teaching as well as writing.
A visible teaching Church1 Timothy 3 and Matthew 16 and 18 place truth, judgment, keys, and binding/loosing authority within the Church Christ established.
Scripture quotations are from the Revised Standard Version, Catholic Edition (RSV-CE). Matthew 15:1–9 and Mark 7:1–13 are excerpted to concentrate on the disputed wording while preserving the surrounding argument. The exercise does not claim that every religious custom is Sacred Tradition; it distinguishes apostolic Tradition from human traditions that contradict God.