Question:
Answer:
As the Church makes clear, we don’t have the whole of apostolic Tradition apart from Scripture (CCC 75-76). So it’s incorrect to say that the whole of apostolic or Church Tradition clearly and completely preceded the writing of Scripture. In addition, the Church’s unwritten Tradition includes the institutions the apostles established with divine guidance and authority, e.g., apostolic succession (CCC 77).
In addition, Scripture should not be looked upon as divisive but rather as a gift from God that set us free (see John 8:31-32). Recall also that Jesus’ initial preaching about the Eucharist was not uniformly embraced by his disciples, and yet it was truth that needed to be preached to advance the kingdom (John 6). Jesus doesn’t withhold the truth, which he personifies, even if some people may respond in a divisive manner (see Luke 12:51). And we pray for their ultimate conversion.
For more on this subject, please see our tracts on Apostolic Tradition and Scripture and Tradition.