Dialogue Document
Statement on Revelation, Scripture and Tradition 1966
Statement on Revelation, Scripture and Tradition: Presbyterian & Reformed-Roman Catholic Dialogue, 1966
"The discussions of the theological section [of the dialogue] were based upon the “position papers” of Dr. Schmidt and Father McKenzie. It is not possible to do justice to the learning and subtlety of these analyses or to the discussion itself in a summary statement. Some stereotypes were broken down and some common problems clarified. Continuing divergences were also identified.
It was agreed that the one divine source and substance of revelation is God in Christ. In the view of each, He communicates Himself or is transmitted both through our common Holy Scripture and through the continuing teaching and preaching (the tradition) of the Church. The Reformed acknowledged the indispensability of this continuing transmission and exposition of the Gospel in and by the Church. Sola Scriptura should be understood as functioning within this context. The Roman Catholics acknowledge a normative character to the Scriptural testimony to Christ in their tradition, although there are some teachings (e.g. as concerning Mary) whose Scriptural basis is problematical. There is thus an agreement on the mutual inclusion or “coinherence” of Scripture and ecclesiastical tradition."