TRADITION

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 But tradition has long been superseded by the successive and completed revelations of God’s will which form the inspired Scriptures, the only perfect and sufficient rule of belief and practice.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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tradition. tradition, a deliuering from one to another.

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Tradition. Tradition
Any kind of teaching, written or spoken, handed down from generation to generation. In Mark 7:3, 9, 13, Col. 2:8, this word refers to the arbitrary interpretations of the Jews. In 2 Thess. 2:15; 3:6, it is used in a good sense. Peter (1 Pet. 1:18) uses this word with reference to the degenerate Judaism of the “strangers scattered” whom he addresses (comp. Acts 15:10; Matt. 15:2-6; Gal. 1:14).

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TRADITION. → The decisions and minor precepts taught by Paul 1Co 11:2 → R. V.) 2Th 2:15; 3:6 → Commandments of men Mt 12:1-8; 15:2-6; Mr 7:3-9; Lu 6:1-11; Col 2:8; 1Pe 1:18 → Not authoritative Mt 15:3-20; 1Ti 1:4; 4:7

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tradition. Tradition, n. an oral or verbal account of things

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Tra‐di″tion (?), n. [[OE. tradicioun, L. traditio, from tradere to give up, transmit. See Treason, Traitor.]] 1. 1. The act of delivering into the hands of another; delivery. “A deed takes effect only from the tradition or delivery.” Blackstone.
2. 2. The unwritten or oral delivery of information, opinions, doctrines, practices, rites, and customs, from father to son, or from ancestors to posterity; the transmission of any knowledge, opinions, or practice, from forefathers to descendants by oral communication, without written memorials.
3. 3. Hence, that which is transmitted orally from father to son, or from ancestors to posterity; knowledge or belief transmitted without the aid of written memorials; custom or practice long observed.
Will you mock at an ancient tradition begun upon an honorable respect? Shak. Naught but tradition remains of the beautiful village of Grand-Pré. Longfellow. 4. 4. (Theol.) (a) An unwritten code of law represented to have been given by God to Moses on Sinai.
Making the word of God of none effect through your tradition, which ye have delivered. Mark vii. 13. (b) That body of doctrine and discipline, or any article thereof, supposed to have been put forth by Christ or his apostles, and not committed to writing. Stand fast, and hold the traditions which ye have been taught, whether by word or our epistle. 2 Thess. ii. 15. Tradition Sunday (Eccl.), Palm Sunday; — so called because the creed was then taught to candidates for baptism at Easter.