In the narrow sense tradition refers to the content of the Church's post-apostolic tradition. The church's tradition
is its lived and living faith.
Scripture is seen in the Church as divine revelation which is God's self-manifestation in history and society, which is realized in words and deeds. The books of the Old Testament (OT) narrate and interpret these events so that in them God's own design for human beings and ultimately the unfathomable mystery of the divine life itself, may shine forth. The New Testament (NT) is centred on the final event of salvation history on Jesus Christ. The NT books contain the early life of Jesus of Nazareth, his life, death and resurrection and his exaltation and his continued presence in the Church as the risen Lord, as the centre of life of all believers.
It is from the earliest tradition that these sacred books are written and it is through the Church that they were recognized as inspired and gathered together in the Bible as the written word of God. Sacred scriptures consist of books written under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit and so contain the truth of our salvation (Dei Verbum 11). Hence they are authentic expression of divine revelation. They are the norm on which all further reflection on the divine revelation and its doctrinal expressions are based. All commentaries and interpretations, all explanations and applications must always be measured against and legitimised by the message contained in Holy Scripture with its original force, concentrated actuality, and supreme reverence. Sacred Scripture is thus the 'norma normata'. (Hans Kung, "The Church” P.16).
Tradition as a broad sense stands for the collective acceptance and communication of truths and customs in a community; however, in the Church documents it is seen as the process by which divine revelation coming from Jesus Christ, through the apostles is communicated and unfolded in the community of the Church. It also refers to the context of the revelation, so communicated. Thus the living tradition of the Church is the channel through which divine revelation comes to us by way of tradition. This holds the scripture too, since it is from earliest traditions that sacred books were written and then recognized as the written word of God by the Church. These now serve as a norm for further development of tradition. Besides this, scriptures are interpreted in the Church, in the light of tradition.
There is a close connection between scripture and tradition because both of them are a result of divine revelation and both have the same goal. Both together form the deposit of faith which is preserved in the Church.
Tradition and traditions: Tradition is a process of transmission - oral and written; ultimately it is about the bible and the living tradition of the Church and the ongoing growth of faith and theology within the living community of God. Hence tradition is the living and lived faith.
Traditions are customary way of doing or expressing matter related to faith. Traditions are seen as specific articulation of the faith community at various times in history designed to express the faith in particular form. Traditions is 'the whole life of the Church', the process of faith affirmation undertaken in each new generation. The process of sorting out tradition and traditions is ongoing, involves the teaching authority of the official church.
Therefore, scriptures are part of the tradition making process and are interpreted in the light of tradition. Scriptures are guidance of traditions and their supreme expression. Thus the centrality of the bible for doing theology is affirmed. 'Sola Scriptura' minimised because scripture is an integral and inseparable part of the tradition.
There are two traditions authentic tradition and unauthentic tradition. In authentic tradition priority is given to God's command and the interpretation is according to this command. It calls for sincerity of heart and encourages walking in the way of the Lord. Person and spirit are important. The end or goal is supernatural. Divine origin is from the commandment of God.
In unauthentic tradition human beings make God's command relative. Dilute His command for selfish and established tradition by-passing God's word. External priority is given more importance and human dignity is ignored. Here the means become end, naturalistic goals, very legalistic, and not in conformity with Scriptures.