παράδοσις

Pronunciation Guide: pah-RAH-do-sees

Quick Answer: παράδοσις means “transmission” or “tradition” – the sacred act of handing down teachings, laws, or customs from one generation to the next. In Scripture, it refers both to human traditions that can conflict with God’s commandments and to divinely-inspired apostolic teachings that preserve the faith.

What Does παράδοσις Mean?

Strong’s G3862: παράδοσις fundamentally signifies the act of transmission – the careful passing down of knowledge, teachings, customs, or laws from one person or generation to another. This Greek word carries profound theological weight, representing the bridge between divine revelation and human understanding. In the New Testament context, παράδοσις encompasses both the problematic human traditions that the Messiah critiqued (particularly the oral expansions of Torah law developed by the Pharisees) and the sacred apostolic traditions that preserved and transmitted the essential truths of the faith. The word reveals the tension between human religious innovation and divine instruction, highlighting how tradition can either illuminate or obscure the truth of יהוה’s Word.

Key Insight: Tradition can either preserve divine truth or replace it with human invention – discernment is essential.

Where Does παράδοσις Come From?

• Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine
• Root Words: From παραδίδωμι (paradidōmi) – “to hand over, deliver, transmit”
• Language Origin: Classical Greek, adopted into Koine Greek
• Primary Usage: Transmission of teachings, customs, or laws
• Hebrew Equivalents: מסורת (masorah/masoret) – “tradition, transmission”

What Is the Historical and Cultural Context of παράδοσις?

The word παράδοσις emerges from the compound παρά (alongside, from) and δίδωμι (to give), literally meaning “to give alongside” or “to hand over.” In classical Greek literature, παράδοσις was used by authors like Plato in his Laws to describe the transmission of ancient wisdom, and by Josephus in his Antiquities to distinguish between written laws (τά γεγραμμένα) and oral traditions (τά ἐκ παραδόσεως τῶν πατέρων).

Jewish Context and the Hebrew Connection

The Greek παράδοσις served as the translation equivalent for the Hebrew מסורת (masorah/masoret), derived from the root מסר meaning “to hand over” or “to transmit.” This Hebrew concept was central to Jewish religious life, representing the chain of oral instruction that accompanied the written Torah. According to Jewish understanding, Moses received not only the written Torah at Sinai but also an oral explanation – the Torah she-ba’al peh (תּוֹרָה שֶׁבְּעַל־פֶּה) – which was transmitted from teacher to student through successive generations.

By the first century CE, this oral tradition had developed into an extensive system of legal interpretations, ceremonial regulations, and rabbinical rulings. The Pharisees particularly championed these traditions, believing them to carry the same divine authority as the written Scriptures. This development created the precise tension that Yeshua addressed when He confronted religious leaders who “made void the word of God by their tradition” (Mark 7:13).

Historical Summary: παράδοσις evolved from describing any transmission of knowledge to specifically denoting religious traditions with claimed divine authority.

How Is παράδοσις Used in the Bible?

The New Testament employs παράδοσις in two distinct contexts that reveal the complexity of tradition’s role in faith. In the Gospels, the word primarily appears in negative contexts where Yeshua confronts the Pharisees’ elevation of human tradition above divine commandment. However, in Paul’s epistles, παράδοσις takes on positive connotations when referring to apostolic teachings transmitted to the churches.

This dual usage reflects the critical distinction between tradition as human addition versus tradition as divine preservation. The Messiah’s critique wasn’t directed at all tradition, but specifically at traditions that contradicted or superseded God’s clear commandments. Conversely, Paul’s use of παράδοσις refers to the authoritative transmission of gospel truths and practical instructions that originated from divine revelation.

Usage Summary: παράδοσις appears 13 times in the New Testament, revealing both the danger and necessity of transmitted teachings.

• Matthew 15:2 – “Why do Your disciples break the tradition [παράδοσις] of the elders? For they do not wash their hands when they eat bread.”
• Mark 7:3 – “For the Pharisees and all the Jews do not eat unless they carefully wash their hands, thus observing the tradition [παράδοσις] of the elders.”
• Mark 7:8 – “Neglecting the commandment of God, you hold to the tradition [παράδοσις] of men.”
• 1 Corinthians 11:2 – “Now I praise you because you remember me in everything and hold firmly to the traditions [παραδόσεις] just as I delivered them to you.”
• 2 Thessalonians 2:15 – “So then, brethren, stand firm and hold to the traditions [παραδόσεις] which you were taught, whether by word of mouth or by letter from us.”
• 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 [παραδόσεων].”
• Colossians 2:8 – “See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception, according to the tradition [παράδοσις] of men.”

How Should παράδοσις Be Translated?

Translation Tip: Context determines whether παράδοσις carries positive or negative connotations – examine the surrounding verses carefully.

παράδοσις Translation Options:

What Does παράδοσις Teach Us About God?

The concept of παράδοσις reveals יהוה’s commitment to preserving and transmitting truth across generations while simultaneously warning against human presumption in religious matters. God desires His people to receive and pass on divine revelation faithfully, but He also guards jealously against human traditions that obscure or contradict His clear Word. The tension between legitimate tradition and illegitimate tradition reflects God’s holiness – His absolute separation from human corruption even in religious expression.

Through the biblical treatment of παράδοσις, we see God’s wisdom in establishing both written Scripture and legitimate teaching authority while maintaining clear boundaries against human innovation. The Messiah’s confrontation with Pharisaic traditions demonstrates God’s justice in holding religious leaders accountable for distorting His truth, while Paul’s positive use of apostolic traditions reveals God’s grace in providing clear guidance for Christian living.

Theological Core: God values faithful transmission of truth but opposes human traditions that contradict His revealed will.

How Can I Apply παράδοσις to My Life?

The biblical teaching on παράδοσις calls every believer to become a faithful curator of divine truth. We are commissioned to receive the apostolic traditions – not mere human customs, but Spirit-inspired teachings – and to transmit them purely to the next generation. This requires both humble submission to legitimate spiritual authority and courageous discernment to distinguish between divine truth and human addition.

Living faithfully with παράδοσις means embracing your role as a link in the chain of faith transmission. You have received precious truths from faithful teachers; now you must pass them on uncompromised. Yet you must also exercise the Berean spirit, testing all traditions against the clear teaching of Scripture, refusing to let human invention masquerade as divine command.

Self-Examination Questions: What traditions do I follow merely because they’re familiar? How can I better distinguish between divine truth and human custom? Am I faithfully transmitting biblical truth to others?

What Words Are Similar to παράδοσις?

Did You Know?

• What does παράδοσις mean in modern Greek? It still means “tradition” and “legend,” maintaining its connection to passed-down stories and customs.
• How did Josephus use παράδοσις? He distinguished between written laws (τά γεγραμμένα) and ancestral traditions (τά ἐκ παραδόσεως τῶν πατέρων), showing the word’s technical usage in Jewish legal discourse.
• What’s the difference between παράδοσις and διδασκαλία? παράδοσις emphasizes the transmission process while διδασκαλία focuses on teaching content.
• Why does the Bible use παράδοσις in both positive and negative contexts? Because tradition itself is neutral – its value depends on whether it preserves or contradicts divine truth.
• How does παράδοσις relate to the Hebrew masorah? Both words describe the sacred responsibility of transmitting religious knowledge accurately across generations.
• What causes religious tradition today? The same dynamics that created Pharisaic tradition – desire for clarity, fear of error, and gradual elevation of interpretation to the level of Scripture.
• The earliest Christians were accused of abandoning Jewish traditions – yet they were actually distinguishing between human additions and divine commands, following Yeshua’s example.

Remember This

Key Takeaway: True tradition preserves God’s truth faithfully across generations, while false tradition substitutes human wisdom for divine revelation.