A Single Book is Never Enough

As I wrote in “Our Own Church” yesterday, there are many other things that are not included in the Scriptures. We simply cannot limit our experience of God to one book, even if that book is the Bible. It doesn’t make everything true. In the same token it doesn’t make everything false. There must some way to believe with confidence in the Faith of Christ and His Church.

As Orthodox Christians we call that Holy Tradition. What the Apostles said and did, we say and do. What they believed; we believe. They were the ones who walked and talked with Christ. The Apostles were the ones who were promised the full truth by the Holy Spirit. Today the Church remembers one of those holy men. Today is the Feast of Saint Thomas.

On the evening of that day, the first day of the week, the doors being shut where the disciples were for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you.” When He had said this, He showed them His hands and His side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord. Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent Me, even so I send you.” And when He had said this, He breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.” Now Thomas, one of the twelve, called the Twin, was not with them when Jesus came. So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord.” But he said to them, “Unless I see in His hands the print of the nails, and place my finger in the mark of the nails, and place my hand in His side, I will not believe.” Eight days later, His disciples were again in the house, and Thomas was with them. The doors were shut, but Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.” Then He said to Thomas, “Put your finger here, and see My hands; and put out your hand, and place it in My side; do not be faithless, but believing.” Thomas answered Him, “My Lord and My God!” Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen Me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet believe.” Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; but these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing, you may have life in His name.

John 20.19-31

Poor Saint Thomas. He was always ‘a day late’ when it came to important events. Naturally, we might think he was just not paying attention. As today’s reading reveals, he was out preaching and working from the very beginning. According to Holy Tradition he traveled as far as India to preach Christ.

He gives us the example of faith without proof that is blessed by God. The people of India never saw Christ walking on Earth like the Jews did. They had to trust in Thomas’ explanation. The Indians didn’t have the Scriptures in their life to fall back on. Let’s face it. The Jews had the Scriptures and they still refused to believe in Christ. A single book is never enough.

It is easy to forget the first Christians didn’t have the New Testament to read and study like we have it today. Even once it was written, most did not read or write. The average believer had to trust in the words and life coming from the Church. It doesn’t mean every person who preached was always correct. Even Saint Paul had to be corrected about circumcision.

I don’t want you to think the Bible isn’t important. It is central to our faith. Central is not sole. The Holy Apostles taught a way of life and faith that guided the first Christians to a higher level of understanding the Scriptures and their relationship with Christ. Here are just two examples.

In the Scriptures, Christ taught that fasting was important. “Moreover, when you fast, do not be like the hypocrites, with a sad countenance.” (Matthew 6.16) It was the Apostles who taught us when to fast. “But let not your fasts be with the hypocrites; for they fast on the second and fifth day of the week; but fast on the fourth day and the Preparation.” (Didache)

In the Scriptures, Christ taught that we must receive Holy Communion. “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you have no life in you.” (John 6.53) It was the Holy Apostles who taught us when to receive. “But every Lord’s day (Sunday) gather yourselves together, and break bread, and give thanksgiving (Eucharist) after having confessed your transgressions, that your sacrifice may be pure.” (Didache)

When we limit our faith to a single book, we fall short. The Bible is sufficient to “believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God.” It is not sufficient to understand how to live that faith. We need the life of the Church given to us by the Holy Apostles to grow in that faith.