The Traditions of the Church

The Church has both written and unwritten traditions. The Bible, which constitutes some of the Church, is the mainstream of Christian faith and practice. In other words, the Bible is the touch- stone of the Christian faith. Metropolitan Paulos Gregorios ⁽¹⁾ says, “The Bible is essential and primary but not sufficient by itself.” “In the early church, the New Testament messages were transferred through oral traditions” says Rev. Fr. Dr. Mathew Vaidyan. Written documents that explained the Christian faith were compiled. Christ did not write books. Our Lord did not even command to write the Bible. Christ and the Apostles used the existing books of Mosaic laws, prophetical writings and other writings- the Torach, Nebiim, Kethubium etc. (The Orthodox Church: Faith and Practices- Rev. Fr. Dr. Mathew Vaidyan)

The Greek word ‘Paradosis’ is used in the Bible with the meaning ‘that which is transferred’. According to Dr. Mathew Vaidyan, this word is to be rightly translated as ‘Traditions’. 2 Thes. 2: 15 says, “So then, brethren, stand firm and hold on to the traditions which you were taught by us, either by word of mouth or by letter. 2 Thes. 3: 6 says, “you keep away from any brother who is living in idleness and not in accord with the traditions that you received from us.” 1 Cor. 11: 2 says, “ I command you because you because you remember me in everything and maintain the traditions even as I have delivered them to you.” St. Paul further clarifies that the Lord transferred these traditions to him. “For I have received from the Lord what I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took the bread…” Clearly these traditions were transferred to St. Paul through the Church. We are bound to hold fast the traditions transferred to us through the Church by the Lord Jesus Christ, the Apostles and the Church Fathers.

The writings of the early fathers form a very important part of the Christian tradition. Again Metropolitan Paulos Gregorios ⁽¹⁾ says, “There is no way of understanding Christianity without the Fathers.”-(The Faith of our Fathers) These men embodied in their lives and teachings, elements of the faith, which one without acquaintance with the authentic tradition cannot easily discern in the Bible. The Bible, the Liturgy, the Fathers- these three form a complex unity. Any of these cannot be understood without some knowledge of the other two. Three things characterised the Fathers- a dedicated life with an intense discipline of prayer, worship and fasting, a singular capacity to combine wide and deep secular knowledge with knowledge of the ways of God and an infinite and active compassion for the poor and the needy and a willingness to serve them.

Researched and Prepared by

Jacob Anish Varghese (with material input from The Faith of our Fathers: Dr. Paulos Mar Gregorios ⁽¹⁾, The Orthodox Church: Faith and Practices: Rev. Dr. Mathew Vaidyan)