Friday, October 28, 2022

John Chrysostom vs. the Formal Sufficiency of the Bible

 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)