Written by Paul J Bucknell on June, 07, 2025

Examing Our Traditions: A New Testament Extended Word Study on ‘Tradition’

Each believer is wonderfully linked to other believers, ultimately tracing their connections back to Jesus Christ and His apostles. This interconnectivity and transfer of Gospel truth and life highlight the Lord’s magnificent redemptive work. Each personal story contributes to a beautiful tapestry fit for a king. While one side of my family is atheist, I can trace God’s most significant work of salvation in my life to my grandfather, who first shared the Gospel and prayed for me, even though I did not believe at that time. Grandfather John was saved while a member of the Greek Orthodox Church, but was connected to the Moravians through his parents. Nevertheless, the narrative traces even further back to the Moravians and ultimately to our Lord and His earliest disciples.

Unbelievers can be significantly influenced by the Christians they encounter. In today’s world of increased mobility, this influence is less frequently observed, often manifesting itself through those who are seen and heard; yet, the essence of the story remains unchanged.

It’s helpful to recognize how our initial encounter with the Gospel shapes our lives; that’s tradition at work! However, as a pastor, I can testify that what believers learn is not always optimal. Discipling someone who has been saved elsewhere presents many hindrances, as they already possess a set mindset. We will go through the New Testament and observe these things. Tradition can have both positive and negative influences.

We will first discuss how tradition is used in the New Testament, beginning with a word study of ‘tradition.’

A Word Study of ‘Tradition’

Tradition is used 13 times in the New Testament, usually in a negative context but sometimes in a positive one. Both Jesus and Paul used the term tradition (Greek: παράδοσιν, paradosis). (NET Bible]

“1) giving up, giving over 1a) the act of giving up 1b) the surrender of cities

2) a giving over which is done by word of mouth or in writing, i.e., tradition by instruction, narrative, precept, etc.

Tradition defines the formal and informal ways in which passed-down instructions influence people. Observe how Jesus confronts those with strong, established traditions, as listed in the Gospels, while Paul focuses on establishing new traditions, as mentioned in his letters.

Tradition Used in the New Testament

Nine of the thirteen verses refer to established traditions. They held back the Jewish people from searching the scriptures, and so Jesus rebuked the esteem they gave to their traditions.

Matthew 15:2 “Why do Your disciples break the tradition of the elders? For they do not wash their hands when they eat bread.”

Matthew 15:3 And He answered and said to them, “Why do you yourselves transgress the commandment of God for the sake of your tradition?

Matthew 15:6 he is not to honor his father or his mother.’ And by this you invalidated the word of God for the sake of your tradition.

Mark 7:3 (For the Pharisees and all the Jews do not eat unless they carefully wash their hands, thus observing the traditions of the elders;

Mark 7:5 The Pharisees and the scribes *asked Him, “Why do Your disciples not walk according to the tradition of the elders, but eat their bread with impure hands?”

Mark 7:8 Neglecting the commandment of God, you hold to the tradition of men.

Mark 7:9 He was also saying to them, “You are experts at setting aside the commandment of God in order to keep your tradition.

Mark 7:13 thus invalidating the word of God by your tradition which you have handed down; and you do many things such as that.”

Galatians 1:14 and I was advancing in Judaism beyond many of my contemporaries among my countrymen, being more extremely zealous for my ancestral traditions.

These formal traditions are easily identified.

“the tradition of the elders” (Mat 15:2; Mark 7:3)
“by your tradition which you have handed down” (Mark 7:13)
“my ancestral traditions” (Gal 1:14)

They are long-accepted and adopted ideas, rules, and practices that have been passed down to following generations, such as washing hands before eating.

Man’s Traditions

Paul also referred to traditions observed by a culture or society.

“See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception, according to the tradition of men, according to the elementary principles of the world, rather than according to Christ.” (Col 2:8)

It’s essential to recognize that seekers and believers often encounter powerful traditions, manifested through societal or peer pressure, that hinder their pursuit of God. The educated typically learn to identify and define these pressures, although others may remain hidden. While some can be beneficial, Paul pointed out their dangers.

Paul creates traditions

In the following verses, we see how Paul creates tradition. He teaches with his Christ-given authority how the Lord will use his instructions to influence the church throughout the generations.

“Now I praise you because you remember me in everything and hold firmly to the traditions, just as I delivered them to you.” (1 Cor 11:2)

“So then, brethren, stand firm and hold to the traditions which you were taught, whether by word of mouth or by letter from us.” (2 Thess 2:15)

“Now we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you keep away from every brother who leads an unruly life and not according to the tradition which you received from us.” (2 Thess 3:6)

Establishing a tradition is a significant undertaking. It relies not just on Paul, but also on clear communication, respect, and repetition in future generations. While some traditions are based on Old Testament principles, the immediate context of the early church has become the new focus. Paul’s instructions influenced thought and behavior, making both his informal and formal teachings memorable.

“The traditions, just as I delivered them to you” (1 Cor 11:2)

“The traditions which you were taught, whether by word of mouth or by letter from us.” (2 Thes 2:15)

Traditions in the New Testament

There are three stages of establishing new traditions.

People gain God’s new life through faith in Christ.
Fellowship (koinonia) with other believers in God’s presence.
Local churches with elders/pastors.

People must first connect with the group that receives the tradition. This connection to the church comes through their faith in Jesus Christ (1 John 1:3-4). Such groups become well-established and engage in long-term training in thought and life, thereby emphasizing their importance for the next generation.

The Word of God is the milk of God’s Word. The Spirit works in conjunction with God’s Word to grow the believer. We must not underestimate the shaping power of the Holy Spirit, who conditions man’s heart and faith. The phrase “the milk of the word” refers to the power of the inner witness and the significant influence God’s Word has on believers.

“For you have been born again not of seed which is perishable but imperishable, that is, through the living and enduring word of God” (1 Pet 1:23).

“Like newborn babies, long for the pure milk of the word, so that by it you may grow in respect to salvation, if you have tasted the kindness of the Lord” (1 Pet 2:2).

So we see that the word of God, the mik of the word, affects believers so that they “may grow in respect to salvation.” Even as a mother’s milk provides that initial nutrition for the young one’s growth, so God’s Word does.

Tradition begins with life and communion with God through Christ. Many people today mistakenly view Christianity solely through its many inherited traditions, tragically overlooking the personal faith and the necessity of being connected to the body of Christ. There is a stark difference between observing a tree without its roots lying on the ground and one with its roots standing tall.

Second, there are many informal, somewhat spontaneous fellowships, well-run Bible studies, or cell groups. We should not underestimate these koinonia groups that were centered on what united them: faith in Christ. They devoted themselves to worship, prayer, the apostles’ teaching, fellowship (koinonia), and the breaking of bread (Holy Communion).

“That day there were added about three thousand souls. They were continually devoting themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.” (Acts 2:41-42)

This mention of koinonia groups reminds us that people become believers through various means and are often not immediately connected to a strong, local church.

Third, we observe the formation of local congregations as we move beyond the evangelistic efforts of Paul and other apostles. And so, Paul is writing to churches that meet regularly together. He provides helpful principles to guide the churches, again, both in thought and action.

As a church planter, I see church tradition differently than many others. Paul, for example, aimed to establish understandings and policies to protect the church from false teachings while also minimizing conflicts within it. This perspective can be examined from various levels. His experience with planting other churches and their challenges provided him with insight into the policies that best guided the young churches.

In Corinth, the new church already experienced divisions among its members. “That there are quarrels among you. Now I mean this, that each one of you is saying, “I am of Paul,” and “I of Apollos,” and “I of Cephas,” and “I of Christ.” Has Christ been divided?” (1 Cor 1:11-12) Paul doesn’t use the word "tradition" as he does later, but he establishes solid policies that conform to the Gospel. Christ is one, and His body, His people, are one.

Throughout the book, Paul corrects the church on numerous teachings and practices, emphasizing his focus on love. In chapter 11, he says, “Now I praise you because you remember me in everything and hold firmly to the traditions, just as I delivered them to you” (1 Cor 11:2). Paul spoke about what he had delivered to them. It seems that this is the same set of traditions that Paul was implementing in churches as he traveled his Spirit-led route. Again, the church was being formed, but at the same time, he was shaping them according to sound and upright policies. (I’ll not go into this hot topic of prophecy and women covering their heads. Rarely are they seen today in the church!) My point is that Paul was very aware that good teaching and policies help prevent many troubles the church would otherwise face.

Paul was very conscious, as every church planter, that what he implemented in the local church’s formation would shape the church’s future. “So then, brethren, stand firm and hold to the traditions which you were taught, whether by word of mouth or by letter from us” (2 Thessalonians 2:15). Paul was very conscious of his apostleship, “in this manner let him walk. And so I direct in all the churches” (1 Cor 7:17). Paul’s situation, as an apostle blended the church planter with solidifying the Gospel, the saving truths connecting them to the church of God and Christ and separating them from any other organization.

Paul approached this differently when appointing elders for the churches in Crete: “For this reason I left you in Crete, that you would set in order what remains and appoint elders in every city as I directed you” (Titus 1:5). He trained Titus in the Gospel and how to pass it on. Paul entrusted him to oversee the appointment of elders, “holding fast the faithful word which is by the teaching” (Tit 1:9), which would be implemented in the church. Elders are essential in establishing traditions that Paul could not enact himself, though he wrote to Titus to help preserve some fundamentals. In 2 Timothy 2:2, Paul establishes personal leadership training to promote good and godly traditions within the local church. These traditions serve as the hoped-for impetus to keep the church faithful to God. Approximately 3,500 new churches are starting every week worldwide, and each faces the same challenges. Cross-cultural missionaries have an added responsibility not to impose their “traditions” on a foreign culture, which is sometimes reflected in how one chooses to have or not have a Christmas tree to celebrate Christmas!

Traditions in Today’s Church

Our point is not to describe today’s church scene, which hosts every conceivable situation. Traditions, good and bad, play an integral part in the succeeding generations. Paul struggled to establish sound foundations in the church (1 Tim 3:14-16), for as time passes, traditions unfortunately tend to overshadow the Gospel.

I grew up in a liberal church northeast of Boston that had flourished in the 1950s. What did tradition do? It gave them a false sense of being Christians. They had read the Scriptures, recited the Apostle’s Creed, said prayers, and worshiped God weekly. However, they no longer believed in what God’s Word stated about Christ’s resurrection of the body or the meaning of the cross, even though they expressed these beliefs in the creed. They held the view that there were many paths to heaven, other than through Christ. Despite their solid traditions, they lost their faith.

The Christian faith relies on the Gospel teachings, which are maintained through various means, including the scriptures and church tradition. However, traditions do not generate faith but can instead hide its importance. Therefore, with a little advanced look into the New Testament, the next generation church in Revelation (if written later in the 90s) shows that Jesus already observed how the churches faced pressures from both outside and within, despite what appears to be solid starts. The Thyatira church tolerated Jezebel, who led the Lord’s servants astray. This happened even though Jesus commended them for their “deeds, and your love and faith and service and perseverance” (Rev 2:19).

The Process of Developing Traditions

Let me restate some of these observations about traditions and the church of God.

Traditions are specific mindsets with accompanying practices passed down to a group of believers.
New life through faith in Christ Jesus unites His people with God.
The Spirit works in conjunction with God’s Word, the milk of the Word, to grow the believer.
Believers start meeting together in fellowship.
These fellowships often evolve into church plants (many Chinese churches in North America started this way).
Local church leaders and congregants collaborate to address common issues (Acts 15). (Issues often become the reason for a rule or tradition.)
Traditions slowly develop over time but become firmly held.
Traditions shape the perspectives of believers within that assembly, but they do not give life.
Traditions play a decisive role in the local assembly.
Traditions create tension between maintaining overall control and fostering a more relaxed environment within that tradition.
Positively, traditions foster spiritual growth, inspiring individuals to connect with God.
Traditions preserve the proper attitudes and actions within a church. (1 Cor 11:2)
Traditions, even positive ones, often lose sight of what they aim to protect and can override Christ-established teaching, eroding the faith of the church.

Summary

Traditions can aid or hinder the advancement of the Gospel and the church’s pursuit of God. Good teachings and practices will always benefit the church, but they should not be confused with life itself. Traditions, especially subtle ones that seep in through culture, can erode or replace the fundamentals of the faith.

Application

A well-functioning church must rise above its traditions; it must maintain a fundamental connection with God through His Word. God oversees this entire process by giving new life through the way the Spirit of God uses the Word to inspire renewal. With this new life, churches receive God’s inner drive to be pure and holy. Without this, and acknowledging that grasping this process takes time, churches may seem to embody a Christian church yet remain spiritually dead.

Study Questions for Examining Our Traditions

How does the New Testament differentiate between positive and negative uses of the word “tradition” (Greek: paradosis)?
What criticisms did Jesus offer about the traditions of the elders in the Gospels? Cite at least two verses.
In what ways can man-made traditions hinder a person’s faith or spiritual growth? Use Colossians 2:8 as a reference.
How does Paul use the concept of ‘tradition’ positively in his epistles, especially about church teaching and order?
Describe the three stages of establishing new traditions in the New Testament church, as outlined in the article.
What are some ways in which personal and family history influence one’s Christian tradition, according to the author’s example?
What is the role of God’s Word, described as the “milk of the word,” in shaping and sustaining true Christian tradition?
Why is fellowship (koinonia) important in the transmission and establishment of Christian traditions?
How can traditions, even positive ones, become problematic over time in the church context?
What are some key actions a church can take to maintain life-giving traditions without becoming spiritually dead or overly reliant on the traditions themselves?