Benefits of Tradition
Through tradition, we came to know the Holy Bible itself. Through divine entrustment the Bible reached us. Ask yourself, how was the Bible written? How did those who contributed to and wrote portions of the Holy Bible know what to write and why to write it? They knew it with help of the Holy Spirit and through tradition based on what they heard, saw, and witnessed.
Because of Tradition, we know all about the Church heritage, rituals and disciplines which have not been recorded in the Bible, but have been recorded in many other writings from Apostles and their appointed people. Tradition preserves sound faith which has been handed down from generation to generation. If the interpretation of the Bible was left to the comprehension of each individual, we would have various groups and denominations (which we do) that fragment the One and true faith. The Holy Bible is one thing, and the way to interpret it is another.
Tradition has kept for us certain beliefs and teachings such as consecration of Sunday and making the sign of the cross, law of monogamy, prayers for the departed and the work of the priesthood.
Rejecting Tradition
Some people reject Tradition. They object because Jesus Christ said “Why do you also transgress the commandment of God because of your tradition?” (Matt. 15:3). They also look at St. Paul’s words that say “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).
When we talk about Tradition, we do not mean the vain traditions laid down by men that are not in accord with doctrine of the Holy Spirit. The tradition that the Orthodox Church follows was transmitted and can be traced back to the Lord Jesus Christ Himself, given to His Apostles.
St. Paul the Apostle said: “Therefore, brethren, stand fast and hold the traditions which you were taught, whether by word or our epistle” (2 Thess. 2: 15). He also said: “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 Thess. 3: 6), He also said to the Corinthians: “Now I praise you, brethren, that you remember me in all things and keep the traditions as I delivered them to you” (1 Cor. 11: 2).
So how do we know sound tradition from bad tradition? Who do we follow and why would we assume that the Orthodox Tradition is the correct tradition? Because all can be traced back to the authority given to the Apostles by the Lord Himself…
To be continued in the next part of this series.
– From Sermons and Writings of His Holiness Pope Shenouda, III.
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