Doctrinal Disagreement

QUOTE

Since therefore we have such proofs, it is not necessary to seek the truth among others which it is easy to obtain from the Church; since the apostles, like a rich man [depositing his money] in a bank, lodged in her hands most copiously all things pertaining to the truth: so that every man, whosoever will, can draw from her the water of life. For she is the entrance to life; all others are thieves and robbers. On this account are we bound to avoid them, but to make choice of the thing pertaining to the Church with the utmost diligence, and to lay hold of the tradition of the truth. For how stands the case? Suppose there arise a dispute relative to some important question among us, should we not have recourse to the most ancient Churches with which the apostles held constant intercourse, and learn from them what is certain and clear in regard to the present question? For how should it be if the apostles themselves had not left us writings? Would it not be necessary, [in that case,] to follow the course of the tradition which they handed down to those to whom they did commit the Churches?

To which course many nations of those barbarians who believe in Christ do assent, having salvation written in their hearts by the Spirit, without paper or ink, and, carefully preserving the ancient tradition, believing in one God, the Creator of heaven and earth, and all things therein, by means of Christ Jesus, the Son of God; who, because of His surpassing love towards His creation, condescended to be born of the virgin, He Himself uniting man through Himself to God, and having suffered under Pontius Pilate, and rising again, and having been received up in splendor, shall come in glory, the Savior of those who are saved, and the Judge of those who are judged, and sending into eternal fire those who transform the truth, and despise His Father and His advent. Those who, in the absence of written documents, have believed this faith, are barbarians, so far as regards our language; but as regards doctrine, manner, and tenor of life, they are, because of faith, very wise indeed; and they do please God, ordering their conversation in all righteousness, chastity, and wisdom. If any one were to preach to these men the inventions of the heretics, speaking to them in their own language, they would at once stop their ears, and flee as far off as possible, not enduring even to listen to the blasphemous address. Thus, by means of that ancient tradition of the apostles, they do not suffer their mind to conceive anything of the [doctrines suggested by the] portentous language of these teachers, among whom neither Church nor doctrine has ever been established. (Against Heresies, bk III, ch 4, Iranaeus, 200 AD)

COMMENTARY:

St Iranaeus here addresses a regular occurrence in the church of Lord, the disagreement over doctrine. He asks:

“Suppose there arise a dispute relative to some important question among us.”

And then leaves the church with the apostolic wisdom that was passed on to him by Polycarp. He says,

“Should we not have recourse to the most ancient Churches with which the apostles held constant intercourse, and learn from them what is certain and clear in regard to the present question?”

Many in our day would simply say, "should we not first and foremost go to the scripture?" And the answer is absolutely, yes, and double yes. However, we must also acknowledge that many of the disagreements that matter to us come out of differing scriptural interpretations (baptism- credo/paedo, eucharist- memorial/ real presence, eschatology- a-mill/pre-mill, worship- liturgy/free, polity- Episcopal, congregational, & c....) It is here that holy tradition steps in. While all right minded believers acknowledge that Holy Tradition is clearly below the scripture in authority, at the same time, like the bride of a husband, we also acknowledge that she does not disagree with him, but upholds and fills his thinking in when questions arise. She speaks in one voice with him, yet it is another voice. Therefore, Iranaeus says:

“thus many nations of those barbarians who believe in Christ do assent, having salvation written in their hearts by the Spirit, without paper or ink, and, carefully preserving the ancient tradition,” and by means of that ancient tradition of the apostles, they do not suffer their mind to conceive anything of the [doctrines suggested by the] portentous language of these teachers, among whom neither Church nor doctrine has ever been established.