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 But tradition has long been superseded by the successive and completed revelations of God's will which form the inspired Scriptures, the only perfect and sufficient rule of belief and practice.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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Then came to Jesus the scribes and pharisees from Jerusalem saying, Why do thy disciples transgress the tradition of the elders? for they wash not their hands when they eat. read more. But He answered and said unto them, And why do ye transgress the commandment of God for your tradition? For God commanded saying, Honour thy father and thy mother; and, He that revileth father or mother, let him be put to death: but ye say, If any man say to his father or mother, "that which thou mightest be profited by from me is a gift to the temple," and so honour not his father or his mother, he shall be free. And thus have ye made void the commandment of God by your tradition. Well did Esaias prophecy concerning you, saying, This people approach me with their mouth, and honour me with their lips, but their heart is far from me: but in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the injunctions of men. And He called the multitude to Him, and said unto them, Hear and understand it: not that which goeth into the mouth defileth the man; but that which cometh out of the mouth, this polluteth the man. Whereupon his disciples came and said to Him, Dost thou know that the pharisees, when they heard this assertion, were offended at it? But He answered and said, Every plantation which my heavenly Father hath not planted shall be rooted up. Regard them not; for they are blind guides of the blind: and if the blind lead the blind, both will fall into the ditch. Then Peter answered, and said unto Him, Explain to us this parable. And Jesus replied, Are ye also still void of understanding? Do ye not yet know, that whatever goeth into the mouth passeth to the belly and is discharged downwards? But the things, which proceed out of the mouth, come from the heart, and those defile a man. For out of the heart proceed wicked disputings, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false-witnessings, slanders: these defile a man, but to eat without washing the hands doth not defile him.
And there were gathered unto Him the pharisees, and some of the scribes, from Jerusalem; and when they saw some of his disciples eating with impure (that is, unwashed) hands, they found fault: read more. for the pharisees, and indeed all the Jews, do not eat till they have washed their hands thoroughly, observing the tradition of the ancients. And when they come from the market, they do not eat till they have washed. And there are many other things, which they have received to observe, as the washing of cups, and pots, and brass-vessels, and seats. Then the pharisees and the scribes ask Him, Why do not thy disciples walk according to the tradition of the ancients, but eat without washing their hands? But He answered them, Well did Esaias prophesy concerning you hypocrites, as it is written, This people honoureth me with their lips, but their heart is far from me: and in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the injunctions of men. For laying aside the commandment of God, ye retain the tradition of men, as the washings of pots and cups, and many other such like things. And ye expressly annul the commandment of God, that ye may retain your own tradition; for Moses said, Honour thy father and thy mother; and, He that revileth father or mother, let him be put to death: but ye say, If a man tell his father or mother, That which thou mightest be profited by from me is Corban, (that is, a gift to the temple) it sufficeth: and so ye allow him to do nothing more for his father or his mother: making void the word of God by your tradition,. And many such like things ye do.
Take heed least any one make a prey of you by philosophy and vain deceit, according to the tradition of men, after the elements of the world, and not after Christ:
Therefore, brethren, be steady, and hold fast the traditions, which ye have been taught, whether by word or by our letter.
Now we charge you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, to withdraw yourselves from every brother who walketh disorderly, and not according to the instruction which he received from us.
not attending to Jewish fables, and the precepts of men who turn away from the truth.
and if any one take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God will take away his part from the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things that 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 tradition of the elders? for they wash not their hands when they eat. But He answered and said unto them, And why do ye transgress the commandment of God for your tradition? read more. For God commanded saying, Honour thy father and thy mother; and, He that revileth father or mother, let him be put to death: but ye say, If any man say to his father or mother, "that which thou mightest be profited by from me is a gift to the temple," and so honour not his father or his mother, he shall be free. And thus have ye made void the commandment of God by your tradition.
for the pharisees, and indeed all the Jews, do not eat till they have washed their hands thoroughly, observing the tradition of the ancients.
And ye expressly annul the commandment of God, that ye may retain your own tradition;
making void the word of God by your tradition,. And many such like things ye do.
Now therefore why do ye tempt God, in imposing a yoke on the neck of the disciples, which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear?
and I made a proficiency in Judaism above many of the same age with me in my own nation, being excessively zealous for the traditions of my fathers.
Take heed least any one make a prey of you by philosophy and vain deceit, according to the tradition of men, after the elements of the world, and not after Christ:
Therefore, brethren, be steady, and hold fast the traditions, which ye have been taught, whether by word or by our letter.
Now we charge you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, to withdraw yourselves from every brother who walketh disorderly, and not according to the instruction which he received from us.
knowing that ye were redeemed from your vain conversation learned by tradition from your fathers, not with corruptible things, as silver and gold;
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. But He answered and said unto them, And why do ye transgress the commandment of God for your tradition?
and so honour not his father or his mother, he shall be free. And thus have ye made void the commandment of God by your tradition.
for the pharisees, and indeed all the Jews, do not eat till they have washed their hands thoroughly, observing the tradition of the ancients.
Then the pharisees and the scribes ask Him, Why do not thy disciples walk according to the tradition of the ancients, but eat without washing their hands?
For laying aside the commandment of God, ye retain the tradition of men, as the washings of pots and cups, and many other such like things. And ye expressly annul the commandment of God, that ye may retain your own tradition;
making void the word of God by your tradition,. And many such like things ye do.
And I knew Him not: but He that sent me to baptize with water, said unto me, Upon whom thou shalt see the Spirit descending and abiding on Him, the same is he that baptizeth with the Holy Spirit.
for He, whom God hath sent, speaketh the words of God: for God giveth the Spirit to Him not by measure.
But when the comforter is come, whom I will send to you from the Father, (even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father,) He shall testify of me.
But when the Spirit of truth is come, He will guide you into all truth: for He will not speak of Himself; but whatsoever He shall hear, that will He speak, and will shew you things to come. He shall glorify me, for He shall take of mine and shew it unto you.
Jesus saith unto him, If I will that he stay till I come, what is it to thee? Follow thou me. This rumor therefore was spread among the brethren, that that disciple should not die: though Jesus did not say that he should not die, but--- if I will that he stay till I come, what is that to thee?
A dissension therefore arising, and Paul and Barnabas having no small dispute with them, it was resolved that Paul and Barnabas, and some others, should go up to the apostles and elders at Jerusalem about this question.
And to this agree the words of the prophets, as it is written, "After this will I return, and rebuild the tabernacle of David, which is fallen down; and I will repair its ruins, and set it up again. read more. That the rest of mankind may seek the Lord, even all the nations, upon whom my name is called, saith the Lord who doth all these things."
These were more ingenuous than those at Thessalonica; for they received the word with all readiness of mind, searching the scriptures daily, whether these things were so.
These were more ingenuous than those at Thessalonica; for they received the word with all readiness of mind, searching the scriptures daily, whether these things were so.
and with them the workmen they employed about such things, and said, My friends, ye know that by this employment we get our wealth.
But this I confess unto thee, that after the way, which they call heresy, so do I worship the God of my fathers, believing all things which are written in the law, and the prophets:
Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit of God; that we might know the things that are graciously bestowed upon us by God: which we also speak of, not in words dictated by human wisdom, but in those which are dictated by the holy Spirit; explaining spiritual things by spiritual words. read more. But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness to him; and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned. Whereas the spiritual man discerneth all things, yet is himself discerned by no one. For who hath known the mind of the Lord, to instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ.
Now I commend you, brethren, that ye remember me in all things, and keep the ordinances, as I delivered them to you.
For in the first place I delivered to you, that which I also received, to wit, that Christ died for our sins, according to the scriptures:
and I made a proficiency in Judaism above many of the same age with me in my own nation, being excessively zealous for the traditions of my fathers.
But when Peter came to Antioch, I withstood him to the face, because he was indeed to be blamed. For before certain men came from James, he did eat with the gentiles; but when they were come, he withdrew and separated himself, fearing those of the circumcision. read more. And the rest of the Jews dissembled also with him; so that Barnabas too was carried away with their dissimulation. But when I saw that they walked not uprightly according to the truth of the gospel, I said to Peter before them all,---If thou, who art a Jew, livest sometimes after the manner of the gentiles, and not like the Jews, why dost thou now in a manner compel the gentiles to judaize?
Take heed least any one make a prey of you by philosophy and vain deceit, according to the tradition of men, after the elements of the world, and not after Christ:
Therefore, brethren, be steady, and hold fast the traditions, which ye have been taught, whether by word or by our letter.
Therefore, brethren, be steady, and hold fast the traditions, which ye have been taught, whether by word or by our letter.
Therefore, brethren, be steady, and hold fast the traditions, which ye have been taught, whether by word or by our letter.
Therefore, brethren, be steady, and hold fast the traditions, which ye have been taught, whether by word or by our letter.
Now we charge you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, to withdraw yourselves from every brother who walketh disorderly, and not according to the instruction which he received from us.
Now we charge you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, to withdraw yourselves from every brother who walketh disorderly, and not according to the instruction which he received from us.
For when we were with you, we gave you this charge, if any 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 in Christ Jesus: for all scripture is by inspiration from God, and is profitable for doctrine, for conviction, for correction, for instruction in righteousness; read more. that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly fitted for every good work.
Here is wisdom required; and let him, that hath understanding, compute the number of the beast: for it is the number of a man, and his number is six hundred sixty six.
I testify to every one that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any one add to 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.
See Verses Found in Dictionary
Why do thy disciples transgress the tradition of the elders? for they wash not their hands when they eat. But He answered and said unto them, And why do ye transgress the commandment of God for your tradition? read more. For God commanded saying, Honour thy father and thy mother; and, He that revileth father or mother, let him be put to death: but ye say, If any man say to his father or mother, "that which thou mightest be profited by from me is a gift to the temple," and so honour not his father or his mother, he shall be free. And thus have ye made void the commandment of God by your tradition.
for the pharisees, and indeed all the Jews, do not eat till they have washed their hands thoroughly, observing the tradition of the ancients. And when they come from the market, they do not eat till they have washed. And there are many other things, which they have received to observe, as the washing of cups, and pots, and brass-vessels, and seats. read more. Then the pharisees and the scribes ask Him, Why do not thy disciples walk according to the tradition of the ancients, but eat without washing their hands? But He answered them, Well did Esaias prophesy concerning you hypocrites, as it is written, This people honoureth me with their lips, but their heart is far from me: and in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the injunctions of men. For laying aside the commandment of God, ye retain the tradition of men, as the washings of pots and cups, and many other such like things. And ye expressly annul the commandment of God, that ye may retain your own tradition; for Moses said, Honour thy father and thy mother; and, He that revileth father or mother, let him be put to death: but ye say, If a man tell his father or mother, That which thou mightest be profited by from me is Corban, (that is, a gift to the temple) it sufficeth: and so ye allow him to do nothing more for his father or his mother: making void the word of God by your tradition,. And many such like things ye do.
Now I commend you, brethren, that ye remember me in all things, and keep the ordinances, as I delivered them to you.
and I made a proficiency in Judaism above many of the same age with me in my own nation, being excessively zealous for the traditions of my fathers.
Take heed least any one make a prey of you by philosophy and vain deceit, according to the tradition of men, after the elements of the world, and not after Christ:
Therefore, brethren, be steady, and hold fast the traditions, which ye have been taught, whether by word or by our letter.
Now we charge you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, to withdraw yourselves from every brother who walketh disorderly, and not according to the instruction which he received from us.
Watsons
TRADITION. See CABBALA.