Is the bible the only true guide

Catholics are often accused of believing in "man-made rules" (doctrines and dogmas), instead of what the Bible says. In order to answer the question satisfactorily, we must first prove that the Catholic Church has full authority to teach what has been handed down to her both in writing or letters (Scriptures), by word of mouth and by revelation (Tradition). In other words, she has full authority to teach with or without the Bible.

Let us examine the various sources from which the Catholic Church derives her authority to teach other nations and other sects, to interpret Scriptures and to declare Christian doctrines without error.

Divine promise to St. Peter and his successors

The invisible head of the Catholic Church is its founder - Christ, while the visible head is the pope - the direct successor of St. Peter, whom Jesus directly elected as the first leader of his Church and handed the reigns of leadership of his Church:

"I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the powers of death shall not prevail against it." (Matt 16:18)

St. Peter ruled the Church till his death. And since the time of St. Peter to the present day, the Catholic Church has had an unbroken chain of leadership. There is no doubt then that the pope is today the true successor to St. Peter who was given the firm promise:

"I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven." (Matt 16:19)

This awesome promise made to St. Peter and the authority to "bind" and "loose" granted him did not die with him, but has remained with the popes down to the present pope. The pope, therefore, rightly exercises this authority to "bind" and "loose" on earth by making certain proclamations where he states divine truths as revealed by the Holy Spirit to the Church.

Divine charge to teach others

The Church also derives her authority to teach divine truths from Christ himself:

"And Jesus came and said to them, 'All authority in heaven and on earth have been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you, and lo, I am with you always, to the close of the age.'" (Matt 28:18-20)

This is a divine mandate that empowers the Magisterium of the Catholic Church to teach other Christians, interpret the Scriptures and to declare truths as may be revealed by the Holy Spirit. The Church has been carrying out this mandate with the help of Christ who promised to be with his Church "to the close of the age," and by sending them the Holy Spirit, who would bring to their remembrance all that he had taught them as well as declare new truths or doctrines.

Divine promise to send the Holy Spirit

The Catholic Church also derives her authority to teach from the firm promise of Jesus to his apostles to send them the Holy Spirit:

"I have yet many things to say to you but you cannot bear them now. When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into the truth ... and he will declare to you the things that are to come." (John 16:12-13)

"But the Counsellor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you." (John 14:26)

True to his word, the Holy Spirit came on Pentecost Day (Acts 2:1-4). Therefore, the true representatives of the apostles are not teaching on their own authority, but with the mandate and assistance of Christ and the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. Specifically, the Holy Spirit would "bring to their remembrance all that he had taught them," which they might forget and to reveal to them "the things that are to come."

Tradition

We note from the above discussion that Christ founded a teaching Church, and he charged all men to believe in her. But the Church did not for many years use the written word at all (at least from the death of Christ around 33 AD to about 51 AD when the first books of the New Testament was written). The NT exited only as Tradition passed on by word of mouth. Hence, the Church's standard method of teaching before the NT was written was by word of mouth. Therefore, written word or the Bible cannot be the very essence of the constitution of the Church or of Christianity.

The Christian Tradition is contained in early Church history, in the decrees of early Church Councils, in primitive liturgies, in the Acts of the Martyrs, in the books of the early Fathers and Doctors of the Church and ecclesiastical writers, in the inscriptions in the catacombs and on Christian archaeological monuments.

Today, some articles of faith are found in the Traditions. St. Paul insists that spoken word (Tradition) is as important as written word (Bible, epistle or letter):

"So then, brethren, stand firm and hold to the traditions which you were taught by us, either by word or mouth or by letter." (2 Thess 2:15)

He commends those who maintain and follow the traditions of the Church:

"I commend you because you remember me in everything and maintain the traditions even as I have delivered them to you." (1 Cor 11:2)

"Follow the pattern of the sound words which you have heard from me, in the faith and love which are in Christ Jesus." (2 Tim 1:13)

Insisting that these traditions be handed down, he urges:

"And what you have heard from me before many witnesses entrust to faithful men who will be able to teach others also." (2 Tim 2:2)

St. Peter made a good case for the importance of Tradition when he said regarding St. Paul's teaching:

"So also our beloved brother Paul wrote to you according to the wisdom given him, speaking of this as he does in all his letters. There are some things hard to understand." (2 Peter 3:15-16)

Obviously, some of the things St. Paul said, which St. Peter just confirmed as inspired were not written down. Should they be discarded simply because St. Paul did not put them down in ink? By all means, they are inspired and forms part of Tradition.

St. John too had some contribution in favour of Tradition:

"Though I have much to write to you, I would rather not use paper and ink, but I hope to come to see you and talk to you face to face, so that our joy may be complete."(2 John 1:12)

Certainly, St. John's joy would not be complete if the Church were to discard the inspired message he delivered "face to face" to her. St. Paul commended those who "maintain" and "follow" the traditions (1 Cor 11:2; 2 Tim 1:13), but warned Christians to steer clear of those who reject Tradition:

"Now we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you keep away from any brother who is living in idleness and not in accord with the tradition that you received from us." (2 Thess 3:6)

The Holy Spirit guides the Catholic Church in her traditions. He too inspires the Scriptures. Hence, the teaching of the Catholic Church, whether in interpreting written articles of faith (the Bible) or word of mouth (Tradition), cannot contradict those of the Holy Spirit who guides her. Scripture was written for the Church, to be used by the Church, but as Scripture itself says explicitly, it is not a complete account of all the teachings and deeds of Christ:

"Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not in this book." (John 20:30)

"But there are also many other things which Jesus did, were everyone of them to be written (meaning they were not written), I suppose that the whole world could not contain the books that would be written." (John 21:25)

"I have yet many things to say to you but you cannot bear them now. When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into the truth ... and he will declare to you the things that are to come." (John 16:12-13)

So there must be another source of faith besides the Bible, namely Tradition. The writings that now form the NT never displaced the teaching Church. It was through the Church that Christendom knew about them. It was in the Church that they were read. It was by the Church that they were treasured as inspired. Moreover and more importantly, the Church always taught that they needed explaining as St. Peter said above. Lastly, the Church had to supplement the Bible teaching to supply those things which St. John says were never written down.

The Catholic Church gives to Christendom through Scripture and tradition the whole of God's teaching, its meaning and a guarantee of authenticity.