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Will The Real Heretics Please Stand Up  /  Chapter 11: Who Better Understands the Apostles  /  Discussion Questions
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Question 10
The chapter argues the apostles’ primary teaching was oral, that oral tradition established church practices (government, worship, baptism, meeting frequency, communion), and that it also clarified written matters—while still insisting the New Testament contains everything necessary for salvation; how should this shape your approach to “Scripture alone,” and what church practices today might need rethinking if apostolic custom carried real authority in the earliest churches?
Another way to ask: The chapter says the apostles taught a lot by word of mouth, and that shaped early church practices, even though the New Testament is enough for salvation. How should that affect your view of “Scripture alone,” and what church practices today might need to change if apostolic custom carried real authority?

Direct Answer Bercot’s teaching suggests “Scripture alone” should not mean “Scripture interpreted in a vacuum”; while the New Testament is sufficient for salvation, apostolic oral tradition had real authority for shaping church practice and clarifying Scripture, so modern churches may need to re-check practices that the apostles governed by custom.

Support from Transcript:

  • “All of Jesus’ teaching was oral,” and at Pentecost “the only Christian teaching…was oral”; the NT was completed near the end of the first century.
  • Paul told Thessalonians to hold teachings “whether by word of mouth or by letter,” showing oral instruction mattered.
  • Bercot denies extra saving doctrines: “not saying…additional doctrines…or revelations,” and affirms: “Our New Testament contains everything necessary for salvation.”
  • Apostolic tradition’s first function: establish “ecclesiastical practices” (government, worship, mode of baptism).
  • Examples: Scripture doesn’t say “when…meet” or “how often…communion,” yet early testimony shows “definite traditions.”
  • Second function: clarify matters discussed in Scripture; apostles never intended interpretation “in a vacuum.”
  • He distinguishes apostolic tradition from later Catholic/Orthodox traditions largely post-Constantine.
Discussion Follow-ups Which current practices—church leadership structure, baptism mode, communion frequency, meeting patterns—do you treat as optional that the earliest churches may have treated as apostolic custom?

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