What is Scriptures?

                  The Word of God comes to us into ways; oral (Tradition) and written (Scriptures). This should be clear to all of us. Unless there are some of us who believe the bible, as we have it now, comes directly from heaven or was word for word dictated by God, it should be easy to see that from the very beginning, God had revealed Himself to us first in words and deed. He spoke to us through the prophets and showed Himself to us through deeds.

Through the experience of the people, they came to know, love and serve God. The perfect revelation of God happened in the person of Jesus. He is God in the flesh. Through Jesus, we have heard, seen, felt, and experienced God. Jesus revealed that truth in His teachings and miracles. While it was hard for the Jews to accept, including His apostles, it was part of His plan and there is no better way than that way. The apostles and Mary kept everything Jesus said and did in their hearts during His ministry. We know the story. It was not easy for Him and His apostles. In any case, they were witnesses to His Word and Deed. So that when Jesus ascended into heaven, He gave the commandment to the apostles to baptize and teach all peoples of the faith.

The apostles will teach the Good News. The Good News is the news of salvation by Jesus. When the apostles were dying one by one, they decided to hand on their what they witnessed (Tradition). They decided to have some disciples available to know and see to it that what were witnessed to by the apostles will be handed on . And when they wanted to preserve them faithfully, they decided to write them. The writings of the apostles and disciples comprised the bible that we have today. We believe that when they were written, they were guided by the Spirit of God. The written word of God was not a one time event. The bible that we have today underwent a lot of development. With the guidance of the Holy Spirit, it now presents itself to us as a book which contains God's salvific Word.

Scriptures contain the whole of the Good News. It means everything we need to know to be saved is there. Tradition also contains the Good News. It also contains everything we need to know to be saved. But, Scriptures and Tradition are connected. Each can not survive without the other. It is like fish and water. They are meant to be together if they are to be the living Word of God!