Traditions of the Fathers

By

Shelby G. Floyd

August 24, 2009

Paul addressed his letter to the churches of Galatia and set about to defend his apostolic authority and his ministry of the gospel to the Gentiles. Previous to his conversion Paul was loyal to the Pharisee sect of the Jewish religion. They were identified by a fanatical attachment to the “traditions of the fathers” that had been handed down over hundreds of years and accepted as even more important than the teaching of the inspired revelation of “the law, the psalms and the prophets” (Cf. Luke 24:44).

Indoctrinated in the Fathers Traditions

As a young man Paul was sent to Jerusalem from his home in Tarsus in Cilicia at the feet of Gamaliel. No doubt this was to be indoctrinated in “the traditions of the fathers.” Had Paul spent his time studying the word of God instead of “the doctrines of men” he would have been spared a lot of trouble and would not have persecuted Christ and the church.

In Galatians he points out that at one time he was guilty of trying to destroy the church as his critics are now doing to him and the congregations he had help to found:

Galatians 1:13

For you have heard of my previous way of life in Judaism, how intensely I persecuted the church of God and tried to destroy it.

NIV

Notice that Paul “intensely” persecuted the church and tried to “destroy” it. The adjective “intensively” that describes the degree to which his persecution was carried out is from [uperbole-huperbole], and means that Paul persecuted the church to the superlative degree—“beyond measure, exceedingly, and preeminently.” This is the source of our English word “hyperbole”—an exaggeration to make a point. Moreover, Paul further describes the extent of his persecution to the point that he “tried to destroy” [porqew-portheo] the church. In Acts of Apostles, Luke describes Paul’s destructive work:

Acts 8:1-4

And Saul was there, giving approval to his death. On that day a great persecution broke out against the church at Jerusalem, and all except the apostles were scattered throughout Judea and Samaria. Godly men buried Stephen and mourned deeply for him. But Saul began to destroy the church. Going from house to house, he dragged off men and women and put them in prison. Those who had been scattered preached the word wherever they went.

NIV

Religious people who hold to the “doctrines and creeds of men” can be meaner than the devil. No wonder that after his conversion the members of the church were afraid of Paul (Acts 9:21), and even as far as Jerusalem the churches in Christ “…only heard the report: ‘The man who formerly persecuted us is now preaching the faith he once tried to destroy’” (Galatians 1:23).

What Are Traditions?

Why was Paul doing this evil work? He loved and was devoted to “the traditions of my fathers” and not to the word of God:

Galatians 1:14

I was advancing in Judaism beyond many Jews of my own age and was extremely zealous for the traditions of my fathers.

NIV

It was true then and it is true today, that most of the religious persecution toward other people is because of “the traditions of the fathers.” Adherents of “the traditions of the fathers” hold to them and supplant the word of God and gloss over the Bible with human commandments. In Galatians 1:14, “traditions” is derived from [paradosis-paradosis], and is “a giving over which is done by word of mouth or in writing, i.e. tradition by instruction, narrative, precept etc.” Objectively, tradition is the substance of what is delivered. “The traditions of the fathers” is that which is transmitted from one to another until it becomes a way of life. It is usually then reduced to a human creed or manual of faith.

How Did The Jewish Traditions Originate?

After his resurrection Christ expounded unto his disciples and apostles that he was the fulfillment of the inspired word of God,

Luke 24:27

And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself.

NIV

Luke 24:44

He said to them, "This is what I told you while I was still with you: Everything must be fulfilled that is written about me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms."

NIV

Please observe that Christ referred them to the scriptures, not to “the traditions of the fathers.” Thus they are not the same. The rabbis extrapolated hundreds of commandments based on inference and bound them on equality with the scriptures. Later they were held as being superior to the scriptures. Let all Christians flee to the scriptures and not “the traditions of my fathers.” Copyright © 2009 Shelby Floyd, All Rights Reserved