The living embodiment of tradition represents the unchanging inner life of the Church, passed down from generation to generation, through which the text of the Holy Scriptures acquires an additional dimension and profound meaning.

Living Tradition: The Church’s Timeless Wisdom in Interpreting Scriptu

The living embodiment of tradition represents the unchanging inner life of the Church, passed down from generation to generation, through which the text of the Holy Scriptures acquires an additional dimension and profound meaning. It is this experience of the Church that helps not only to grasp the original significance of the words but also to apply the teachings of Scripture in everyday life, as it reflects not merely a written text but the living experience of believers since the first century.

Thus, as stated in one of the sources, "The Holy Scriptures should be understood by the mind of the Church, the mind of Christ, because the Church does not change; in its inner experience it continues to live the same life as it did in the first century; and the words spoken in the Church by Paul, Peter, Basil, or others always retain their meaning. Thus, after an initial perception in our own, contemporary language, we must refer to what the Church understands by this word; only then can we be assured of the sense of the given text and have the right to start thinking and drawing conclusions." (source: link txt, page: 52).

This statement emphasizes that without turning to the living mind of the Church, which embodies tradition, the understanding of Scripture may prove to be superficial and limited. A similar view is expressed in another source: "There are things that we can understand only in the light of the Church's teaching: the Holy Scriptures should be understood by the mind of the Church, the mind of Christ..." (source: link txt, page: 303).

Thus, tradition, embodied in the life of the Church, complements and enriches the text of the Holy Scriptures, turning it into a reliable guide for life. It ensures the continuity of interpretation, tested by time and the experience of believers, and allows for the application of sacred truths in a variety of life circumstances while remaining faithful to the original meaning and the spiritual power of God's word.

Supporting citation(s):
"The Holy Scriptures should be understood by the mind of the Church, the mind of Christ, because the Church does not change; in its inner experience it continues to live the same life as it did in the first century; and the words spoken in the Church by Paul, Peter, Basil, or others always retain their meaning. Thus, after an initial perception in our own, contemporary language, we must refer to what the Church understands by this word; only then can we be assured of the sense of the given text and have the right to start thinking and drawing conclusions." (source: link txt, page: 52)

"There are things that we can understand only in the light of the Church's teaching: the Holy Scriptures should be understood by the mind of the Church, the mind of Christ..." (source: link txt, page: 303)