Describe the deposit of faith

Answer 1

the Deposit of FaithFaith may have two meanings when it comes to describing religion. In one case it may be ones personal beliefs in a professed religion. In the second case it may be the held "faith" of that religion, in which case it is the beliefs of that religion about the nature of God, the Deitys desires for its followers et cetera. The term "deposit of faith" refers to the initial seed of "the faith" of a religion.

In Christianity the belief regarding the deposit of faith is split into two factions. The Catholic (incorporating Roman Catholic, Orthodox and Coptic churches) and the Protestant.

The Catholic view of the deposit of faith is roughly this: Christ left behind all the information that was needed (Public Revalation), in both textual and verbal instructions. These textual instructions are known as Scripture, and these verbal instructions as Tradition (note the capital "T"). The verbal instructions were teachings but the correct interpretation of scripture and the words of Christ, being instilled in the Apostles who then instilled these teachings regarding scripture etc. in those they ordained to take their places. While this Tradition is not recorded in scripture itself, it is recorded in the teachings of the fathers of the church in the early years (for example in the writings of Polycarp and his disciple Ignatius) and it is echoed through the teachings of the church down the ages.

In the Protestant view, the deposit of faith Is contained in its entireity within the passages of Scripture. There was no verbal tradition, therefore aby doctrine which cannot be verified through direct reference to scripture aught be dismissed.

A similar situation exists in Islam, with the Quaran, the Sunnah and the Hadith. All three of these things are viewed as the deposit of faith however various sects within Islam debate which parts are legitimate and which are not.