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 But tradition has long been superseded by the successive and completed revelations of God's will which form the inspired Scriptures, the only perfect and sufficient rule of belief and practice.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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If any man want light, let him look upon the law and the testimony whether they speak not after this meaning.
Then came to Jesus scribes and Pharisees from Jerusalem, saying, "Why do thy disciples transgress the traditions of the elders? For they wash not their hands, when they eat bread." read more. He answered, and said unto them, "Why do ye also transgress the commandment of God, through your traditions? For God commanded, saying, 'Honour thy father and mother,' and, 'He that curseth father or mother, shall suffer death.' But ye say, 'Every man shall say to his father or mother: That which thou desirest of me to help thee with, is given God.' And so shall he not honour his father or his mother. And thus have ye made, that the commandment of God is without effect, through your traditions. Hypocrites; well prophesied of you Isaiah, saying, 'This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouths, and honoureth me with their lips, howbeit their hearts are far from me: But in vain they worship me, teaching doctrines which are nothing but men's precepts.'" And he called the people unto him, and said to them, "Hear and understand. That which goeth into the mouth, defileth not the man: but that which cometh out of the mouth, defileth the man." Then came his disciples, and said unto him, "Perceivest thou not, how that the Pharisees are offended in hearing this saying?" He answered, and said, "All plants which my heavenly father hath not planted, shall be plucked up by the roots. Let them alone, they be the blind leaders of the blind. If the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch." Then answered Peter and said to him, "Declare unto us this parable." Then said Jesus, "Are ye yet without an understanding? Perceive ye not, that whatsoever goeth in at the mouth, descendeth down into the belly, and is cast out into the draught? But those things which proceed out of the mouth come from the heart, and they defile the man. For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, breaking of wedlock, whoredom, theft, false witness-bearing, blasphemy. These are the things which defile a man. But to eat with unwashen hands, defileth not a man."
And the Pharisees came together unto him, and divers of the scribes which came from Jerusalem. And when they saw certain of his disciples eat bread with common hands, that is to say, with unwashen hands, they complained. read more. For the Pharisees, and all the Jews, except they wash their hands often, eat not; observing the traditions of the elders. And when they come from the market, except they wash themselves they eat not. And many other things there be, which they have taken upon them to observe, as the washing of cups and cruses, and of brazen vessels, and of tables. Then asked him the Pharisees and scribes, "Why walk not thy disciples according to the traditions of the elders, but eat bread with unwashen hands?" He answered and said unto them, "Well prophesied hath Isaiah of you hypocrites as it is written, 'This people honoureth me with their lips, but their heart is far from me.' In vain they worship me, teaching doctrines which are nothing but the commandments of men, for ye lay the commandment of God apart, and ye observe the traditions of men as the washing of cruses and of cups, and many other such like things ye do." And he said unto them, "Well, ye cast aside the commandment of God, to maintain your own traditions. For Moses said, 'Honour thy father and thy mother,' and, 'Whosoever curseth father or mother, let him die for it.' But ye say, 'A man shall say to his father or mother, Corban; which is, that thou desirest of me, to help thee with, is given to God.' And so ye suffer him no more to do ought for his father or his mother, making the word of God of none effect through your own traditions which ye have ordained. And many such things ye do."
Beware lest any man come and spoil you through philosophy and deceitful vanity, through the traditions of men, and ordinances after the world, and not after Christ.
Therefore, brethren, stand fast and keep the ordinances which ye have learned: whether it were by our preaching, or by our epistle.
We require you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye withdraw yourselves from every brother that walketh inordinately, and not after the institution which ye received of us.
and not taking heed to Jews fables, and commandments of men, that turn from the truth.
And if any man shall minish of the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from those things which are written in this book.
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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"Why do thy disciples transgress the traditions of the elders? For they wash not their hands, when they eat bread." He answered, and said unto them, "Why do ye also transgress the commandment of God, through your traditions? read more. For God commanded, saying, 'Honour thy father and mother,' and, 'He that curseth father or mother, shall suffer death.' But ye say, 'Every man shall say to his father or mother: That which thou desirest of me to help thee with, is given God.' And so shall he not honour his father or his mother. And thus have ye made, that the commandment of God is without effect, through your traditions.
For the Pharisees, and all the Jews, except they wash their hands often, eat not; observing the traditions of the elders.
And he said unto them, "Well, ye cast aside the commandment of God, to maintain your own traditions.
making the word of God of none effect through your own traditions which ye have ordained. And many such things ye do."
Now therefore, why tempt ye God, that ye would put a yoke on the disciples necks which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear?
and prevailed in the Jews' law, above many of my companions, which were of mine own nation, and was a much more fervent maintainer of the traditions of the elders.
Beware lest any man come and spoil you through philosophy and deceitful vanity, through the traditions of men, and ordinances after the world, and not after Christ.
Therefore, brethren, stand fast and keep the ordinances which ye have learned: whether it were by our preaching, or by our epistle.
We require you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye withdraw yourselves from every brother that walketh inordinately, and not after the institution which ye received of us.
Forasmuch as ye know how that ye were not redeemed with corruptible gold and silver from your vain conversation, which ye received by the traditions of the fathers,
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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If there arise among you a prophet or a dreamer of dreams, and give thee a sign or a wonder - and that sign or wonder which he hath said come to pass - and then say, 'Let us go after strange gods which thou hast not known, and let us serve them': read more. hearken not unto the words of that prophet or dreamer of dreams. For the LORD thy God tempteth you, to wete whether ye love the LORD your God with all your hearts and with all your souls. For ye must walk after the LORD your God and fear him and keep his commandments and hearken unto his voice and serve him and cleave unto him. And that prophet or dreamer of dreams shall die for it, because he hath spoken to turn you away from the LORD your God which brought you out of the land of Egypt and delivered you out of the house of bondage, to thrust thee out of the way which the LORD thy God commanded thee to walk in: and so thou shalt put evil away from thee. If thy brother, the son of thy mother, or thine own son or thy daughter or the wife that lieth in thy bosom or thy friend which is as thine own soul unto thee, entice thee secretly, saying, 'Let us go and serve strange gods which thou hast not known nor yet thy fathers,
And even so if thou utter these our words, we will be quit of thy oath which thou hast made us swear."
"Why do thy disciples transgress the traditions of the elders? For they wash not their hands, when they eat bread." He answered, and said unto them, "Why do ye also transgress the commandment of God, through your traditions?
And so shall he not honour his father or his mother. And thus have ye made, that the commandment of God is without effect, through your traditions.
For the Pharisees, and all the Jews, except they wash their hands often, eat not; observing the traditions of the elders.
Then asked him the Pharisees and scribes, "Why walk not thy disciples according to the traditions of the elders, but eat bread with unwashen hands?"
for ye lay the commandment of God apart, and ye observe the traditions of men as the washing of cruses and of cups, and many other such like things ye do." And he said unto them, "Well, ye cast aside the commandment of God, to maintain your own traditions.
making the word of God of none effect through your own traditions which ye have ordained. And many such things ye do."
But he that sent me to baptise in water, the same said unto me, 'Upon whom thou shalt see the spirit descend, and tarry still on him, the same is he which baptiseth with the holy ghost.'
For he whom God hath sent, speaketh the words of God. For God giveth not the spirit by measure.
"But when the comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the father, which is the spirit of truth which proceedeth of the father, he shall testify of me.
Howbeit, when he is once come - I mean the spirit of truth - he will lead you into all truth. He shall not speak of himself: but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak; and he will show you things to come. He shall glorify me, for he shall receive of mine, and shall show unto you.
Jesus said unto him, "If I will have him to tarry till I come, what is that to thee? Follow thou me." Then went this saying abroad among the brethren, that that disciple should not die. And yet Jesus said not to him, he shall not die: but, "If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee?"
And when there was risen dissension and disputing not a little unto Paul and Barnabas, against them: they determined that Paul and Barnabas, and certain other of them, should ascend to Jerusalem unto the apostles and elders about this question.
And to this agreeth the words of the prophets, as it is written, 'After this I will return, and will build again the tabernacle of David which is fallen down, and that which is fallen in decay of it will I build again and I will set it up, read more. that the residue of men might seek after the Lord, and also the Gentiles upon whom my name is named saith the Lord, which doth all these things.'
These were the noblest of birth among them of Thessalonica, which received the word with all diligence of mind, and searched the scriptures daily whether those things were even so.
These were the noblest of birth among them of Thessalonica, which received the word with all diligence of mind, and searched the scriptures daily whether those things were even so.
which he called together with the workmen of like occupation, and said, "Sirs ye know that by this craft we have vantage.
But this I confess unto thee, that after that way, which they call heresy, so worship I the God of my fathers, believing all things which are written in the law and the prophets,
And we have not received the spirit of the world: but the spirit which cometh of God, for to know the things that are given to us of God, which things also we speak - not in the cunning words of man's wisdom, but with the cunning words of the holy ghost, making spiritual comparisons of spiritual things. read more. For the natural man perceiveth not the things of the spirit of God, for they are but foolishness unto him: Neither can he perceive them, because he is spiritually examined. But he that is spiritual discusseth all things: yet he himself is judged of no man. "For who knoweth the mind of the Lord, other who shall inform him?" But we understand the mind of Christ.
I commend you brethren that ye remember me in all things, and keep the ordinances even as I delivered them to you.
For first of all, I delivered unto you that which I received: how that Christ died for our sins, agreeing to the scriptures,
and prevailed in the Jews' law, above many of my companions, which were of mine own nation, and was a much more fervent maintainer of the traditions of the elders.
And when Peter was come to Antioch, I withstood him in the face, for he was worthy to be blamed. For yer that certain came from James, he ate with the gentiles: but when they were come, he withdrew and separated himself, fearing them which were of the circumcision, read more. and the other Jews dissembled likewise; Insomuch that Barnabas was brought into their simulation also. But when I saw that they went not the right way after the truth of the gospel, I said unto Peter, before all men, "If thou, being a Jew, livest after the manner of the gentiles, and not as do the Jews: why causest thou the gentiles to live as do the Jews?"
Beware lest any man come and spoil you through philosophy and deceitful vanity, through the traditions of men, and ordinances after the world, and not after Christ.
Therefore, brethren, stand fast and keep the ordinances which ye have learned: whether it were by our preaching, or by our epistle.
Therefore, brethren, stand fast and keep the ordinances which ye have learned: whether it were by our preaching, or by our epistle.
Therefore, brethren, stand fast and keep the ordinances which ye have learned: whether it were by our preaching, or by our epistle.
Therefore, brethren, stand fast and keep the ordinances which ye have learned: whether it were by our preaching, or by our epistle.
We require you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye withdraw yourselves from every brother that walketh inordinately, and not after the institution which ye received of us.
We require you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye withdraw yourselves from every brother that walketh inordinately, and not after the institution which ye received of us.
For when we were with you, this we warned you of, that if there were any which would not work, that the same should not eat.
And forasmuch also as thou hast known holy scripture of a child, which is able to make thee wise unto salvation through the faith, which is in Christ Jesus. For all scripture given by inspiration of God, is profitable to teach, to improve, to amend, and to instruct in righteousness, read more. that the man of God may be perfect, and prepared unto all good works.
Here is wisdom. Let him that hath wit count the number of the beast. For it is the number of a man, and his number is six hundred, threescore and six.
I testify unto every man that heareth the words of prophecy of this book: if any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book.
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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"Why do thy disciples transgress the traditions of the elders? For they wash not their hands, when they eat bread." He answered, and said unto them, "Why do ye also transgress the commandment of God, through your traditions? read more. For God commanded, saying, 'Honour thy father and mother,' and, 'He that curseth father or mother, shall suffer death.' But ye say, 'Every man shall say to his father or mother: That which thou desirest of me to help thee with, is given God.' And so shall he not honour his father or his mother. And thus have ye made, that the commandment of God is without effect, through your traditions.
For the Pharisees, and all the Jews, except they wash their hands often, eat not; observing the traditions of the elders. And when they come from the market, except they wash themselves they eat not. And many other things there be, which they have taken upon them to observe, as the washing of cups and cruses, and of brazen vessels, and of tables. read more. Then asked him the Pharisees and scribes, "Why walk not thy disciples according to the traditions of the elders, but eat bread with unwashen hands?" He answered and said unto them, "Well prophesied hath Isaiah of you hypocrites as it is written, 'This people honoureth me with their lips, but their heart is far from me.' In vain they worship me, teaching doctrines which are nothing but the commandments of men, for ye lay the commandment of God apart, and ye observe the traditions of men as the washing of cruses and of cups, and many other such like things ye do." And he said unto them, "Well, ye cast aside the commandment of God, to maintain your own traditions. For Moses said, 'Honour thy father and thy mother,' and, 'Whosoever curseth father or mother, let him die for it.' But ye say, 'A man shall say to his father or mother, Corban; which is, that thou desirest of me, to help thee with, is given to God.' And so ye suffer him no more to do ought for his father or his mother, making the word of God of none effect through your own traditions which ye have ordained. And many such things ye do."
I commend you brethren that ye remember me in all things, and keep the ordinances even as I delivered them to you.
and prevailed in the Jews' law, above many of my companions, which were of mine own nation, and was a much more fervent maintainer of the traditions of the elders.
Beware lest any man come and spoil you through philosophy and deceitful vanity, through the traditions of men, and ordinances after the world, and not after Christ.
Therefore, brethren, stand fast and keep the ordinances which ye have learned: whether it were by our preaching, or by our epistle.
We require you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye withdraw yourselves from every brother that walketh inordinately, and not after the institution which ye received of us.
Watsons
TRADITION. See CABBALA.