The Protestant Perspective on Scripture and Tradition (05/03/'24) -Viewpoint

The Protestant Perspective on Scripture and Tradition From a Protestant perspective, the relationship between Scripture and Tradition is viewed differently than in Orthodox Christian and Roman Catholic traditions. Protestants generally adhere to the principle of "sola scriptura," which means "Scripture alone." This doctrine holds that the Bible is the sole infallible source of authority for Christian faith and practice, rejecting the infallible authority of tradition as upheld by the Orthodox and Catholic Churches. Protestants respect and study the historical traditions of the church and the writings of early church fathers, but these are not considered equal to Scripture in authority. They are seen as valuable for understanding and interpreting Scripture but are always subject to correction by the Bible. This contrasts with the Orthodox and Catholic view that Tradition and Scripture together convey the true faith, guided by the Holy Spirit or the teaching authority of the Church. Thus, from a Protestant viewpoint, while tradition can enrich understanding, it does not carry the same authoritative weight as the Bible and must be evaluated against the scriptures. Pastor Steven G. Lee (May 3, 2024)