Rome, Paul in prison, his last letter
Paul is a prisoner, writing to his young friend Timothy.4 He knows the end is near: “the time of my departure has come.”5
In that one short letter, he says two things about how the faith is handed on. We will start with the one you know best.
01Your verse first
“All scripture, inspired of God”
“Every Scripture is God-breathed and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for instruction in righteousness, that each person who belongs to God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.”
“‘For you set aside the commandment of God, and hold tightly to the tradition of men – the washing of pitchers and cups, and you do many other such things.’”
Read fairly, these say that Scripture is God-breathed and equips the believer, and that Jesus condemned human traditions that push aside God’s command. Catholics accept every word of both.
Now the other thing Paul tells Timothy, one chapter earlier.
02The Catholic reading
Written, and handed on
“The things which you have heard from me among many witnesses, commit the same things to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.”
“to which he called you through our Good News, for the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
The Catechism points out that the first generation of Christians did not yet have a written New Testament. It distinguishes apostolic Tradition, which hands on what the apostles received from Jesus, from the many local customs and “traditions” that grew up over time.10
So where exactly do we part ways?
03The real disagreement
Where we think it lies
Not over whether Scripture is inspired. The question is whether Scripture is the only infallible rule of faith, and who has the authority to interpret it when sincere Christians disagree.
The Church teaches that it “does not derive her certainty about all revealed truths from the holy Scriptures alone.”3 It holds that Tradition, Scripture and the Magisterium are so connected that one of them can’t stand without the others.12
Paul himself called the Church “the pillar and ground of the truth.”13
An honest question back, offered gently: how do we know which books belong in the Bible? Our page on the canon looks at that.
Paul wrote 3:16. He also wrote 2:2. Catholics try to keep both.
Careful with the facts
- The Church teaches that the Magisterium isn’t superior to the Word of God but is its servant.11
Christian to Christian
Your love for Scripture is something Catholics share and honor. The Church urges all the faithful to frequent reading of the Bible.
Only one thing to do
Your one next step
Read 2 Timothy 2 and 3 in one sitting, about ten minutes. Notice 2:2 and 3:16 together, and ask what Paul expected Timothy to do with each.
Read 2 Timothy 2Keep going
Notes
How we know · 13 sources for this page
- Catechism of the Catholic Church, paragraph 105. vatican.va
- Catechism of the Catholic Church, paragraph 76. vatican.va
- Catechism of the Catholic Church, paragraph 82. vatican.va
- 2 Timothy 1:8, World English Bible. read the chapter
- 2 Timothy 4:6, World English Bible. read the chapter
- 2 Timothy 3:16-17, World English Bible. read the chapter
- Mark 7:8, World English Bible. read the chapter
- 2 Timothy 2:2, World English Bible. read the chapter
- 2 Thessalonians 2:14 [Douay 2:13], World English Bible. read the chapter
- Catechism of the Catholic Church, paragraph 83. vatican.va
- Catechism of the Catholic Church, paragraph 86. vatican.va
- Catechism of the Catholic Church, paragraph 95. vatican.va
- 1 Timothy 3:15, World English Bible. read the chapter
Translations of the Fathers and councils are public-domain 19th-century editions. Catechism links open vatican.va. Scripture: World English Bible, Catholic edition, modern verse numbers (Douay-Rheims numbers in brackets where they differ). Stone & Incense restates Church teaching and history in plain words; our wording is not an official Church text. Report an errorCorrections.