2 Thess 2:15, against Scripture alone

Today in the Daily Readings, we will be reading the 2nd Chapter of the 2nd Letter to the Thessalonians.  This letter contains excellent proof against the false doctrine of Scripture alone (aka Sola Scriptura).   It is this doctrine which Protestants use to justify casting off the authority of the Church and Tradition. 

The Deposit of Faith

Before we begin, lets talk a bit about how our Faith, in the sense of our Religion, came down to us through the ages.  Did Jesus Christ write the New Testament and say, "Here, pass this down from generation to generation."?  No.

Jesus Christ first established a Church.  He chose twelve Apostles.  From amongst them He chose a leader to rule them.  This was the foundation of His Church.

He also chose 72 disciples which accompanied the Twelve from the beginning.

Then He spent three years teaching them His Commands and doctrines.  At the end of the three years, before He ascended to the Father, He gave them the Great Commission:

Matthew 28:19-20
King James Version (KJV)
¹⁹ Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:²⁰ Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

Pay close attention.  He didn't say, "Here, take this Bible and pass it down."  Nor did He say, "Go out and write a Bible and pass it down.  Afterwards, that is all that anyone will need.  The Church will no longer be necessary because you will no longer need to teach the Traditions.  They can learn them in the book."  

But this is what Protestants would have you believe.  But it is wrong.

1.  Jesus established the Church.

2.  Jesus established Tradition.

3.  Jesus commanded the Church to hand down these Traditions.

And this is what we see enacted in the 2nd Letter to the Thessalonians.

2 Thes 1:1

We are back in the New Testament, where St. Paul is addressing the Thessalonians.

Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy to the Church of the Thessalonians

Note first, that St. Paul mentions himself and two others who are greeting the Thessalonians in this letter.  Himself, and Sts. Silvanus (aka Silas) and Timothy.  Note that these two men are not members of the original Apostles.  They are however, members of the Church who accompany St. Paul many places handing down the faith.  For example:

2 Timothy 2
King James Version (KJV)
1 Thou therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.  ² And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also.

Acts 15:40And Paul chose Silas, and departed, being recommended by the brethren unto the grace of God. 

Now, lets skip down to Chapter two.

2 Thes 2:1-3a, 14-17

Note how St. Paul is concerned that some people are coming around pretending to speak for the Church.  

We ask you, brothers and sisters,with regard to the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our assembling with him, not to be shaken out of your minds suddenly, or to be alarmed either by a 'spirit,' or by an oral statement,or by a letter allegedly from us to the effect that the day of the Lord is at hand.  Let no one deceive you in any way.

And St. Paul gives them the solution to the problem.

To this end he has also called you through our Gospel to possess the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.  Therefore, brothers and sisters, stand firm and hold fast to the traditions that you were taught, either by an oral statement or by a letter of ours.

St. Paul has now used the pronouns "we" and "our".  To whom is he referring?  To the individuals which came to Thessalonia representing the Church.

Acts 17
King James Version (KJV)
1 Now when they had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where was a synagogue of the Jews:  ² And Paul, as his manner was, went in unto them, and three sabbath days reasoned with them out of the scriptures,  ³ Opening and alleging, that Christ must needs have suffered, and risen again from the dead; and that this Jesus, whom I preach unto you, is Christ.  ⁴ And some of them believed, and consorted with Paul and Silas; and of the devout Greeks a great multitude, and of the chief women not a few.

These are they who made "oral statements" and  sent "letters" teaching the Thessalonians the TRADITIONS.   They didn't say, "hold on to the letters and forget about the Church."   No.  They told them to hold on to the letters and in the way the comport themselves, you can see that they expect their disciples to obey the Church.

2 Thessalonians 3
⁶ Now we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye withdraw yourselves from every brother that walketh disorderly, and not after the tradition which he received of us.

Notice that he repeats the admonition to hold on to Tradition.  He says, "avoid those who do not keep the Tradition we handed to you."  In so doing, confirming the need to hold on to the Tradition of the Church.

Sincerely,

De Maria