Tradition

TRADITION (Gr. paradosis, a giving over, by word of mouth or in writing). This term does not occur in the Hebrew OT. There are three types of tradition mentioned in the NT. First, the most common use, is the kind of tradition handed down by the Jewish fathers or elders that constituted the oral law, regarded by many of the Jews as of equal authority with the revealed law of Moses. Indeed, the Pharisees tended to make these traditions of even greater authority than the Scriptures (Matt.15.2-Matt.15.3; Mark.7.3-Mark.7.4). The Pharisees were incensed at Christ because he disregarded their traditions and also permitted his disciples to do so. A classic example of their traditions is recorded in the Gospels (Matt.15.2-Matt.15.6; Mark.7.1-Mark.7.13).