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 But tradition has long been superseded by the successive and completed revelations of God's will which form the inspired Scriptures, the only perfect and sufficient rule of belief and practice.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 there come to Jesus, from Jerusalem, Pharisees and scribes, saying, "Why do Thy disciples transgress the tradition of the elders? for they do not wash their hands, when they eat bread!" read more. And He, answering, said to them, "Why do ye also transgress the commandment of God because of your tradition? For God said, 'Honor your father and your mother,' and 'He that speaks evil of father or mother, let him surely die,' But ye say, 'Whosoever shall say to his father or his mother, That by which you might be profited by me is an offering,' shall in no wise honor his father; and ye made void the word of God because of your tradition. Hypocrites! Well did Isaiah prophesy of you, saying, 'This people honor 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, having called the multitude near, He said to them, "Hear, and understand: Not that which enters into the mouth defiles the man; but that which proceeds out of the mouth??his defiles the man." Then, His disciples, coming near, say to Him, "Knowest Thou that the Pharisees, having heard the saying, were made to stumble?" But He, answering, said, "Every plant which My Heavenly Father did not plant shall be rooted up. Let them alone; they are blind guides; and if a blind man be guiding a blind man, both will fall into a pit." And Peter, answering, said to Him, "Explain to us the parable." And He said, "Are ye also even yet without understanding? Do ye not perceive that whatever goes into the mouth passes into the belly, and is cast forth into the drain? But the things that proceed out of the mouth come forth out of the heart; and these defile the man. For out of the heart come forth evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false-witnessings, blasphemies: these are the things which defile the man, but to eat with unwashed hands does not defile the man."
And there gather together to Him the Pharisees, and some of the scribes, who came from Jerusalem, and saw that some of His disciples ate bread with defiled, that is, unwashed hands. read more. For the Pharisees, and all the Jews, unless they wash their hands thoroughly, eat not, holding the tradition of the elders; and, coming from the marketplace, unless they immerse themselves, they do not eat; and there are many other things which they received to hold; as, immersion of cups, and pots, and brazen vessels. And the Pharisees and the scribes ask Him, "Why do not Thy disciples walk according to the tradition of the elders, but eat with defiled hands?" And He said to them, "Well did Isaiah prophesy concerning you hypocrites, as it has been written, This people honor me with their lips; but their heart is far from Me. But in vain do they worship Me, teaching as their doctrines the precepts of men. Having left the commandment of God, ye hold the tradition of men." And He said to them, "Well do ye reject the commandment of God, that ye may hold your tradition! For Moses said, 'Honor your father and your mother,' and 'He that speaks evil of father or mother, let him surely die.' But ye say, 'If a man say to his father or mother, That wherewith you might be profited by me is Corban,' that is, 'an offering to God,' ye no longer suffer him to do anything for his father or his mother; making void the word of God by your tradition, which ye handed down; and many such things ye do."
Beware, lest there should be any one who makes a spoil of you through his philosophy and vain deceits, according to the tradition of men, according to the rudiments of the world, and not according to Christ;
So, then, brethren, stand fast, and hold the instructions which ye were taught, whether through speech, or through letter of ours.
Now we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, to withdraw yourselves from every brother walking disorderly, and not according to the instruction which ye received from us.
not giving heed to Jewish fables, and commandments of men who turn away from the truth.
and, if anyone 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, even from the things 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 tradition of the elders? for they do not wash their hands, when they eat bread!" And He, answering, said to them, "Why do ye also transgress the commandment of God because of your tradition? read more. For God said, 'Honor your father and your mother,' and 'He that speaks evil of father or mother, let him surely die,' But ye say, 'Whosoever shall say to his father or his mother, That by which you might be profited by me is an offering,' shall in no wise honor his father; and ye made void the word of God because of your tradition.
For the Pharisees, and all the Jews, unless they wash their hands thoroughly, eat not, holding the tradition of the elders;
And He said to them, "Well do ye reject the commandment of God, that ye may hold your tradition!
making void the word of God by your tradition, which ye handed down; and many such things ye do."
Now, therefore, why do ye tempt God, that ye should put a yoke upon the neck of the disciples, which neither our fathers nor we were strong enough to bear?
and was making progress in Judaism above many companions of the same age in my own nation, being more exceedingly a zealot for my ancestral instructions.
Beware, lest there should be any one who makes a spoil of you through his philosophy and vain deceits, according to the tradition of men, according to the rudiments of the world, and not according to Christ;
So, then, brethren, stand fast, and hold the instructions which ye were taught, whether through speech, or through letter of ours.
Now we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, to withdraw yourselves from every brother walking disorderly, and not according to the instruction which ye received from us.
knowing that, not with perishable things, with silver or gold, were ye redeemed from your vain course of life handed down 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 do not wash their hands, when they eat bread!" And He, answering, said to them, "Why do ye also transgress the commandment of God because of your tradition?
shall in no wise honor his father; and ye made void the word of God because of your tradition.
For the Pharisees, and all the Jews, unless they wash their hands thoroughly, eat not, holding the tradition of the elders;
And the Pharisees and the scribes ask Him, "Why do not Thy disciples walk according to the tradition of the elders, but eat with defiled hands?"
Having left the commandment of God, ye hold the tradition of men." And He said to them, "Well do ye reject the commandment of God, that ye may hold your tradition!
making void the word of God by your tradition, which ye handed down; and many such things ye do."
And I knew Him not; but He who sent me to immerse in water, He said to me, 'Upon Whomsoever you shall see the Spirit descending and abiding on Him, the Same is He Who immerseth in the Holy Spirit.'
For He Whom God sent speaketh the words of God; for He giveth not the Spirit by measure.
"When the Advocate shall come, Whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth, Who proceedeth from the Father, He will testify concerning Me;
But, when He, the Spirit of truth, shall come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak from Himself; but whatsoever He heareth He will speak; and He will declare to you things to come. He will glorify Me; because He will take of Mine, and will declare it to you.
Jesus saith to him, "If I wish him to remain till I come, what is it to you? follow Me." This saying, therefore, went forth among the brethren, that that disciple should not die; yet Jesus did not say to him, that he should not die, but, "If I wish him to remain till I come, what is it to you?"
And, when Paul and Barnabas had no little dissension and discussion with them, they arranged that Paul and Barnabas and some others of them should go up to Jerusalem to the apostles and elders, concerning this question.
And with this agree the words of the prophets; as it has been written, 'After these things I will return; and I will build again the tabernacle of David, which has fallen down; and the ruins thereof will I build again; and I will set it up; read more. that the residue of men may seek after the Lord, even all the gentiles upon whom My name has been called,'
And these were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, examining the Scriptures daily, whether these things were so.
And these were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, examining the Scriptures daily, whether these things were so.
gathering whom together, and the workmen of like occupation, be said, "Men, ye know that out of this business we have our wealth.
But I confess this to you, that, according to the Way which they call 'heresy,' so I worship the God of our fathers, believing all those things, which are according to the law, and which have been written in the prophets;
And we received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit Who is of God; that we may know the things freely given us by God. Which things also we speak, not in words taught by human wisdom, but in those taught by the Spirit; combining spiritual things with spiritual. read more. But a natural man receives not the things of the Spirit of God; for they are foolishness to him; and he cannot know them, because they are spiritually judged. But he that is spiritual judges all things; but he himself is judged by no one. For who knew the mind of the Lord, that he should instruct Him? But we have the mind of Christ.
Now I praise you, that you remember me in all things, and hold fast the traditions, even as I delivered them to you.
For I delivered to you, among the first things, that which also I received, that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures;
and was making progress in Judaism above many companions of the same age in my own nation, being more exceedingly a zealot for my ancestral instructions.
But, when Cephas came to Antioch, I withstood him to the face, because he was blameworthy; for, before certain ones came from James, he was eating with the gentiles; but, when they came, he was withdrawing and separating himself, fearing those of the circumcision. read more. And the rest of the Jews also dissembled with him, so that even Barnabas was carried away by their hypocrisy. But, when I saw that they were not walking uprightly according to the truth of the Gospel, I said to Cephas in presence of them all, "If you, being a Jew, live as do the gentiles, and not as the Jews, how do you compel the gentiles to live as do the Jews?"
Beware, lest there should be any one who makes a spoil of you through his philosophy and vain deceits, according to the tradition of men, according to the rudiments of the world, and not according to Christ;
So, then, brethren, stand fast, and hold the instructions which ye were taught, whether through speech, or through letter of ours.
So, then, brethren, stand fast, and hold the instructions which ye were taught, whether through speech, or through letter of ours.
So, then, brethren, stand fast, and hold the instructions which ye were taught, whether through speech, or through letter of ours.
So, then, brethren, stand fast, and hold the instructions which ye were taught, whether through speech, or through letter of ours.
Now we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, to withdraw yourselves from every brother walking disorderly, and not according to the instruction which ye received from us.
Now we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, to withdraw yourselves from every brother walking disorderly, and not according to the instruction which ye received from us.
For, even when we were with you, this we commanded you, "If anyone is not willing to work, neither let him eat."
and that, from a babe, you have known the holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise unto salvation through faith that is in Christ Jesus. Every Scripture inspired of God is also profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness; read more. that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly furnished for every good work.
Here is wisdom. He that has understanding, let him count the number of the beast; for it is a number of a man; and his number is six hundred and sixty six.
"I testify to every one who hears the words of the prophecy of this book, if anyone 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 do not wash their hands, when they eat bread!" And He, answering, said to them, "Why do ye also transgress the commandment of God because of your tradition? read more. For God said, 'Honor your father and your mother,' and 'He that speaks evil of father or mother, let him surely die,' But ye say, 'Whosoever shall say to his father or his mother, That by which you might be profited by me is an offering,' shall in no wise honor his father; and ye made void the word of God because of your tradition.
For the Pharisees, and all the Jews, unless they wash their hands thoroughly, eat not, holding the tradition of the elders; and, coming from the marketplace, unless they immerse themselves, they do not eat; and there are many other things which they received to hold; as, immersion of cups, and pots, and brazen vessels. read more. And the Pharisees and the scribes ask Him, "Why do not Thy disciples walk according to the tradition of the elders, but eat with defiled hands?" And He said to them, "Well did Isaiah prophesy concerning you hypocrites, as it has been written, This people honor me with their lips; but their heart is far from Me. But in vain do they worship Me, teaching as their doctrines the precepts of men. Having left the commandment of God, ye hold the tradition of men." And He said to them, "Well do ye reject the commandment of God, that ye may hold your tradition! For Moses said, 'Honor your father and your mother,' and 'He that speaks evil of father or mother, let him surely die.' But ye say, 'If a man say to his father or mother, That wherewith you might be profited by me is Corban,' that is, 'an offering to God,' ye no longer suffer him to do anything for his father or his mother; making void the word of God by your tradition, which ye handed down; and many such things ye do."
Now I praise you, that you remember me in all things, and hold fast the traditions, even as I delivered them to you.
and was making progress in Judaism above many companions of the same age in my own nation, being more exceedingly a zealot for my ancestral instructions.
Beware, lest there should be any one who makes a spoil of you through his philosophy and vain deceits, according to the tradition of men, according to the rudiments of the world, and not according to Christ;
So, then, brethren, stand fast, and hold the instructions which ye were taught, whether through speech, or through letter of ours.
Now we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, to withdraw yourselves from every brother walking disorderly, and not according to the instruction which ye received from us.
Watsons
TRADITION. See CABBALA.