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The Roman Catholic and Orthodox Churches teach that the Scriptures are not the only infallible source of Christian doctrine. In their view, ‘the Church,’ their denominational church, does not derive her certainty about all revealed truths from the Holy Scriptures alone. Both Scripture and tradition must be accepted and honored with equal sentiments of devotion and reverence. The Catholic Church actually elevates itself above the Scriptures, claiming to have authority over the Scriptures.

No one or no church gets to decide the truth of Scripture. The truth is what it is. The leaders of the Catholic Church and Orthodox churches are the blind leading the blind (Matthew 15:14; Luke 6:39).

2 TIMOTHY 3:16-17:
ALL SCRIPTURE is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, THAT THE MAN OF GOD MAY BE COMPLETE, thoroughly equipped for every good work.

complete:
whole, having all that is necessary [1].

ACTS 17:11:
… They received the word with all readiness, and SEARCHED THE SCRIPTURES DAILY to find out whether these things were so.

Wise men of God today still search the Scriptures daily to find out whether the things being taught in Catholic and Protestant churches are true. Most often, they are NOT true. If men in the book of Acts searched the Scriptures daily to verify the truth of the preaching of the Apostle Paul, men today should likewise search the Scriptures daily to verify the truth of their local denominational church teachers.

ROMANS 16:25-27:
Now to Him who is able to establish you ACCORDING TO MY GOSPEL AND THE PREACHING OF YESHUA MESSIAH (JESUS CHRIST), according to the revelation of the mystery kept secret since the world began but now made manifest, AND BY THE PROPHETIC SCRIPTURES MADE KNOWN TO ALL NATIONS, ACCORDING TO THE COMMANDMENT OF THE EVERLASTING GOD, for obedience to the faith – to God, alone wise, be glory through Yeshua Messiah (Jesus Christ) forever.

Can tradition alter or overturn the commandments of Scripture?
Can we add laws and commandments to Scripture?

PROVERBS 30:6:
Do not add to His words, lest He rebuke you and you be found a liar.

MATTHEW 15:3,6,9:
He answered and said to them, “Why do you also transgress the commandment of God because of your tradition? …
Thus you have made the commandment of God of no effect by your tradition. … And in vain they worship Me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.”

COLOSSIANS 2:8:
Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Messiah (Christ).

Untaught and unstable lawless-minded persons twist the Scriptures to their own destruction (2 Peter 3:16). By Scripture alone is sound doctrine, but taking verses out of context and twisting Scripture is not sound. Scripture must be properly discerned by a precept upon precept (Isaiah 28:13), in context proper understanding, without twisting it to support a certain opinion. It is then that Scripture will make one wise for salvation.

1. ‘Complete,’ Oxford Dictionaries, © Oxford University Press,
<https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/us/complete>