The Catholic church

• the bible was passed on in written form by the apostles and other inspired religious teachers
• once the bible gained its fixed, form, it could neither be added to nor taken away from
• tradition was passed on in oral form (and eventually written down) by the apostles. this is known as the apostolic tradition
• the apostolic succession is always in agreement with what is contained in the bible, though it may contain truths not found in the bible
• the apostolic succession is a living form of the truth in that it is added to by new insights, e.g. ethical teachings on bio-medical issues
• the passing on and interpretation of the bible and tradition are overseen my the magisterium
• magisterium

  refers to the teaching authority of the Catholic Church, consisting of the pope and bishops
• the magisterium received the authority from god to given an interpretation of both the bible and tradition that is authentic, and its teachings must be obeyed