In the previous chapter, two facts were stressed: that the Gospel texts exist only as a manuscript tradition, and that from the beginning the text grew freely. It is from these facts that all questions of interpretation and all theological formulations must start. Concepts of biblical inspiration, or any other doctrinal formulations, which fail to take account of these two key facts are based on a priori theorising or prejudice, and not on the actual character of the writings. An attempt will be made in this final chapter to explore some of these matters. We begin where the previous chapter ended.

SCRIPTURE AND TRADITION

The interest and significance of the second century cannot be too highly stressed. One development within it attracts our attention here. Papias, early in the century, is actually cited by Eusebius as preferring oral to written traditions about Jesus: ‘I supposed that things out of books did not profit me so much as the utterances of a voice which liveth and abideth.’