By Word or Epistle

The Catholic idea that Oral tradition is different than scripture has many problems. They teach there is Oral teaching and written teaching. We believe the oral teaching of Christ was eventually preserved in written form. "By word" implies Christ's words whether spoken or later written.

2Th 2:15  Therefore,G686 G3767 brethren,G80 stand fast,G4739 andG2532 holdG2902 theG3588 traditionsG3862 whichG3739 ye have been taught,G1321 whetherG1535 byG1223 word,G3056 orG1535 (G1223) ourG2257 epistle.G1992

"By word" does not mean oral teaching but the historical record of something actually spoken, it was often used with an official record of prophetic teaching, and could be in spoken or written form. It is used of Christ's utterances, and were later given in written form. It is not used of commentaries based upon opinion about Christ's words, but of Jesus' words themselves as an historical record. Oral opinion was not included by this word.

The Greek word is Logos, Jesus himself being called the Logos. He was the one who matched the prophetic word of God.

"By word" also matches the description of Luke's treatise. The word treatise is the same word logos. "Word"="Treatise"

Act 1:1  TheG3588 formerG4413 treatiseG3056 have(G3303) I made,G4160 OG5599 Theophilus,G2321 ofG4012 allG3956 thatG3739 JesusG2424 beganG756 bothG5037 to doG4160 andG2532 teach,G1321

By "word" therefore often meant a written treatise like the four Gospels. It did not mean xtra conanical tradition, quite the opposite, it was a direct reference to the Gospels and Acts. We can also see this in the Hebrew treatise,

Heb 13:22  AndG1161 I beseechG3870 you,G5209 brethren,G80 sufferG430 theG3588 wordG3056 of exhortation:G3874 forG1063 I have(G2532) written a letterG1989 unto youG5213 inG1223 few words.G1024

We can see the word of exhortation is given in a letter. It is easy to see the Catholic usage, that it introduces oral traditions taught later, is a deception.

Just using a simple concordance will give many examples of it being used as a prophetic utterance. It is different than human opinion or teaching about someone's saying in almost every case. It is almost always tied to an historical record.

Act 4:29  And now, Lord, behold their threatenings: and grant unto thy servants, that with all boldness they may speak thy word,

We see that the apostles delivery was Christ's word, the historical and doctrinal record of his teachings on earth. Though Jesus said many things not recorded, all recorded scripture about his life completely and accurately defined his word.

Act 1:1  The former treatise have I made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and teach,

It was a record of everything in that work, from birth to his ascension. Catholics make a play with the word "began", as if Luke was referring to only a partial part of a beginning phase, with more information about Christ's earthly ministry coming after the writings, the word began in Greek does not imply an incomplete teaching, but an orderly teaching from beginning to end. The word All shows it was to be a completed chronological record of his activities. What he did and said.

Keep in mind Luke covers a beginning phase of his work, his earthly ministry, the rest completed after his ascension. Thus, the word began does not imply that major parts of his ministry were left out, only that the rest of his work occurred later. The book of Acts covers the next phase and is a complete record of that phase.

The Catholic use of the word "began" is surely deceptive. Since it nowhere implies an incomplete testimony. Compare Peter's explanation below about what took place in the gentile conversion. The word begin (rehearsed from beginning) did not mean it was incomplete.

Act 11:4  ButG1161 PeterG4074 rehearsed the matter from the beginning,G756 and expoundedG1620 it by orderG2517 unto them,G846 saying,G3004

The term "the matter" is a proper meaning of "Logos", but is supplied and not in  the text. It is an historical record of what happened. Just remember the word from the beginning, the same word as began, did not mean an incomplete record..

They are making the claim the oral came first,written came second, and another round of revelation with new material followed the written; in reality the oral was first followed by the written, with no further revelation known after that. Ephesians 4:10-12 showing revelation about Christ would cease when the Church possed full knowledge of Jesus and matured to the full stature of Christ.

I Cor:13 saying we would know him face to face, which is not a physical presence but a record of his life complete enough as if we were in his presence.

The Old Testament had a similar word for Logos that was used the same.

Exo 34:27  And the LORDH3068 saidH559 untoH413 Moses,H4872 WriteH3789 thou(H853) theseH428 words:H1697 forH3588 afterH5921 the tenorH6310 of theseH428 wordsH1697 I have madeH3772 a covenantH1285 withH854 thee and withH854 Israel.H3478

Showing the word can be a communication in writing, not just oral. See,

1Sa 3:7  Now SamuelH8050 did not yetH2962 knowH3045 (H853) the LORD,H3068 neither was the wordH1697 of the LORDH3068 yetH2962 revealedH1540 untoH413 him.

Non-prophetic oral teachings are excluded when they go beyond or don't match the prophetic. Luke gave all so that anything beyond would be invention. So works cited by Catholics that were not by prophetic gifts are excluded. This term Logos can be used with the Greek word historia. History. The word of Knowledge giving insight into the life of Christ and later the record of the Apostles.

Also, there may be stories excluded that may be in other Gospels, but Luke does not see them effecting Christ's work or teaching. Luke gives a complete view of Christ's work. Stories adding to Christ's purpose or doctrine would be of a false nature.

Mar 2:2  And straightway many were gathered together, insomuch that there was no room to receive them, no, not so much as about the door: and he preached the word unto them.

In this context it is an official prophetic teaching from Christ by the Holy Spirit.

Mar 4:14  The sower soweth the word.

Mar 4:15  And these are they by the way side, where the word is sown; but when they have heard, Satan cometh immediately, and taketh away the word that was sown in their hearts.

Mar 4:16  And these are they likewise which are sown on stony ground; who, when they have heard the word, immediately receive it with gladness;

It has a definite article making it distinct. In some cases it may not have a definite article and without it could just mean a record of communication. All of Christ's teachings were prophetic and the term "by word" means a record of his communication and life.

The word Logos can be any communication and often is defined by "he spoke" or "he preached" or "he wrote" the word.

In many cases official utterances are distinguished from human tradition which was from non-prophetic sources. Plus it is called the "word of God" distinguishing it as from God vs. man.

Mar 7:13  Making the word of God of none effect through your tradition, which ye have delivered: and many such like things do ye.

Thus, Catholics confuse the term "word" with human traditions that were not officially uttered by God. We can also see that the word believe is associated with the official word.

Luk 1:1  Forasmuch as many have taken in hand to set forth in order a declaration of those things which are most surely believed among us,

Luk 1:2  Even as they delivered them unto us, which from the beginning were eyewitnesses, and ministers of the word;

The apostles ministered the word in spoken form and prophets in written form. Luke being a prophet of the early chruch. The term "By word" embraced both forms of communications. The word means to communicate, whether spoken or by writing. As long as it communicates a likeness to the historical record.

Prophets such as Jeremiah recorded their interactions, the recordings are the official word about the events.

"By word" just means recorded events in their interactions. Epistles are not concerned with recording events as much as giving guidance and judgments.

Luke's writings were written forms of the word delivered and can be included in the phrase "By word".

Luk 1:3  It seemed good to me also, having had perfect understanding of all things from the very first, to write unto thee in order, most excellent Theophilus,

Luk 1:4  That thou mightest know the certainty of those things, wherein thou hast been instructed.

Luke as a prophet gave "the word" in written form to create an official record that could not be forgotton, changed, or distorted. It created a lasting record vs a forgrtable spoken record.