“From Jerusalem to Today: How the Gospel of Jesus Christ Was Faithfully Passed Down Through History — Apostolic Tradition, Scripture & the Church”

✍️ Introduction

One of the most important questions in Christian theology and history is: How did the Gospel of Jesus Christ — originally preached by Christ and His Apostles — come down to us today with faithful continuity? This article explores that question through the lenses of Scripture, early Christian writings, patristic evidence, Church history, and Catholic teaching (Catechism of the Catholic Church).

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📌 Key Themes Covered

1. Oral Transmission (Jesus → Apostles)

2. Written Scripture (Gospels & Epistles)

3. Apostolic Succession (Bishops & Teaching Authority)

4. Canon Formation (Recognition of Scripture)

5. Preservation Through History

6. Contemporary Transmission (Church & Bible)

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📍 1️⃣ Oral Tradition: Jesus to the Apostles

From the moment of His Resurrection, Jesus charged His disciples to proclaim His Gospel:

“Go therefore and make disciples of all nations… teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you.”
— Matthew 28:19–20

“As the Father has sent Me, even so I send you.”
— John 20:21

This ministry was oral, relational, and did not initially depend on a written document. Paul confirms the authoritative nature of this oral tradition:

“Stand firm and hold to the traditions which you were taught by us, either by word of mouth or by letter.”
— 2 Thessalonians 2:15

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🖼️ Infographic: Oral Tradition vs Written Revelation

[Comparison Chart Suggestion: Oral Tradition | Written Scripture | Liturgical Practice]

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📍 2️⃣ Written Word: The New Testament Canon

As the eyewitness Apostles began to age and die, the Church began preserving their teaching in written form:

• Paul’s epistles (AD 50–60s)

• Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, John (AD 60–90)

• Other apostolic writings (e.g., 1 Peter, Hebrews)

The evangelist Luke describes how the written Gospel came about:

“…those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and ministers of the word have delivered them to us.”
— Luke 1:2

Canon Recognition Timeline (Suggested Infographic)

Year	Event
AD 170	Early list resembling the NT appears (Marcion, disputed)¹
AD 200	Church usage shows widespread acceptance of 4 Gospels²
AD 367	Canon list matches modern NT (Bishop Athanasius)³
AD 382	Council of Rome affirms the Canon⁴
AD 397	Councils of Hippo & Carthage confirm Canon⁵

¹ Irenaeus, Against Heresies.
² Origen’s citations.
³ Athanasius 39th Festal Letter.
⁴ Council of Rome.
⁵ Councils of Hippo & Carthage.

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📌 How Tradition and Scripture Work Together

In Catholic theology, Tradition and Scripture are inseparable:

Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC 81):
“Sacred Tradition and Sacred Scripture make up a single sacred deposit of the Word of God…”

This means the Gospel did not arrive only as a book; it lived first in community, teaching, worship, and succession.

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📍 3️⃣ Apostolic Succession: Continuity of Teaching Authority

After the Apostles, leadership was passed down through ordained bishops, preserving the Gospel through teaching and unity.

Paul explicitly instructs Timothy:

“What you have heard from me before many witnesses entrust to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.”
— 2 Timothy 2:2

Patristic Testimony

Clement of Rome (AD 96)

The Apostles appointed bishops and deacons… and provided that when they died, other approved men should succeed them.⁶

Ignatius of Antioch (AD 107)

Maintains the authority of the bishop as the guarantor of apostolic teaching.⁷

Irenaeus of Lyons (AD 180)

We can enumerate those appointed bishops by the apostles and their successors down to our own time.⁸

⁶ Clement of Rome, 1 Clement.
⁷ Ignatius, Letters.
⁸ Irenaeus, Against Heresies 3.3.1.

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📊 Comparison: Apostolic Succession vs. Solo Scriptura Models

Feature	Catholic/Orthodox Model	Protestant Sola Scriptura Model
Source of Doctrine	Scripture + Tradition	Scripture alone
Teaching Authority	Bishops under apostolic succession	Individual interpretation
Canon Recognition	Church discerned canon	Bible as self-interpreting
Continuity	Unbroken lineage	Varied interpretations

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📍 4️⃣ Preservation Through History

Despite persecutions and doctrinal controversies, the Gospel was preserved because:

✔ The Church safeguarded its teaching
✔ Councils clarified doctrine
✔ Monks copied Scripture
✔ Missionaries spread the faith globally

Examples:

• Edict of Milan (AD 313) — Christians legally recognized⁹

• Council of Nicaea (AD 325) — Creedal clarity¹⁰

• Medieval Manuscript Preservation — Monastic copying¹¹

⁹ Eusebius, Ecclesiastical History.
¹⁰ Council of Nicaea Records.
¹¹ History of Monastic Scriptoria.

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📍 5️⃣ Reformation and Modern Era

In the 1500s, the Protestant Reformation challenged Church authority and emphasized Scripture alone (Sola Scriptura). While this renewed focus on the Bible was positive in some respects, it also led to fragmentation because:

🔹 Without a unified teaching authority, interpretations multiplied.
🔹 Doctrinal divisions arose.

Catholic teaching did not reject Scripture; it reaffirmed the inseparability of Scripture and Tradition.

CCC 82: “Both Scripture and Tradition must be accepted and honored with equal sentiments of devotion and reverence.”

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📖 Conclusion: A Living Faith Transmitted

The Gospel of Jesus Christ was faithfully passed down through three interwoven strands:

1. Oral Tradition (Jesus → Apostles)

2. Written Scripture (Canon Recognized by the Church)

3. Apostolic Authority (Bishops & Teaching Office)

This ensured continuity, unity, and fidelity of the Gospel message to today.

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📚 Selected Bibliography (Chicago Style)

• Catechism of the Catholic Church.

• Eusebius, Ecclesiastical History.

• Irenaeus, Against Heresies.

• Ignatius of Antioch, Letters.

• Clement of Rome, 1 Clement.

• Origen, Various Writings.

• Council Documents: Nicaea, Hippo, Carthage.

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