Discussion Questions

Bercot argues from 2 Thessalonians 2:15 that refusing to “hold to the traditions” taught orally by the apostles can actually be disobedience to Scripture. How does this challenge the way many Christians define faithfulness to the Bible? JumpstartAnother way to ask: Bercot says 2 Thessalonians 2:15 teaches Christians to keep the apostles’ spoken traditions. If we reject those traditions, we may be disobeying the Bible. How does this challenge the way many Christians think about being faithful to the Bible?

The chapter distinguishes between apostolic tradition, which confirms and clarifies Scripture, and human tradition, which invalidates Scripture. How can a church honestly examine whether its inherited practices help people obey Scripture or give them reasons to avoid it? JumpstartAnother way to ask: The chapter says apostolic tradition supports Scripture, but human tradition can weaken or cancel Scripture. How can a church test whether its practices help people obey the Bible or help them avoid it?

Bercot says a person with only the New Testament “would be far better off than most of us” because he would not have our human traditions or ready-made excuses for ignoring Scripture. What modern Christian assumptions or interpretations might function as excuses for disobedience? JumpstartAnother way to ask: Bercot says someone with only the New Testament might be better off than us because they would not have our man-made traditions or excuses for ignoring Scripture. What modern Christian beliefs or interpretations might be excuses for disobeying the Bible?

According to the chapter, the apostles did not leave the early churches in “a chaos of varied theological opinions,” but gave oral explanations and applications alongside written Scripture. What does this suggest about God’s intention for unity, obedience, and practical clarity in the church? JumpstartAnother way to ask: The chapter says the apostles did not leave the early churches confused with many different beliefs. They gave spoken teaching along with written Scripture. What does this show about God’s desire for unity, obedience, and clear teaching in the church?

Bercot claims that every Christian already follows tradition in areas such as baptism, communion, church meetings, harmonizing Romans and James, and interpreting difficult passages. How does recognizing our own dependence on tradition expose possible pride in the claim that we follow “the Bible alone”? JumpstartAnother way to ask: Bercot says every Christian already follows tradition in things like baptism, communion, church meetings, and how to understand hard Bible passages. How does seeing our need for tradition challenge pride in saying we follow “the Bible alone”?

The chapter says many church divisions over the past 500 years have been over matters covered by apostolic tradition. How might modern Christianity look different if believers humbly sought early Christian testimony before forming new denominations, doctrines, or practices? JumpstartAnother way to ask: The chapter says many church splits in the last 500 years were about issues early Christian tradition had already addressed. How might Christianity be different if believers humbly studied early Christian teaching before starting new churches, doctrines, or practices?

Bercot argues that early Christians were in a better position than we are to claim that their teachings, practices, and ordinances came from the apostles. How should this affect the weight we give to early Christian writings compared with later theological systems or contemporary church preferences? JumpstartAnother way to ask: Bercot says early Christians were closer to the apostles and had a better reason to say their teachings and practices came from them. How should this affect how much value we give early Christian writings compared with later theology or today’s church preferences?

The chapter lists early Christian customs such as Pascha, the sign of the cross, fasting on Wednesdays and Fridays, set times of daily prayer, and the use of Christian symbols. What might these customs reveal about the early Christians’ assumptions regarding worship, discipline, memory, and embodied obedience? JumpstartAnother way to ask: The chapter lists early Christian practices like Pascha, the sign of the cross, fasting on Wednesdays and Fridays, daily prayer times, and Christian symbols. What do these practices show about how early Christians understood worship, discipline, memory, and obeying God with their bodies?

Bercot criticizes evangelical Protestants for keeping some early customs, rejecting others without a clear pattern, and then adding newer traditions such as Christmas customs with pagan origins. What does this inconsistency reveal about how Christians often decide which traditions feel acceptable? JumpstartAnother way to ask: Bercot says evangelical Protestants keep some early customs, reject others without a clear reason, and add newer traditions like Christmas customs with pagan roots. What does this show about how Christians often choose which traditions feel acceptable?

If Bercot is right that the real choice is not “Bible alone” versus “Bible plus tradition,” but “Bible plus apostolic tradition” versus “Bible plus man-made tradition,” what concrete changes might a church or family need to make in its teaching, worship, habits, and decision-making? JumpstartAnother way to ask: Bercot says the real choice is not “Bible alone” or “Bible plus tradition,” but “Bible plus apostolic tradition” or “Bible plus man-made tradition.” If this is true, what real changes might a church or family need to make in its teaching, worship, habits, and decisions?