The early church always held to Scripture as the final authority of faith and life. This is the basis upon which they accepted or rejected any doctrine. See below...
Irenaeus of Lyons (160 A.D.) “Against Heresies” 3.1.1, p. 414.
"We have learned from none others the plan of our salvation, than from those through whom the gospel has come down to us, which they did at one time proclaim in public, and, at a later period, by
the will of God, handed down to us in the Scriptures, to be the ground and pillar of our faith."
Clement of Alexandria (CA. 150 – 215), Stromata, Book VII, Chapter 16
“But those who are ready to toil in the most excellent pursuits, will not desist from
the search after truth, till
they get the demonstration from Scripture themselves.”
Tertullian (CA. 155 – 220)
In refuting a heresy of Docetism (denying doctrine of incarnation), Tertullian writes, “But there is no evidence of this, because Scripture says nothing.” Furthermore, he writes, “If it is nowhere written, then
let it fear the woe which impends on all who add or take away from the written word.”
Hippolytus (CA. 170 – 236)
Against the Heresy of One Noetus
“There is, brethren, one God, the knowledge of whom we gain from the Holy Scripture, and from no other source. . . . Whatever things, then, the Holy Scriptures declare, at these let us look; and whatsoever things they teach, these let us learn; and the Father will our belief to be, let us believe . . . Not according to our own will, nor according to our own mind, nor yet as using violently those things which are given by God, but even as
He has chosen to teach them by the Holy Scripture, so let us discern them.”
Basil of Jerusalem - Therefore
let God-inspired Scripture decide between us; and on whichever side be found doctrines in harmony with the word of God, in favour of that side will be cast the vote of truth."
Augustine (354 – 430)
On the Good of Widowhood
“What more can I teach you, than what we read in the Apostle? For the
holy Scripture setteth a rule to our teaching, that we dare not “be wise more than it behoveth to be wise.”
Basil the Great (368 A.D.)
The words are to be understood by their plain meaning, not allegorized.
‘I know the laws of allegory, though less by myself than from the works of others. There are those truly, who do not admit the common sense of the Scriptures, for whom water is not water, but some other nature, who see in a plant, in a fish, what their fancy wishes, who change the nature of reptiles and of wild beasts to suit their allegories, like the interpreters of dreams who explain visions in sleep to make them serve their own ends. For me grass is grass; plant, fish, wild beast, domestic animal,
I take all in the literal sense. “For I am not ashamed of the Gospel” [
Rom. 1:16].’ (
Homily IX:1)
To interpret Scripture otherwise is to put ourselves above God, the Holy Spirit, who inspired its writing.
‘It is this which those seem to me not to have understood, who, giving themselves up to the distorted meaning of allegory, have undertaken to give a majesty of their own invention to Scripture. It is to believe themselves wiser than the Holy Spirit, and to bring forth their own ideas under a pretext of exegesis. Let us hear Scripture as it has been written.’ (
Homily IX:1)
Gregory of Nyssa (394 A.D)
"The generality of men still fluctuate in their opinions about this, which are as erroneous as they are numerous. As for ourselves, if the Gentile philosophy, which deals methodically with all these points, were really adequate for a demonstration, it would certainly be superfluous to add a discussion on the soul to those speculations. But while the latter proceeded, on the subject of the soul, as far in the direction of supposed consequences as the thinker pleased, we are not entitled to such license, I mean that of affirming what we please;
we make the Holy Scriptures the rule and the measure of every tenet; we necessarily fix our eyes upon that, and approve that alone which may be made to harmonize with the intention of those writings."
Cyril of Jerusalem (450 A.D.)
"This seal have thou ever on thy mind; which now by way of summary has been touched on in its heads, and if the Lord grant, shall hereafter be set forth according to our power, with Scripture proofs.
For concerning the divine and sacred Mysteries of the Faith, we ought not to deliver even the most casual remark without the Holy Scriptures: nor be drawn aside by mere probabilities and the artifices of argument. Do not then believe me because I tell thee these things, unless thou receive from the Holy Scriptures the proof of what is set forth: for this salvation, which is of our faith, is not by ingenious reasonings, but by proof from the Holy Scriptures."
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The earliest church (for four hundred plus years) seemed very determined to test everything by Scripture. So where any doctrine could not be demonstrated by Scripture it was rejected. Therefore the first tradition was that we are to test everything by the written word of God (thats the proof it is what the Apostles taught and intended)
In His love
Brother Paul
