Chrism

Traditions come from the teachings of the Apostles

It must be noted that many of the Apostles did not write epistles and their work is not in the Bible. It is hard to believe however, that they did not follow the Lord’s command and preach the word. Certainly the Holy Spirit worked through them and they preached and taught abundantly. Their work and teachings however are not written. The Apostle James wrote only one epistle, does that mean that is all he taught?

Very little of what the Apostles preached was actually written down. They preached in Jerusalem, Judaea, Samaria, and Rome until many believed. The Apostle Paul stayed in a house in Rome for two years and preached the Kingdom of God. It would be impossible to have all he taught written down.

It is not reasonable to assume that the Apostles, after having receiving all the teachings directly from the Lord, did not leave any laws and disciplines to direct the church and her affairs. These disciplines concerning the church were not written in the epistles because they were not for the public. Undoubtedly those disciplines reached us through tradition and entrustment from generation to generation.

St. John the Apostle says “Having many things to write to you, I did not wish to do so with paper and ink; but I hope to come to you and speak face to face” (2 John 12). He repeats this again in 3 John 13, 14. It is clear that the Apostles preferred speaking to writing when it was convenient for them, and it is fair to believe that these teachings have reached us through tradition.

The Epistles are mainly concerned with the main principles of faith and they leave the details of the Church disciplines and rituals to the practical arrangements of the churches. People were learning them not from written books, but through practicing and living the life of the church.

St. Paul says to the Corinthians: “And the rest I will set in order when I come” (1 Cor. 11:34). What did he set in order when he came? He also said to his disciple Titus, “For this reason I left you in Crete, that you should set in order the things that are lacking, and appoint elders in every city as I commanded you” (Titus 1: 5). How was Titus to set things in order and how was he to appoint elders “as he was commanded”? The details of the command are not recorded in writing, but the disciple learned them verbally and “face to face,” and such teachings have reached us through Tradition.

Another example is when St. Paul said to his disciple Timothy, “And the things that you have heard from me among many witnesses, commit these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also” (2 Tim 2:2). He specifically says “heard” and not “write.” He did not say what the teaching was but undoubtedly, that teaching was entrusted from St. Paul to St. Timothy and then to the “faithful men” of the church who continued such entrustment until it reached us.

Those who insist on proving everything by a verse from the Holy Bible disregard what the Apostles said about “face to face” communication during their ministry (2 John 12). They also ignore the Apostles instructions concerning the churches, which they did not write down (1 Cor. 11:34). They further ignore all the commands from the Apostles to their disciples, and the Apostolic teachings which turned into life and practice in the Church, without being a verse in the Bible.

– From Sermons and Writings of His Holiness Pope Shenouda, III.