Reference: Tradition
American
Col 2:8; Tit 1:14, a doctrine, sentiment, or custom not found in the Bible, but transmitted orally from generation to generation from some presumed inspired authority. In patriarchal times, much that was valuable and obligatory was thus preserved. But tradition has long been superseded by the successive and completed revelations of God's will which form the inspired Scriptures, the only perfect and sufficient rule of belief and practice. With this, even before the time of the Savior, Isa 8:20, all traditions were to be compared, as being of no value if they conflicted with it, added to it, or took from it, Re 22:19. The Jews had numerous unwritten traditions, which they affirmed to have been delivered to Moses on Mount Sinai, and by him transmitted to Joshua, the judges, and the prophets. After their wars with the Romans under Adrian and Severus, in view of their increasing dispersion over the earth, the Jews desired to secure their traditions by committing them to writing. Accordingly Rabbi Judah "the Holy," composed the Mishna, or second law, the most ancient collection of the Hebrew traditions, about A. D. 190-220. To this text two commentaries were afterwards added: the Gemara of Jerusalem, probably about A. D. 370; and the Gemara of Babylon, A. D. 500; forming, with the Mishna, the Talmud of Jerusalem and that of Babylon. The contents of these voluminous works poorly remunerate the student of the laborious task of reading them. Our Savior severely censured the adherents of such legendary follies in his own day, and reproached them with preferring the traditions of the elders to the law of God itself, and superstitiously adhering to vain observances while they neglected the most important duties, Mt 15:1-20; Mr 7:1-13. The traditions of the Romish church, with less apology than the ancient Jews had before the New Testament was written, are still more in conflict with the word of God, and still more deserving of the Savior's condemnation.
In 2Th 2:15; 3:6, "tradition" means inspired instructions from the lips of those who received them from God, and were authorized to dispense them in his name. These apostolic sayings were obligatory only on those who received them as inspired directly from the apostles. Had any of them come down to our times, the only means of endorsing them must be by showing their agreement with the word of God, since inspiration and miracles have ceased.
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To the law and to the testimony! If they speak not according to this word, It is , because they have no dawning day.
Then, there come unto Jesus from Jerusalem Pharisees and Scribes, saying - Wherefore do thy disciples transgress the tradition of the elders? for they wash not their hands, when they eat bread! read more. But, he, answering, said unto them - Wherefore do, ye also, transgress the commandment of God for the sake of your tradition? For, God, said - Honour thy father and thy mother, and - He that revileth father or mother, let him, surely die! But, ye, say - Whosoever shall say to his father or his mother - A gift! Whatsoever, out of me, thou mightest be profited, in nowise, shall honour his father or his mother - and so ye have cancelled, the word of God, for the sake of your, tradition. Hypocrites! well prophesied concerning you, Isaiah, saying - This people, with the lips, do, honour, me, while, their heart, far off, holdeth from me; But, in vain, do they pay devotions unto me, teaching, for teachings, the commandments of men. And, calling near the multitude, he said to them - Hear and understand! Not that which entereth into the mouth, defileth the man, but, that which proceedeth out of the mouth, the same, defileth the man, Then, coming near, his disciples say unto him - Knowest thou, that the Pharisees, hearing the word, were caused to stumble? And, he, answering, said - Every plant which my heavenly Father hath not planted, will be uprooted: Let them alone! they are, blind leaders; and, if the, blind, lead the, blind, both, into a ditch, will fall. And Peter, answering, said unto him, Declare to us the parable. And, he, said, To this moment, are, ye also, without discernment? Perceive ye not that, every thing which entereth into the mouth, into the stomach, findeth way, and, into the draught, is passed; while, the things which proceed out of the mouth, out of the heart, come forth, and, they, defile the man. For, out of the heart, come forth wicked designs, - murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false testimonies, profane speakings: these, are the things which defile the man, but, the eating with unwashed hands, doth not defile the man.
And the Pharisees and certain of the Scribes who have come from Jerusalem gather themselves together unto him; and, observing certain of his disciples, that, with defiled hands, that is unwashed, they are eating bread, - - read more. For, the Pharisees, and all the Jews, unless with care they wash their hands, eat not, holding fast the tradition of the elders; and coming from market, unless they sprinkle themselves, they eat not, - and, many other things, there are, which they have accepted to hold fast - immersions of cups and measures and copper vessels - - and so the Pharisees and the Scribes, question, him - For what cause do thy disciples not walk according to the tradition of the elders, but, with defiled hands, eat bread? But, he, said unto them - Well, prophesied Isaiah concerning you, ye hypocrites, as it is written - This people, with the lips do honour me, while, their heart, far off, holdeth from me, - But, in vain, do they pay devotions unto me, teaching for teachings, the commandments of men; Having, dismissed, the commandment, of God, ye, hold fast, the tradition, of men. And he was saying to them - Well, do ye set aside the commandment of God, that, your own tradition, ye may observe; For, Moses, said - Honour thy father and thy mother, and - He that revileth father or mother, let him, surely die, - But, ye, say - If a man shall say to his father or his mother, Korban! that is, A gift, whatsoever, out of me, thou mightest be profited, no longer, do ye suffer him to do, aught, for his father or his mother, - cancelling the word of God by your tradition which ye have delivered. And, many such similar things, are ye doing!
Be taking heed, lest there shall be anyone leading, you, off as a spoil, through means of their philosophy, and an empty deceit, - according to the instruction of men, according to the first principles of the world, - and not according to Christ:
Hence, then, brethren, stand firm, and hold fast the instructions which ye were taught - whether through discourse, or through our letter.
Howbeit, we charge you, brethren, - that, in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, ye be withdrawing yourselves from every brother - who, in a disorderly way, doth walk, and not according to the instruction which ye received from us.
Not giving heed to Judaical stories and commandments of men who are turning away from the truth:
And, if anyone shall take away from the words of this prophetic scroll, God, will take away his part, - from the tree of life, and out of the holy city, - from the things written in this scroll.
Easton
any kind of teaching, written or spoken, handed down from generation to generation. In Mr 7:3,9,13; Col 2:8, this word refers to the arbitrary interpretations of the Jews. In 2Th 2:15; 3:6, it is used in a good sense. Peter (1Pe 1:18) uses this word with reference to the degenerate Judaism of the "strangers scattered" whom he addresses (comp. Ac 15:10; Mt 15:2-6; Ga 1:14).
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Wherefore do thy disciples transgress the tradition of the elders? for they wash not their hands, when they eat bread! But, he, answering, said unto them - Wherefore do, ye also, transgress the commandment of God for the sake of your tradition? read more. For, God, said - Honour thy father and thy mother, and - He that revileth father or mother, let him, surely die! But, ye, say - Whosoever shall say to his father or his mother - A gift! Whatsoever, out of me, thou mightest be profited, in nowise, shall honour his father or his mother - and so ye have cancelled, the word of God, for the sake of your, tradition.
For, the Pharisees, and all the Jews, unless with care they wash their hands, eat not, holding fast the tradition of the elders;
And he was saying to them - Well, do ye set aside the commandment of God, that, your own tradition, ye may observe;
cancelling the word of God by your tradition which ye have delivered. And, many such similar things, are ye doing!
Now, therefore, why are ye proving God, that ye should put a yoke upon the neck of the disciples, which, neither our fathers, nor we, have been able to bear.
And was making advancement, in Judaism, above many contemporaries in my nation, being, surpassingly zealous, of my paternal instructions.
Be taking heed, lest there shall be anyone leading, you, off as a spoil, through means of their philosophy, and an empty deceit, - according to the instruction of men, according to the first principles of the world, - and not according to Christ:
Hence, then, brethren, stand firm, and hold fast the instructions which ye were taught - whether through discourse, or through our letter.
Howbeit, we charge you, brethren, - that, in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, ye be withdrawing yourselves from every brother - who, in a disorderly way, doth walk, and not according to the instruction which ye received from us.
Knowing that, Not with corruptible things, with silver or gold, have ye been redeemed from your unmeaning behaviour paternally handed down,
Fausets
Greek paradosis, instructions "delivered" (1Co 15:3) as inspired, whether orally or in writing, by the apostles (2Th 2:15; 3:6,10). The only oral tradition designed by God to be obligatory on the church in all ages was soon committed to writing in the apostolic age, and recognized as inspired by the churches then having the gift of discerning spirits. Only in three passages (1Co 11:2 margin; 2Th 2:15; 3:6) has tradition a good sense; in ten a bad sense, man's uninspired tradition (Mt 15:2-3,6; Mr 7:3,5,8-9,13; Ga 1:14; Col 2:8). Jesus charges the Jews with "making the commandment of God of none effect through your tradition." Hilary the deacon says, "a surfeit to carnal sense is human tradition."
Tradition clogs heavenly perceptions. Paradosis is one of the only two nouns in 2,000 in the Greek Testament which numerically equals 666, the mark of the beast (Re 13:18). Tradition is the grand corrupter of doctrine, as "wealth" (euporia; Ac 19:25, the other equivalent of 666) is of practice. Only those words of the apostles for which they claim inspiration (their words afterward embodied in canonical writing) are inspired, not their every spoken word, e.g. Peter's dissimulation (Ga 2:11-14). Oral inspiration was needed until the canon of the written word was completed. The apostles' and evangelists' inspiration is attested by their miracles; their New Testament Scriptures had the additional test without which even miracles would be inconclusive (De 13:1-6), accordance with the existing Old Testament revelation (Ac 17:11).
When the canon was complete the infallibility was transferred from living men's inspired sayings to the written word, now the sole unerring guide, interpreted by the Holy Spirit; comparison of Scripture with Scripture being the best commentary (1Co 2:12-16; 1Jo 2:20,27; Joh 1:33; 3:34; 15:26; 16:13-14). The most ancient and universal tradition is the all-sufficiency of Scripture for salvation, "that the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works" (2Ti 3:15-17). The apostles never appeal to human tradition, always to Scripture (Ac 15:2,15-17; 17:11; 24:14; 1Co 15:3-4). If tradition must be followed, then we ought to follow that oldest tradition which casts away all tradition not in, or provable by, Scripture.
We receive the Christian Lord's day and infant baptism not on the inherent authority of the fathers, but on their testimony as witnesses of facts which give force to the infiltrations of Scripture. Tradition can authenticate a fact, but not establish a doctrine. Paul's tradition in 2Th 2:15 is inspired, and only continued oral in part until the Scripture canon was completed by John; altogether different from Rome's supplementary oral tradition professing to complete the word which is complete, and which we are forbidden to add to, on penalty of God's plagues written therein (Re 22:18). By adding human tradition Rome becomes parent of antichrist. How remarkable it is that from this very chapter (2Th 2:15), denouncing antichrist, she draws her argument for tradition which fosters antichristianity. Because the apostles' oral word, whenever they claim inspiration, was as trustworthy as the written word, it does not follow that the oral word of those neither apostles nor inspired is as trustworthy as the written word of those who were apostles or inspired.
No tradition of the apostles except their written word can be proved genuine on certain evidence. The danger of even a genuine oral tradition (which scarcely any of the so-called traditions are) is illustrated in the "saying" that went abroad among the brethren that John should not die, though Jesus had not said this, but "if I will that he tarry until I come, what is that to thee?" (Joh 21:22-23). We are no more bound to accept the fathers' interpretation (which by the way is the reverse of unanimous; but even suppose it were so) of Scripture, because we accept the New Testament canon on their testimony, than to accept the Jews' interpretation of the Old Testament because we accept the Old Testament canon on their testimony; if we were, we should be as bound to reject Jesus, with the Jews, as to reject primitive Scripture Christianity with the apostate church.
See the Church of England Articles 6, 8, 20, 22-34, on the due and the undue place of tradition in the church. What were once universal traditions (e.g. the epistles for centuries ascribed to 11 popes, from Anacletus, A.D. 101, to Victor I, A.D. 192, now universally admitted to be spurious) are no longer so regarded. Whately likened tradition to the Russian game a number sit in a circle, the first reads a short story in the ear of his next neighbour, he repeats it orally to the next, and so on; the last writes it as it, reaches him; the amusement is, when read and compared with the original story it is found wholly metamorphosed, and hardly recognizable as the same story.
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When there shall arise in thy midst - a prophet, or a dreamer of dreams, - and he shall give unto thee a sign or a wonder; and the sign or the wonder shall come in, whereof he spake unto thee, saying, - Let us go after other gods, which ye know not and let us serve them read more. thou shalt not hearken unto the words of that prophet, or unto that dreamer of dreams, - for Yahweh your God, is putting you to the proof, to know whether ye do love Yahweh your God, with all your heart and with all your soul. After Yahweh your God, shall ye walk And him, shall ye revere, - And his commandments, shall ye observe. And unto his voice, shall ye hearken, And him, shall ye serve And unto him, shall ye cleave. And that prophet or that dreamer of dreams, shall be put to death because he hath spoken revolt against Yahweh your God, - who brought you forth out of the land of Egypt and redeemed thee out of the house of servants, to seduce thee out of the way wherein Yahweh shy God hath commanded thee to walk, - so shalt thou consume the wicked thing out of thy midst. When thy brother - son of thine own mother or thine own son or thine own daughter, or the wife of thy bosom, or thy friend who is as thine own soul, shall entice thee secretly, saying, - Let us go and serve other gods, whom thou hast not known, thou, nor thy fathers;
Or, if thou utter this our business, then shall we be free from this thine oath which thou hast made us swear.
Wherefore do thy disciples transgress the tradition of the elders? for they wash not their hands, when they eat bread! But, he, answering, said unto them - Wherefore do, ye also, transgress the commandment of God for the sake of your tradition?
in nowise, shall honour his father or his mother - and so ye have cancelled, the word of God, for the sake of your, tradition.
For, the Pharisees, and all the Jews, unless with care they wash their hands, eat not, holding fast the tradition of the elders;
and so the Pharisees and the Scribes, question, him - For what cause do thy disciples not walk according to the tradition of the elders, but, with defiled hands, eat bread?
Having, dismissed, the commandment, of God, ye, hold fast, the tradition, of men. And he was saying to them - Well, do ye set aside the commandment of God, that, your own tradition, ye may observe;
cancelling the word of God by your tradition which ye have delivered. And, many such similar things, are ye doing!
And, I, knew him not, - but, he that sent me to immerse in water, he, unto me, said - Upon whomsoever thou shalt see the Spirit descending and abiding upon him, the same, is he that immerseth in Holy Spirit.
For, he whom God hath sent, the sayings of God, doth speak; for, not by measure, giveth he the Spirit.
Whensoever the Advocate shall come, Whom, I, will send unto you from the Father, The Spirit of truth, which, from the Father, cometh forth, He, will bear witness concerning me;
Howbeit, as soon as, he, hath come - The Spirit of truth, he will guide you into all truth; for he will not speak from himself, but, whatsoever he heareth, he will speak, and, the coming things, will he announce unto you. He, shall glorify me; for, of mine, shall he receive, and announce unto you.
Jesus saith unto him - If I will that, he, remain until I come, what is that to thee? Thou, be following me. This word, therefore, went forth unto the brethren, that, that disciple, should not die. Howbeit, Jesus did not tell him, he should not die; but, If I will that, he, remain until I come, what is that to thee?
And, when Paul and Barnabas had had no little dissension and discussion with them, it was arranged that Paul and Barnabas and certain others from among them should go up unto the Apostles and Elders in Jerusalem concerning this question,
And, with this, agree the words of the prophets, according as it is written - After these things, will I return, and will rebuild the tent of David that hath fallen, and, the ruins thereof, will I rebuild, and will set it up again: read more. That the residues of men may seek out the Lord, and all the nations upon whom my name hath been called, saith the Lord that doeth these things,
and, these, were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they welcomed the word with all readiness of mind, daily, searching the Scriptures, - whether these things could be so.
and, these, were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they welcomed the word with all readiness of mind, daily, searching the Scriptures, - whether these things could be so.
gathering whom together, and them who in such things wrought, he said - Men! ye well know that, by this business, we have our prosperity;
But I confess, this, unto thee, - That, according to the Way which they call a Sect, so, I am rendering divine service unto my father's God, believing in all the things which, throughout the law, and those which, in the prophets, are written:
But, as for us, - not the spirit of the world, have we received, but the Spirit which is of God, - that we might know the things which, by God, have been given in favour unto us: - Which we also speak - not in words taught of human wisdom, but in such as are taught of the Spirit, by spiritual words, spiritual things, explaining. read more. But, a man of the soul, doth not welcome the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness unto him, and he cannot get to know them, because, spiritually, are they examined; But, the man of the spirit, on the one hand, examineth all things, but, on the other, he himself, by no one, is examined. For who hath come to know the mind of the Lord, that shall instruct him? But, we, have, the mind of Christ.
Now I praise you, that, in all things, ye have me in remembrance, and, even as I delivered unto you the instructions, ye hold them fast.
For I delivered unto you, among the first things, what also I received: - how that Christ died for our sins, according to the Scriptures,
And was making advancement, in Judaism, above many contemporaries in my nation, being, surpassingly zealous, of my paternal instructions.
But, when Cephas came unto Antioch, to the face, even , him, I resisted, because he stood condemned; For, before that certain came from James, with them of the nations, used he to eat; whereas, when they came, he used to withdraw, and keep himself separate, fearing them of the circumcision; read more. And the rest of the Jews alsoused hypocrisy with him, so that, even Barnabas, was carried away by their hypocrisy. But, when I saw that they were not walking with straightforwardness as regardeth the truth of the glad-message, I said unto Cephas, before all: If, thou, although, a Jew, like them of the nations, and not like the Jews, dost live, how dost thou compel, them of the nations, to live like Jews?
Be taking heed, lest there shall be anyone leading, you, off as a spoil, through means of their philosophy, and an empty deceit, - according to the instruction of men, according to the first principles of the world, - and not according to Christ:
Hence, then, brethren, stand firm, and hold fast the instructions which ye were taught - whether through discourse, or through our letter.
Hence, then, brethren, stand firm, and hold fast the instructions which ye were taught - whether through discourse, or through our letter.
Hence, then, brethren, stand firm, and hold fast the instructions which ye were taught - whether through discourse, or through our letter.
Hence, then, brethren, stand firm, and hold fast the instructions which ye were taught - whether through discourse, or through our letter.
Howbeit, we charge you, brethren, - that, in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, ye be withdrawing yourselves from every brother - who, in a disorderly way, doth walk, and not according to the instruction which ye received from us.
Howbeit, we charge you, brethren, - that, in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, ye be withdrawing yourselves from every brother - who, in a disorderly way, doth walk, and not according to the instruction which ye received from us.
For, even when we were with you, this, were we giving in charge unto you, - that, if any will not work, neither let him eat!
And that, from a babe, those sacred letters, thou hast known which are able to make thee wise unto salvation, through the faith which is in Christ Jesus: Every scripture, is God-breathed, and profitable - unto teaching, unto conviction, unto correction, unto the discipline that is in righteousness, - read more. In order that, ready, may be the man, of God, unto every good work, being well-prepared.
Here, is, wisdom: he that hath understanding, let him count the number of the beast, for it is, the number of a man; and, his number, is 666.
I, bear witness, unto every one that heareth the words of the prophecy of this scroll: - If anyone shall lay aught upon them, God, will lay upon him, the plagues which are written in this scroll;
Hastings
Morish
?????????. This may be described as that which is handed down as oral teaching. It may be from God, as in 2Th 2:15; 3:6; and 1Co 11:2 (where it is translated 'ordinance'), instruction handed down before the word of God was complete. Or it may be from man, as was the tradition of the elders of Israel, which was strongly denounced by the Lord, and declared to be a subverting of the commandments of God. Mt 15:2-6; Mr 7:3-13; Ga 1:14. In Col 2:8 it is the mere teaching of the moralists, of which much has survived to the present day. What man institutes, man holds to most tenaciously.
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Wherefore do thy disciples transgress the tradition of the elders? for they wash not their hands, when they eat bread! But, he, answering, said unto them - Wherefore do, ye also, transgress the commandment of God for the sake of your tradition? read more. For, God, said - Honour thy father and thy mother, and - He that revileth father or mother, let him, surely die! But, ye, say - Whosoever shall say to his father or his mother - A gift! Whatsoever, out of me, thou mightest be profited, in nowise, shall honour his father or his mother - and so ye have cancelled, the word of God, for the sake of your, tradition.
For, the Pharisees, and all the Jews, unless with care they wash their hands, eat not, holding fast the tradition of the elders; and coming from market, unless they sprinkle themselves, they eat not, - and, many other things, there are, which they have accepted to hold fast - immersions of cups and measures and copper vessels - - read more. and so the Pharisees and the Scribes, question, him - For what cause do thy disciples not walk according to the tradition of the elders, but, with defiled hands, eat bread? But, he, said unto them - Well, prophesied Isaiah concerning you, ye hypocrites, as it is written - This people, with the lips do honour me, while, their heart, far off, holdeth from me, - But, in vain, do they pay devotions unto me, teaching for teachings, the commandments of men; Having, dismissed, the commandment, of God, ye, hold fast, the tradition, of men. And he was saying to them - Well, do ye set aside the commandment of God, that, your own tradition, ye may observe; For, Moses, said - Honour thy father and thy mother, and - He that revileth father or mother, let him, surely die, - But, ye, say - If a man shall say to his father or his mother, Korban! that is, A gift, whatsoever, out of me, thou mightest be profited, no longer, do ye suffer him to do, aught, for his father or his mother, - cancelling the word of God by your tradition which ye have delivered. And, many such similar things, are ye doing!
Now I praise you, that, in all things, ye have me in remembrance, and, even as I delivered unto you the instructions, ye hold them fast.
And was making advancement, in Judaism, above many contemporaries in my nation, being, surpassingly zealous, of my paternal instructions.
Be taking heed, lest there shall be anyone leading, you, off as a spoil, through means of their philosophy, and an empty deceit, - according to the instruction of men, according to the first principles of the world, - and not according to Christ:
Hence, then, brethren, stand firm, and hold fast the instructions which ye were taught - whether through discourse, or through our letter.
Howbeit, we charge you, brethren, - that, in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, ye be withdrawing yourselves from every brother - who, in a disorderly way, doth walk, and not according to the instruction which ye received from us.
Watsons
TRADITION. See CABBALA.