By Professor Mikhail Nikolaevich Skaballanovich
The Christological heresies of the 4th-6th centuries, which prompted several councils, brought the issue of tradition into focus. It became clear that Scripture alone was insufficient for resolving dogmatic disputes, necessitating reliance on the full scope of tradition. This period marked the preservation of Church dogmas, with conciliar creeds appealing to tradition to counter scriptural distortions. A new aspect of tradition emerged, emphasizing the paternity of teachings alongside the apostolicity established earlier. St. Athanasius the Great was among the first to emphasize this, calling for adherence to the ancient teachings of both apostles and church fathers. He urged maintaining a good conscience before the fathers and criticized heretics for deviating from them.
The canon included certain texts due to the tradition of the Fathers, who were viewed as divine witnesses. Not all Fathers of this era placed the same importance on tradition. St. Cyril of Jerusalem shared views similar to St. Cyprian, advocating adherence only to written teachings and prohibiting private reading of non-canonical books. Conversely, St. Basil the Great was a strong proponent of tradition, highlighting the necessity of preserving dogmatic teachings ideologically, not just verbally. He argued that dogmas were secrets maintained through silence, in contrast to publicly preached teachings. Ancient dogmas, he asserted, inspired reverence due to their age.
Gregory the Theologian similarly valued tradition for its role in ideologically preserving dogmas. He argued that tradition was essential in facing heretics, who manipulated Scripture to their advantage. Gregory of Nyssa suggested that tradition logically preserved dogma in its original form, and any alteration was viewed as blasphemous.
St. John Chrysostom examined the relationship between tradition and Scripture, asserting that ideally, believers would not rely on Scripture but live so purely that the Spirit’s grace would guide them. His high regard for tradition reached its peak with him and Blessed Augustine, who advocated relying on faith, hope, and love over Scripture.
Augustine shared a similar perspective, stating that without the Church’s authority, he would not believe the Gospel. He provided a formal definition of tradition, later expanded by St. Vincent, who detailed its role in safeguarding faith against heresy. True Christians, Vincent argued, should interpret Scripture in line with the Church’s traditions and dogmatic teachings. Tradition was considered the reason and sentiment of the Church, with a genuine universality rooted in its widespread, longstanding, and consensual beliefs. Vincent proposed analyzing the teachings of respected ancient fathers to resolve significant theological dilemmas, underscoring tradition’s role in maintaining doctrinal consistency.
However, this approach was not without ambiguity. St. Vincent did not delineate the theological matters requiring tradition’s guidance, nor was the consensus among fathers always verifiable. The sharp distinction between Holy Tradition and Holy Scripture, articulated by Vincent, contrasted with the views of earlier Eastern Fathers and figures like St. John of Damascus, who saw both as expressions of the Holy Spirit.
Despite these unresolved issues, historical developments, especially the formulation of the Symbol (Creed), addressed many questions. The Creed emerged as a systematic response to theological challenges, translating the invisible depths of sacred tradition into explicit expressions of faith. The Creed aimed to safeguard against heresy, historically threatening the Church from its inception.
The Creed’s origins may trace back to the apostolic era, serving initially as a baptismal confession. Apostolic Epistles indicate such confessions, emphasizing faith over historical detail. Apostolic confessions, likely Christological in nature, evolved over time, integrating broader theological insights. Assertions of the creed’s apostolic roots are unsupported by apostolic writings, as later theological terms and concepts populate what is known as the Apostles’ Creed.
The precise formation and content of the Apostles’ Creed remain open to interpretation. Attempts to trace it to apostolic confession rely on scattered references within apostolic writings, revealing a progressive theological development that eventually led to the creeds adopted by the wider Church. The complexity and evolution of these creeds reflect the historical and theological journey of Christianity, rooted deeply in the traditions embraced and preserved by Church Fathers and Councils alike.
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