Paul writes in r2 Tim.3:15 says: “From a child you have known the holy scriptures....” The “scriptures” meant the Old Testament, Timothy did not have the New Testament as it was still being written. This verse explains that as a child he was taught the Old Testament by his mother and grandmother. The Apostle Paul states that the Scriptures available were sufficient to lead one to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ because they contain what would be fulfilled by Jesus Christ.

The Bible teaches that all Scripture is inspired but never speaks of tradition in this manner. This is why it is called God’s word, it is written, and God given.

The Old Testament was used by Jesus when He came along two disciples who were on the road to Emmaus discussing the events (Luke 24:13-27). Luke 24:44 “Then He said to them, “These are the words which I spoke to you while I was still with you, that all things must be fulfilled which were written in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms concerning Me.” . Ps 40:7 Then I said, “Behold, I come; in the scroll of the book it is written of me.” His purpose was to fulfill what was written of him by the prophets that are found in the Old Testament.

Jesus would argue often with the religious leaders about their traditions outside Gods word. He admonished the religious leaders to “search the Scriptures” (John 5:39), “is it not written in your law?” (John 10:34; Luke 10:25) “have you not read?” (Matt.12:3; 12:5; 19:4; 21:16; 22:31).

This clearly shows that the people had access to and were recommended to read and interpret the Scriptures for themselves not blindly rely on their religious teachers to teach them.

Jesus always quoted the Scriptures as the final source of His authority (Matt. 22:29 32; Mark 7:9 13) He corrected the people if they had a wrong understanding because of the religious teachers traditions, Stating, “You err, not knowing the Scriptures. This eventually led to the confrontation of believing in him or the religious traditions of the elders, Mark 12:10 “Have you not read this Scripture: 'The stone which the builders rejected has become the chief cornerstone.”

Acts 17:10-11 When Paul and Silas went to Berea, they went into the synagogue. V.11 “These were more fair-minded than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness, and searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so.” What Scripture could they search to validate their message except the Old Testament.

The book of Acts has numerous examples of the apostles using the Scriptures. They often quoted the Old Testament to validate the message they were preaching.

In Acts 8, Philip was led of the Lord to where a certain Ethiopian eunuch was passing by. As Philip approached, he heard him reading from the book of Isaiah. The Ethiopian invited him to ride along in the chariot and Philip explained, “Philip opened his mouth, and began at the same scripture, and preached to him Jesus” (Acts 8:35). The Holy Spirit used the book of Isaiah was sufficient to lead this man to a saving knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ when explained by one who knew the fulfillment

In Acts 18 Apollos, known to be mighty in Scripture He was preaching the “things of the Lord,” but he knew only the baptism of John (v. 25). He did not know that the Messiah had come and died on the Cross, and was resurrected. Two disciples, Aquila and Priscilla, heard him in the synagogue and took him aside and “...expounded unto him the way of God more perfectly” (v. 26). from that point onward he continued to preach and exhort, “showing by the scriptures that Jesus was Christ” (Acts 18:28). He is later mentioned several times by the apostle Paul (1 Cor.1. 3).

Paul specifically warns in 1 Corinthians 4:6: “Do not exceed beyond what is written,” which negates Tradition as having any equal value to the Scripture.