Scripture and tradition, and whose teaching is therefore vindicated as the true apostolic message. Although, in this early period, the ‘rule of faith’—as a summary of the contemporary church’s teaching assumed to be identical with tradition from the apostles—can function as a guide to the correct interpretation of Scripture, against the misuse of Scripture by heretics, this does not mean that Scripture was regarded as requiring authoritative interpretation in order to be understood.6 But this was