Examining the Authority of Scripture and Church Tradition

In a recent teaching, Ligonier Ministries explores the historical and theological debate regarding the ultimate authority for the church. The author contrasts the Protestant doctrine of Sola Scriptura, which asserts that the Bible is the sole, sufficient revelation of God, with the Roman Catholic perspective on the relationship between Scripture and church tradition.

Drawing on the history of the sixteenth-century Council of Trent, the author examines the shift in language regarding how divine truth is received. The text highlights a pivotal moment during the council’s fourth session when the phrasing regarding the sources of revelation was altered. While the original draft suggested that truth is contained "partly" in Scripture and "partly" in tradition, this was later changed to use the word "and." The author notes that the theological implications of this change remain a subject of historical and doctrinal discussion, specifically concerning whether the church maintains a "dual-source theory" of revelation that places tradition on an equal footing with the Bible.