Examples of Human Tradition Added to Scripture Throughout History
Human tradition, in a general sense, refers to any teaching, written or spoken, passed down through generations [1]. While the New Testament sometimes uses "tradition" in a positive light, as in 2 Thessalonians 2:15 and 3:6 [1, 11], it also frequently refers to "arbitrary interpretations of the Jews" [1]. For instance, Mark 7:3, 9, 13 and Colossians 2:8 illustrate this negative connotation, where human traditions are presented as conflicting with divine commands [1]. Peter also uses the term in reference to the "degenerate Judaism" of his audience [1].
The concept of "Scripture" in the New Testament consistently denotes a specific collection of sacred books, primarily the Old Testament, regarded as divinely inspired [2]. This collection was understood to be God's perpetuated revealed will, written by men raised up by God to record his revelation infallibly [2]. Josephus, a first-century Jewish historian, noted that the Jewish people possessed only twenty-two books, which they believed to be divine and contained records from the earliest times [4]. The Old Testament text was preserved on skins rolled into volumes [3], while New Testament writings were initially circulated similarly to other contemporary books, often dictated by authors like Paul to an amanuensis [5].
Throughout history, various human traditions have been added to or elevated alongside Scripture. The early centuries of Christianity saw a less sharply drawn distinction between Scripture and tradition than later periods, especially after the controversies between Roman Catholics and Protestants [10]. However, the Protestant Reformation, particularly figures like John Calvin, emphasized the unique authority of Scripture, asserting that its sentiments are beyond human conception and that prophets "rise far higher than human reach" [8]. Calvin also noted that historical details in Scripture, though composed by prophets, were "dictated by the Holy Spirit" [12].
The Lutheran Augsburg Confession explicitly admonishes against human traditions "instituted to propitiate God, to merit grace, and to make satisfaction for sins," stating that such traditions are "opposed to the Gospel and the doctrine of faith" [9]. Charles Hodge, one theologian, argued that making tradition part of the rule of faith "subverts the authority of the Scriptures" because if two standards of equal authority exist, the interpretive one (tradition) inevitably determines the meaning of the other (Scripture) [6]. Hodge further emphasized the completeness of the Scriptures, meaning they contain all of God's extant revelations intended as a rule for faith and practice [7]. While God reveals himself through his works, all truths revealed this way are also made known in his written Word [7].
Sources
- Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: 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).”
- Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Scripture — Invariably in the New Testament denotes that definite collection of sacred books, regarded as given by inspiration of God, which we usually call the Old Testament (2 Tim. 3:15, 16; John 20:9; Gal. 3:22; 2 Pet. 1:20). It was God's purpose thus to perpetuate his revealed will. From time to time he raised up men to commit to writing in an infallible record the revelation he gave. The "Scripture," or collection of sacred writings, was thus enlarged from time to time as God saw necessary. We have now a completed "Scripture," consisting of the Old and New Testa”
- Smith's Bible Dictionary “Smith's Bible Dictionary: Old Testament — I. TEXT OF THE OLD TESTAMENT.-- + History of the text. -A history of the text of the Old Testament should properly commence from the date of the completion of the canon. As regards the form in which the sacred writings were little doubt that the text was ordinarily were preserved, there can be written on skins, rolled up into volumes, like the modern synagogue rolls. (Psalms 40:7; Jeremiah 36:14; Ezekiel 2:9; Zechariah 5:1) The original character in which the text was expressed is that still preserved to us, with the exception of four letters, on the M”
- Project Gutenberg “Flavius Josephus, Against Apion, Introduction, section 7: earliest accounts of things as they learned them of God himself by inspiration; and others have written what hath happened in their own times, and that in a very distinct manner also. 8. For we have not an innumerable multitude of books among us, disagreeing from and contradicting one another, [as the Greeks have,] but only twenty-two books, [8] which contain the records of all the past times; which are justly believed to be divine; and of them five belong to Moses, which contain his laws and the traditions of the origin of mankind till”
- Smith's Bible Dictionary “Smith's Bible Dictionary: New Testament — It is proposed in this article to consider the text of the New Testament. The subject naturally divides itself into-- I. The history of the written text; II. The history of the printed text. I. THE HISTORY OF THE WRITTEN TEXT.-- + The early history of the apostolic writings externally, as far as it can be traced, is the same as that of other contemporary books. St. Paul, like Cicero or Pliny often employed the services of an amanuensis, to whom he dictated his letters, affixing the salutation "with his own hand." (1 Corinthians 16:21; 2 Thessalonians 3”
- CCEL (Reformed (Old Princeton)) “Charles Hodge, Systematic Theology, Vol. 1, section 37: hundreds of folios in which these traditions are recorded? Surely a guide to the interpretation of the latter must be far more needed than one for the Scriptures. Tradition destroys the Authority of the Scriptures. 6. Making tradition a part of the rule of faith subverts the authority of the Scriptures. This follows as a natural and unavoidable consequence. If there be two standards of doctrine of equal authority, the one the explanatory, and infallible interpreter of the other, it is of necessity the interpretation which determines the f”
- CCEL (Reformed (Old Princeton)) “Charles Hodge, Systematic Theology, Vol. 1, section 43: § 4. The Completeness of the Scriptures. By the completeness of the Scriptures is meant that they contain all the extant revelations of God designed to be a rule of faith and practice to the Church. It is not denied that God reveals himself, even his eternal power and Godhead, by his works, and has done so from the beginning of the world. But all the truths thus revealed are clearly made known in his written Word. Nor is it denied that there may have been, and probably were, books written by inspired men, which are no longer in existence.”
- CCEL (Reformed) “John Calvin, Institutes of the Christian Religion, section 24: regard to the Holy Scriptures, however petulant men may attempt to carp at them, they are replete with sentiments which it is clear that man never could have conceived. Let each of the prophets be examined, and not one will be found who does not rise far higher than human reach. Those who feel their works insipid must be absolutely devoid of taste. 3. As this subject has been treated at large by others, it will be sufficient here merely to touch on its leading points. In addition to the qualities already mentioned, great weight is ”
- Augsburg Confession (Lutheran) “Augsburg Confession (Lutheran, 1530), 3 They are admonished also that human traditions instituted to: 3 They are admonished also that human traditions instituted to propitiate God, to merit grace, and to make satisfaction for sins, are opposed to the Gospel and the doctrine of faith. Wherefore vows and traditions concerning meats and 4 days, etc., instituted to merit grace and to make satisfaction for sins, are useless and contrary to the Gospel.”
- CCEL (Reformed (Old Princeton)) “Charles Hodge, Systematic Theology, Vol. 1, section 34: on abiding by the written word, and receiving nothing as of divine authority not contained therein. In this, however, it must be confessed they were not always consistent. Whenever prescription, usage, or conviction founded on unwritten evidence, was available against an adversary, they did not hesitate to make the most of it. During all the early centuries, therefore, the distinction between Scripture and tradition was not so sharply drawn as it has been since the controversies between Romanists and Protestants, and especially since the ”
- 2 Thessalonians (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on 2 Thessalonians 2:15: Therefore--God's sovereign choice of believers, so far from being a ground for inaction on their part, is the strongest incentive to action and perseverance in it. Compare the argument, Phi 2:12-13, "Work out your own salvation, FOR it is God which worketh in you," &c. We cannot fully explain this in theory; but to the sincere and humble, the practical acting on the principle is plain. "Privilege first, duty afterwards" [EDMUNDS]. stand fast--so as not to be "shaken or troubled" (Th2 2:2). hold--so as not to let go. Adding nothing, subtrac”
- CCEL (Reformed) “John Calvin, Institutes of the Christian Religion, section 90: word. To these at the same time were added historical details, which are also the composition of prophets, but dictated by the Holy Spirit; 575 575 117 D117 Although Calvin uses the term “dictated” in connection with this explanation of the manner in which the body of Old Testament Scripture was formed, this should not be taken to express the mode of Inspiration, but rather to call attention to the result of Inspiration. That this is his intention may be seen in the previous assertion that historical details “are also the compositi”