Reference: Tradition
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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 But tradition has long been superseded by the successive and completed revelations of God's will which form the inspired Scriptures, the only perfect and sufficient rule of belief and practice.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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Then come to Jesus Pharisees and scribes from Jerusalem, saying, Why do thy disciples transgress the tradition of the elders? for they wash not their hands when they eat bread. read more. But he answered and said to them, Why do ye too transgress the commandment of God for the sake of your tradition? For God commanded, saying, "Honor thy father and thy mother;" and, "He that curseth father or mother, let him surely die." But ye say, Whoever shall say to his father or his mother, Whatever thou mightst receive in aid from me is a gift [to God], he shall not honor his father or his mother. Thus have ye made void the law of God for the sake of your tradition. Hypocrites! well did Isaiah prophesy concerning you, saying, "This people honoreth me with their lips, but their heart is far from me. But in vain do they worship me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men." And calling the multitude, he said to them, Hear, and understand. Not that which goeth into the mouth defileth a man; but that which cometh out of the mouth, this defileth a man. Then come the disciples, and say to him, Dost thou know that the Pharisees were offended, when they heard that saying? But he answered and said, Every plant which my heavenly Father did not plant will be rooted up. Let them alone; they are blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind lead the blind, both will fall into a ditch. And Peter answering said to him, Explain to us that dark saying. And he said, Are ye too still without discernment? Do ye not understand, that whatever entereth the mouth goeth into the stomach, and is cast out into the drain? But the things which proceed from the mouth come out of the heart; and these defile a man. For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false testimony, blasphemies. These are the things which defile a man; but to eat with unwashed hands defileth not a man.
And there come together to him the Pharisees, and some of the scribes, who came from Jerusalem; and seeing some of his disciples eating bread with defiled, that is, unwashed hands, read more. (for the Pharisees, and all the Jews, unless they wash their hands often, do not eat, holding fast the tradition of the elders; and on coming from the marketplace, unless they bathe, they do not eat; and there are many other things which they have received to hold, the dipping of cups, and pitchers, and brazen vessels;) then the Pharisees and scribes ask him, Why do not thy disciples walk according to the tradition of the elders, but eat bread with defiled hands? And he said to them, Well did Isaiah prophesy of you hypocrites, as it is written, "This people honoreth me with their lips, but their heart is far from me. But in vain do they worship me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men." Laying aside, the commandment of God, ye hold fast the tradition of men. And he said to them, Full well do ye reject the commandment of God, that ye may keep your tradition! For Moses said, "Honor thy father and thy mother;" and, "He that curseth father or mother, let him surely die." But ye say, If a man say to his father or mother, Whatever thou mightst receive in aid from me is Corban, that is, a gift to God, [he is not bound by the command. Thus] ye suffer him no longer to do anything for his father or his mother; making void the word of God by your tradition, which ye have handed down; and many such things ye do.
Beware lest there be some one who shall make a prey of you through philosophy and vain deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the rudiments of the world, and not according to Christ.
So then, brethren, stand firm, and hold fast the traditions which ye were taught by us, whether by word, or by our letter.
Now we charge you, brethren, in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, that ye withdraw yourselves from every brother that walketh disorderly, and not after the tradition which they received of us.
not giving heed to Jewish fables, and commandments of men who turn away from the truth.
and if any one shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God will take away his part from the tree of life, and out of the holy city, which are written of 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 tradition of the elders? for they wash not their hands when they eat bread. But he answered and said to them, Why do ye too transgress the commandment of God for the sake of your tradition? read more. For God commanded, saying, "Honor thy father and thy mother;" and, "He that curseth father or mother, let him surely die." But ye say, Whoever shall say to his father or his mother, Whatever thou mightst receive in aid from me is a gift [to God], he shall not honor his father or his mother. Thus have ye made void the law of God for the sake of your tradition.
(for the Pharisees, and all the Jews, unless they wash their hands often, do not eat, holding fast the tradition of the elders;
And he said to them, Full well do ye reject the commandment of God, that ye may keep your tradition!
making void the word of God by your tradition, which ye have handed down; and many such things ye do.
Now therefore why do ye provoke the anger of God, by putting a yoke upon the neck of the disciples, which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear?
and made progress in Judaism beyond many of the same age with me in my nation, being more exceedingly zealous for the traditions of my fathers.
Beware lest there be some one who shall make a prey of you through philosophy and vain deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the rudiments of the world, and not according to Christ.
So then, brethren, stand firm, and hold fast the traditions which ye were taught by us, whether by word, or by our letter.
Now we charge you, brethren, in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, that ye withdraw yourselves from every brother that walketh disorderly, and not after the tradition which they received of us.
knowing that not with perishable things, silver or gold, were ye redeemed from your vain manner of life received by tradition from your 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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Why do thy disciples transgress the tradition of the elders? for they wash not their hands when they eat bread. But he answered and said to them, Why do ye too transgress the commandment of God for the sake of your tradition?
he shall not honor his father or his mother. Thus have ye made void the law of God for the sake of your tradition.
(for the Pharisees, and all the Jews, unless they wash their hands often, do not eat, holding fast the tradition of the elders;
then the Pharisees and scribes ask him, Why do not thy disciples walk according to the tradition of the elders, but eat bread with defiled hands?
Laying aside, the commandment of God, ye hold fast the tradition of men. And he said to them, Full well do ye reject the commandment of God, that ye may keep your tradition!
making void the word of God by your tradition, which ye have handed down; and many such things ye do.
And I knew him not; but he who sent me to baptize in water, the same said to me, Upon whom thou shalt see the Spirit descending and abiding on him, he it is that baptizeth in the Holy Spirit.
For he whom God sent speaketh the words of God; for he giveth not the Spirit by measure.
When the Comforter is come, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he will bear witness of me.
But when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all the truth. For he will not speak from himself, but whatever he shall hear, that he will speak; and he will tell you the things to come. He will glorify me, for he will receive of what is mine, and will tell it to you.
Jesus saith to him, If it be my will that he remain till I come, what is it to thee? Follow thou me. This report therefore went abroad among the brethren, that this disciple was not to die. And yet Jesus did not say to him, He will not die; but, If it be my will that he remain till I come, what is it to thee?
But when Paul and Barnabas had had no small dissension and debate with them, they determined that Paul and Barnabas, and certain others of them, should go up to Jerusalem to the apostles and elders about this question.
And with this agree the words of the Prophets, as it is written: "After this I will return, and will rebuild the tabernacle of David which hath fallen; and I will rebuild its ruins, and will set it up; read more. that the rest of men may seek after the Lord, and all the gentiles, who have been called by my name, saith the Lord, who doeth these things,
These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness, and searched the Scriptures daily, whether these things were so.
These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness, and searched the Scriptures daily, whether these things were so.
And having called them together, with the workmen of like occupation, he said, Sirs, ye know that by this craft we have our wealth;
But this I acknowledge to thee, that according to the way [of belief] which they call a sect, so do I worship the God of my fathers, believing all things which are written in the Law and by the Prophets;
But we did not receive the spirit of the world, but the Spirit which is from God, that we might know the things that have been given to us by the grace of God; which things we also speak, not in words taught by mans wisdom, but in those taught by the Spirit, connecting what is spiritual l with what is spiritual. read more. But the unspiritual man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God; for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot know them; because they are spiritually discerned. But he that is spiritual judgeth of all things, yet he himself is judged by no one. For "who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him?" But we have the mind of Christ.
Now I praise you, brethren, that in all things ye remember me, and hold fast the instructions, as I delivered them to you.
For I delivered to you first of all what I also received, that Christ died for our sins, according to the Scriptures;
and made progress in Judaism beyond many of the same age with me in my nation, being more exceedingly zealous for the traditions of my fathers.
But when Cephas came to Antioch, I withstood him to the face; for he was condemned. For before certain persons came from James, he used to eat with the gentiles; but when they came, he withdrew, and separated himself, fearing those who were of the circumcision. read more. And the other Jews also dissembled with him; so that even Barnabas was carried away with their dissimulation. But when I saw that they were not walking uprightly according to the truth of the gospel, I said to Cephas in the presence of all, If thou, being a Jew, livest after the manner of gentiles, and not that of the Jews, how is it that thou compellest the gentiles to keep the customs of the Jews?
Beware lest there be some one who shall make a prey of you through philosophy and vain deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the rudiments of the world, and not according to Christ.
So then, brethren, stand firm, and hold fast the traditions which ye were taught by us, whether by word, or by our letter.
So then, brethren, stand firm, and hold fast the traditions which ye were taught by us, whether by word, or by our letter.
So then, brethren, stand firm, and hold fast the traditions which ye were taught by us, whether by word, or by our letter.
So then, brethren, stand firm, and hold fast the traditions which ye were taught by us, whether by word, or by our letter.
Now we charge you, brethren, in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, that ye withdraw yourselves from every brother that walketh disorderly, and not after the tradition which they received of us.
Now we charge you, brethren, in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, that ye withdraw yourselves from every brother that walketh disorderly, and not after the tradition which they received of us.
For also when we were with you, this we commanded you: If any one will not work, neither let him eat.
and that from a child thou hast known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation, through faith which is in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is inspired by God, and is profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for discipline in righteousness; read more. that the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto every good work.
Here is wisdom. Let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast; for it is the number of a man, and his number is six hundred and sixtysix.
I testify to every one that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any one shall add to them, God will add to 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 tradition of the elders? for they wash not their hands when they eat bread. But he answered and said to them, Why do ye too transgress the commandment of God for the sake of your tradition? read more. For God commanded, saying, "Honor thy father and thy mother;" and, "He that curseth father or mother, let him surely die." But ye say, Whoever shall say to his father or his mother, Whatever thou mightst receive in aid from me is a gift [to God], he shall not honor his father or his mother. Thus have ye made void the law of God for the sake of your tradition.
(for the Pharisees, and all the Jews, unless they wash their hands often, do not eat, holding fast the tradition of the elders; and on coming from the marketplace, unless they bathe, they do not eat; and there are many other things which they have received to hold, the dipping of cups, and pitchers, and brazen vessels;) read more. then the Pharisees and scribes ask him, Why do not thy disciples walk according to the tradition of the elders, but eat bread with defiled hands? And he said to them, Well did Isaiah prophesy of you hypocrites, as it is written, "This people honoreth me with their lips, but their heart is far from me. But in vain do they worship me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men." Laying aside, the commandment of God, ye hold fast the tradition of men. And he said to them, Full well do ye reject the commandment of God, that ye may keep your tradition! For Moses said, "Honor thy father and thy mother;" and, "He that curseth father or mother, let him surely die." But ye say, If a man say to his father or mother, Whatever thou mightst receive in aid from me is Corban, that is, a gift to God, [he is not bound by the command. Thus] ye suffer him no longer to do anything for his father or his mother; making void the word of God by your tradition, which ye have handed down; and many such things ye do.
Now I praise you, brethren, that in all things ye remember me, and hold fast the instructions, as I delivered them to you.
and made progress in Judaism beyond many of the same age with me in my nation, being more exceedingly zealous for the traditions of my fathers.
Beware lest there be some one who shall make a prey of you through philosophy and vain deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the rudiments of the world, and not according to Christ.
So then, brethren, stand firm, and hold fast the traditions which ye were taught by us, whether by word, or by our letter.
Now we charge you, brethren, in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, that ye withdraw yourselves from every brother that walketh disorderly, and not after the tradition which they received of us.
Watsons
TRADITION. See CABBALA.