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Traditions

In the eyes of the Orthodox Church

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5 Monkeys Experiment

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DEFINING TRADITION

“the handing down of information, beliefs, and customs by word of mouth or by example from one generation to another without written instruction” – Merriam-Webster

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THEORIES OF TRADITION

Single-Source Theory of Holy Tradition
In response to various controversies within the early Church, especially the threat of Gnosticism, a “Traditional” method of understanding cert passages of Holy Scripture began to develop. Second century patristic theologians such as Irenaeus of Lyons began to develop the idea of an authorized way of interpreting certain texts of Holy Scripture, which he argued went back to the time of the Apostles themselves. Holy Scripture could not be allowed to be interpreted in any arbitrary or random way: it had to be interpreted within the context of the historical continuity of the Christian Church.
Dual-Source Theory of Holy Tradition
Holy Scripture, it was argued, was silent on a number of points – but God had providentially arranged for a second source of revelation to supplement this deficiency: a stream of unwritten Holy Tradition, going back to the Apostles themselves. This Holy Tradition was passed from one generation to another within the Church. This is a dual-source theory of theology: Theology is based on two distinct sources: Holy Scripture and unwritten Holy Tradition.
Total Rejection of Holy Tradition
Every individual had the right to interpret Scripture as he or she pleased, subject to guidance of the Holy Spirit. The way was thus opened for individualism, with the private judgment of the individual raised above the corporate judgment of the Church. Sebastian Franck wrote in 1503: “Foolish Ambrose, Augustine, Jerome, Gregory – of whom not one even knew the Lord, so help me God, nor was sent by God to teach. Rather, they were all apostles of Antichrist.”

The Single-Source Theory of Holy Tradition: In response to various controversies within the early Church, especially the threat of Gnosticism, a “Traditional” method of understanding certain passages of Holy Scripture began to develop. Secondcentury patristic theologians such as Irenaeus of Lyons began to develop the idea of an authorized way of interpreting certain texts of Holy Scripture, which he argued went back to the time of the Apostles themselves. Holy Scripture could not be allowed to be interpreted in any arbitrary or random way: it had to be interpreted within the context of the historical continuity of the Christian Church. The parameters of its interpretation were historically fixed and “given”. “Tradition” here simply means “a traditional way of interpreting Holy Scripture within the community of faith”. This is a single-source theory of theology: Theology is based upon scripture, and “Tradition” refers to a “Traditional way of interpreting Holy Scripture”. Note the emphasis that is placed upon the role of the Church as a living organism, which passes down the content of the faith, based on Holy Scripture, to each generation. “Tradition” is here understood as a living and active process of passing on the Christian faith, rather than a static source of revelation, independent of Holy Scripture. (Alister E. McGrath, ‘Christian Theology: an introduction. Blackwell Publishers)

The Dual-Source Theory of Holy Tradition: In the 14th and 15th centuries a somewhat different understanding of Holy Tradition from that noted above developed. “Tradition” was understood to be a separate and distinct source of revelation, in addition to Holy Scripture. Holy Scripture, it was argued, was silent on a number of points – but God had providentially arranged for a second source of revelation to supplement this deficiency: a stream of unwritten Holy Tradition, going back to the Apostles themselves. This Holy Tradition was passed from one generation to another within the Church. This is a dual-source theory of theology: Theology is based on two distinct sources: Holy Scripture and unwritten Holy Tradition. A belief, which is not to be found in Holy Scripture, may thus, on the basis of this dual-source theory, be justified by an appeal to an unwritten Holy Tradition. This position was defended strongly by the Council of Trent, which was charged with stating and defending the Roman Catholic position against the threat posed by the Reformation. Trent ruled that Holy Scripture could not be regarded as the only source of revelation; Holy Tradition was a vital supplement, which Protestants irresponsibly denied. “All saving truths and rules of conduct … are contained in the written books and in unwritten traditions, received from the mouth of Christ Himself or from the apostles themselves”. Interestingly, however, the Second Vatican Council (1962-5) seems to move away from this approach, in favor of the “traditional interpretation of Holy Scripture” approach, noted above. (Alister E. McGrath, ‘Christian Theology: an introduction. Blackwell Publishers)

Total Rejection of Holy Tradition: For radical theologians of the 16th century (the Anabaptists), every individual had the right to interpret Scripture as he or she pleased, subject to guidance of the Holy Spirit. The way was thus opened for individualism, with the private judgment of the individual raised above the corporate judgment of the Church. Thus the radicals rejected the practice of infant baptism as non-Scriptural. Similarly, doctrines such as the Trinity and the divinity of our Lord Jesus Christ were rejected as resting upon inadequate Holy Scriptural foundations. The radicals had no place whatsoever for Holy Tradition. As Sebastian Franck wrote in 1503: “Foolish Ambrose, Augustine, Jerome, Gregory – of whom not one even knew the Lord, so help me God, nor was sent by God to teach. Rather, they were all apostles of Antichrist.” (Alister E. McGrath, ‘Christian theology: an introduction’. Blackwell Publishers) Protestants react violently to the idea of Holy Tradition simply because the only form of it they have generally encountered is the distorted concept of Holy Tradition found in Roman Catholicism. Contrary to the Roman view of Holy Tradition – which is personified by the Pope, and develops new dogmas without apostolic foundation, such as papal infallibility (and Purgatory) – the Orthodox do not believe Holy Tradition (dogmas) changes or “develops”. Certainly when the Church is faced with a heresy, she may be forced to define more precisely the difference between truth and error; but the truth is never altered. It may be said that Holy Tradition expands and matures, but only in the sense that as the Church moves through history, she doesn’t forget her experiences along the way. She remembers the saints that arise in her, and she preserves the writings of those who accurately stated the faith. But the Faith itself was “Once for all delivered to the saints.” (Jude 3) (Fr. John Whiteford, Sola Scriptura. Conciliar Press. 1996) It is understood that new issues arise in each generation that require the opinion of the Church so as people do not get confused. The Church, therefore, gives the opinion of religion on these matters through her authority of teaching and legislation by the guidance of the Holy Spirit. Through successive generations the Church teaching in a certain generation turns into Tradition inherited by the following generations. (Pope Shenouda III, ‘Comparative Theology’)

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TYPES OF TRADITION

The Tradition of men
The Holy Tradition/Tradition of the Apostles

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Tradition of Men

²“Why do Your disciples transgress the tradition of the elders? For they do not wash their hands when they eat bread.” ³He answered and said to them, “Why do you also transgress the commandment of God because of your tradition? - Matthew 15: 2-3
“For laying aside the commandment of God, you hold the tradition of men– the washing of pitchers and cups, and many other such things you do.” - Mark 7:8,13
Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ. - Col 2:8

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Holy Tradition�[Tradition of the Apostles]

Therefore, brethren, stand fast and hold the traditions which you were taught, whether by word or our epistle. - 2 Thessalonians 2:15
But we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you withdraw from every brother who walks disorderly and not according to the tradition which he received from us. - 2 Thessalonians 3:6
“Now I praise you brethren, that you remember me in all things and keep the traditions as I delivered them to you.” - 1Cor 11:2

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HOLY TRADITION VS. SCRIPTURE

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Tradition, preceding to scripture, and Biblically confirmed

And there are also many other things that Jesus did, which if they were written one by one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that would be written. Amen. - John 21:25
St. John then in his epistles continues the same concept – personal teachings.
Having many things to write to you, I did not wish to do so with paper and ink; but I hope to come to you and speak face to face, that our joy may be full. - 2 John. 12
I had many things to write, but I do not wish to write to you with pen and ink; but I hope to see you shortly, and we shall speak face to face. – 3 John.13, 14
Similarly with St. Paul and St. Timothy
And the things that you have heard from me among many witnesses, commit these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also. - 2 Tim.2:2
And the rest I will set in order when I come” - 1 Cor 11:34

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Scripture includes tradition�From the Old Testament

Sacrifices Gen 4:4

Priesthood & Tithing Gen 14:18-2, Gen 28:22

Circumcision was first an oral tradition (Gen 17:9-14)

Wickedness of Adultery known by Joseph (Gen 39:7-10)

Keeping the Sabbath (Ex 16:27-28)

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Scripture includes tradition�From the New Testament

Archangel Michael and Satan

Yet Michael the archangel, in contending with the devil, when he disputed about the body of Moses, dared not bring against him a reviling accusation, but said, “The Lord rebuke you!”- Jude 9

Enoch prophecy

Now Enoch, the seventh from Adam, prophesied about these men also, saying, “Behold, the Lord comes with ten thousands of His saints, ¹⁵to execute judgment on all, to convict all who are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have committed in an ungodly way, and of all the harsh things which ungodly sinners have spoken against Him.” - Jude 14-15

Balaam’s perversion

But I have a few things against you, because you have there those who hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balak to put a stumbling block before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed to idols, and to commit sexual immorality.- Rev 2:14

2 Peter 2:15 and Jude 11 quote the same tradition!

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Tradition vs. Scripture�If tradition were non-existent, then…

Many times we read in the Holy Gospels about our Lord Jesus Christ teaching the people in the synagogues (Mt 9:35; Mk 1:21; 6:2; Lk 4:15; 13:22; 19:47), but the Holy Bible did not document any of these blessed teachings. Did all these Divine teachings just vanish?
It has been said, that all that is written in the Holy Gospels cumulatively, would only cover 18 days in the life of our Lord Jesus Christ. His ministry was approximately 3 years (3 x 365=1095 days). What about the missing 1077 days? Where are the writings of over 99% of His ministry?
It is written that our Lord Jesus Christ remained with His disciples 40 days after His resurrection “speaking of things pertaining to the Kingdom of God” (Acts 1:3). But the Holy Book of Acts doesn’t reveal what our Lord said. Does this mean that we have no access to these things pertaining to the Kingdom of God?
St. James wrote only one short Holy Epistle that probably took one hour of his time, St. Jude left us a very short Holy Epistle that might have taken half an hour to write, and St. Peter left us two short Holy Epistles. Where are the rest of their blessed teachings? Where are the teachings of the rest of the Apostles?

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Benefits of Tradition

Knowledge of the Bible

Church Heritage

Ritualistic Theology

Canons & Disciplines

United Faith (no-denominations)

All of which preserves a sound faith

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Conclusion

“For the Orthodox Christian, there is one Tradition, the Tradition of the Church, incorporating the Scriptures and the teaching of the Fathers. This is the preaching of the truth handed down by the Church in the whole world to Her children" - St. Irenaeus
"Let us look at the very tradition, teaching, and faith of the catholic Church from the very beginning, which the Logos gave, the Apostles preached, and the Fathers preserved. Upon this the Church is founded.” - St. Athanasius the Great
“Concerning the teachings of the Church, whether publicly proclaimed or reserved to members of the household of faith, we have received some from written sources, while others have been given to us secretly through apostolic tradition. Both sources have equal force in true religion. No one would deny either source—no one, at any rate, who is even slightly familiar with the ordinances of the Church” St. Basil On the Holy Spirit, chapter 27