“Tradition” and Related Terms: A Semantic Survey

Abstract

The word “tradition” derives from the Latin term traditio (“delivery”, “surrender”, “handing over”).¹ The various uses of tradition, and of the verbal form tradere, can be conveniently studied in the Bible. In the Vulgate there are some 500 occurrences of the term.² Some notable examples are: “Omnia mihi tradita sunt a Patre meo” (“All things are delivered unto me of my father”, Mt 11, 27), “Proprio Filio suo non pepercit, sed pro nobis omnibus tradidit illum” (“He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all”, Rom 8, 32), “Tradidi enim vobis in primis, quod et accepi” (“I delivered unto you fIrst of all that which I also received”, 1 Cor 15, 3), “Relinquentes enim mandatum Dei, tenetis traditionem hominum” (“laying aside the commandment of God, ye hold the tradition of men”, Mk 7, 8), “Proficiebam in Iudaismo supra multos coaetaneos meos in genere meo, abundantius aemulator existens patemarum mearum traditionum” (“profited in the Jews’ religion above many my equals in mine own nation, being more exceedingly zealous of the traditions of my fathers”, Gal 1, 14). In the terminology of the Early Fathers traditio comes to mean the authoritative infallible preaching of the Church³ – a usage in accordance with 2 Thess 2, 15: “Therefore, brethren, stand fast, and hold the traditions which ye have have been taught, whether by word, or our epistle”.