Taken from:
Joseph
Gallegos, "Appendix 1: A Dossier of Church Fathers on Scripture and
Tradition," in Not By Scripture Alone: A Catholic Critique of the
Protestant Doctrine of Sola Scriptura, ed., Robert A. Sungenis (2d ed.;
State Line, Pa.: Catholic Apologetics International Publishing, Inc., 2013), 466-68
“‘That ye
remember me in all things and hold fast the traditions, even as I delivered
them to you.’ It appears then that he used at that time to deliver many things
also not in writing, which he shows too in many other places. But at that time
he only delivered them, whereas now he adds an explanation of their reason…” (On
First Corinthians, Homily 26 [c. A.D. 392] NPNF I, XIII:149)
“Not by
letters alone did Paul instruct his disciple in his duty, but before by words
also which he shows, both in many other passages, as where he says, ‘whether by
word or our Epistle’ (2 Thess. ii. 15), and especially here. Let us not
therefore suppose that anything relating to doctrine was spoken imperfectly.
For many things he delivered to him without writing. Of these therefore he
reminds him, when he says, ‘Hold fast the form of sound words, which thou hast
heard of me.’” (On Second Timothy, Homily 3 [inter A.D. 393-397] NPNF I,
XIII:484)
“We may
answer, that what is here written, was sufficient for those who would attend,
and that the sacred writers ever addressed themselves to the matter of immediate
importance, whatever it might be at that time: it was no object with them to be
writers of books: in fact, there are many things which they have delivered by
unwritten tradition. Now while all that is contained in this Book is worthy of
admiration, so is especially the way the Apostles have of coming down to the
wants of their hearers: a condescension suggested by the Spirit who has so
ordered it, that the subject on which they chiefly dwell is that which pertains
to Christ as man. For so it is, that while they discourse so much about Christ,
they have spoken but little concerning His Godhead: it was mostly of the
Manhood that they discoursed, and of the Passion, and the Resurrection, and the
Ascension.” (On Acts of the Apostles, Homily 1 [A.D. 388] NPNF I, XI:2)
“Here is
forethought for providing a teacher; here was the first who ordained a teacher.
He did not say, ‘We are sufficient.’ So far was he beyond all vain-glory, and
he looked to one thing alone. And yet he (Peter) had the same power to ordain
as they all collectively. But well might these things be done in this fashion,
through the noble spirit of the man, and because prelacy then was not an affair
of dignity, but of provident care for the governed. This neither made the
elected to become elated, for it was to dangers that they were called, nor
those not elected to make a grievance of it, as if they were disgraced. But
things are not done in this fashion now; nay, quite the contrary. For observe,
they were an hundred and twenty, and he asks for one out of the whole body with
good right, as having been put in charge of them: for to him had Christ said,
‘And when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren.’ (Luke xxii. 32)” (On
Acts of the Apostles, Homily 3 [A.D. 388] NPNF I, IX:20)
