Traditia

An Essay by Daniel Roy Bloomquist

Honorary Doctor of Sacred Theology [S.T.D.]

Very recently, as of this writing, I heard a statement from an Anglican priest that: "the Bible was written from traditions of the Church."

That sort of struck me as rather odd, as it did my wife.

And, although there is only some truth in that, there is great potential for sectarian, denominational, and even blasphemous heresy declaring such an affirmation.

And is one of the chief reasons why the First Amendment of the United States Constitution neither establishes a Mandatory State Religion of Anglicanism, Catholicism, Protestantism, Judaism, Islam (nor any subcategory of them - as for example Lutheran, Baptist, Presbyterian, Methodist, Covenant, Evangelical Free, Assembly of God, or other types of Protestantism) . . . nor prohibits the free exercise of any of those (within what the past-but-especially-current ruling majority establishes, defines, and enforces as "civil law" and permitted "legal" expression of such within statutory boundaries).

It is true, of course, that "the Word of the LORD" in fact numerous times came to many Bible-book individuals mentioned and authors of the Old (and even of the New) Testament verbally (i.e. audibly). It would be inappropriate to call that "tradition." The creation of canonical Scripture was not merely an enlightened thought put into their heads by the Holy Spirit, which they then wrote down with alphanumeric written-language characters, but a Voice from Heaven dictating what needed to be "etched in stone" (with reference to the Ten Commandments burned by God's "finger" into the mountain rock for Moses), or simply penned onto parchment.

Numbers 7:89 And when Moses went into the tent of meeting to speak with the LORD, he heard the voice speaking to him from above the mercy seat that was upon the ark of the testimony, from between the two cherubim; and it spoke to him.

Second Peter 1:17 For when He received honor and glory from God the Father and the Voice was borne to Him by the Majestic Glory, "This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased,"
Second Peter 1:18 we heard this Voice borne from Heaven, because we were with him on the holy mountain.

However, there are copious additional words, commentaries, dress-up-in-robes rituals, choreography-around-the-altar rituals, dinging bells, bowing-down-a-little-now-and-then, wiping altar cups, and strangely-worded (sometimes ridiculously-archaic near-obsolete) liturgy which - thankfully - that were never ordered to be nor have never been engrained into canonical Scripture.

Nor should ever be included in such, whether "officially" or "non-officially."

And those who legalistically (and often lovelessly, as narrow-minded pharisees) spitefully judge others and base their religious worship on that questionable-at-least disgusting-at-worst adiaphora mentioned in the previous paragraph are not the type of people who can nor should be considered within the category of warm and responsively-affectionate, genuine, tender-hearted Christians.

The Bible itself has, understandably, not included every possible utterance emanating from human beings either directly under divine inspiration, having actually been under divine inspiration, and especially never those who have deceitfully and dishonestly claimed to have been under divine inspiration when concocting, having concocted, and insisting upon their various adiaphoric ritualisms.

Futile and vain attempts to rationalize, legitimitize, or excuse ritualistic wordings and habitual practices by the perpetrators arrogantly and dogmatically asserting that such outside-the-canonical-Bible displays of additional whatevers are based on Scripture or Scriptural priniciples.

For example, the specific details of washings, intricate and expensive robe compositions and wearings, mimicing of sacrificings, and mantra mouthings - they claim - can be traced to what was ordered for Hebrew Israelite Jews back in the Torah. Their non-literal altered version of all that, of course.

Here is what the Revised Standard Version states about: "traditions":

Mark 7:4 and when they come from the market place, they do not eat unless they purify themselves; and there are many other traditions which they observe, the washing of cups and pots and vessels of bronze.
First Corinthians 11:2 I commend you because you remember me in everything and maintain the traditions even as I have delivered them to you.
Galatians 1:14 and I advanced in Judaism beyond many of my own age among my people, so extremely zealous was I for the traditions of my fathers.
Second Thessalonians 2:15 So then, brethren, stand firm and hold to the traditions which you were taught by us, either by word of mouth or by letter.

The same references as to how the Literal (MJKV, KJV, KJ21 translation types) renditions state them are:

Mark 7:4 And coming from the market, they do not eat without immersing. And there are many other things which they received to hold: dippings of cups, and of utensils, and of copper vessels, and couches.
Leviticus 15:18 If a man lies with a woman and has an emission of semen, both of them shall bathe themselves in water, and be unclean until the evening. First Corinthians 11:2 But I praise you, brothers, that in all things you have remembered me, and even as I delivered to you, you hold fast the doctrines.
Galatians 1:14 And I progressed in Judaism beyond many contemporaries in my race, being much more a zealot of the traditions of my ancestors.
Second Thessalonians 2:15 So, then, brothers, stand firm and strongly hold the teachings you were taught, whether by word or by our letter.

Notice that the latter translation types state instead the words: "doctrines" and "teachings" instead of: "traditions".

And here is what the Revised Standard Version states about the word: "tradition:"

Matthew 15:2 "Why do your disciples transgress the tradition of the elders? For they do not wash their hands when they eat."
15:3 He answered them, "And why do you transgress the commandment of God for the sake of your tradition?
15:6 So, for the sake of your tradition, you have made void the word of God.

Mark 7:3 (For the Pharisees, and all the Jews, do not eat unless they wash their hands, observing the tradition of the elders;
7:5 And the Pharisees and the scribes asked him, "Why do your disciples not live according to the tradition of the elders, but eat with hands defiled?"
7:8 You leave the commandment of God, and hold fast the tradition of humans."
7:9 And he said to them, "You have a fine way of rejecting the commandment of God, in order to keep your tradition!
7:13 thus making void the word of God through your tradition which you hand on. And many such things you do."

Colossians 2:8 See to it that no one makes a prey of you by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the universe, and not according to Christ.

Second Thessalonians 3:6 Now we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you keep away from any brother who is living in idleness and not in accord with the tradition that you received from us.

The same references as to how the Literal (MKJV, KJV, KJ21 translation types) renditions state them:

Matthew 15:2 Why do your disciples transgress the tradition of the elders? For they do not wash their hands when they eat bread.
15:3 But answering He said to them, Why do you also transgress the command of God on account of your tradition?
15:6 and in no way he honors his father or his mother. And you annulled the command of God on account of your tradition.
Mark 7:3 For the Pharisees and all the Jews do not eat unless they immerse the hands with the fist, holding the tradition of the elders.
7:5 Then the Pharisees and scribes questioned Him, Why do your disciples not walk according to the tradition of the elders, but eat bread with unwashed hands?
7:8 For forsaking the commandment of God, you hold the tradition of men: dippings of utensils and cups, and many other such like things you do.
7:9 And He said to them, "Do you do well to set aside the commandment of God so that you may keep your tradition?
7:13 making the Word of God of no effect by your tradition which you delivered. And many such like things you do.

Colossians 2:8 Watch that there not be one robbing you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the elements of the world, and not according to Christ.

Second Thessalonians 3:6 And we charge you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, to draw yourselves back from every brother walking in a disorderly way, and not according to the teaching which you received from us.

Some of the word inaccuracies of the Scripture portions of the RSV above are both crucial and vital to recognize and be alert against, and by no means are they a trifle, peripheral, or insignificant.

The Moral Law of Moses obviously yet applies to us for both justification and sanctification (though not atonement against sins), but the ceremonial laws are either optional or already fulfilled and now no longer needed to practice (although they can and should be read for complete Christian enlightenment).

The New Testament helps us determine what is has-been-required ceremonial law compared to what yet-is-required Moral Law.

Leviticus 15:18 If a man lies with a woman and has an emission of semen, both of them shall bathe themselves in water, and be unclean until the evening.

Ephesians 5:25 Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave Himself up for her,
Ephesians 5:26 that He might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word

Hebrew 10:22 let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.

For example, animal sacrifices are no longer needed, and if they were done, such would be a blasphemous assault against Christ the Paschal Lamb:

First Corinthians 5:7 Cleanse out the old leaven that you may be a new lump, as you really are unleavened. For Christ, our paschal lamb, has been sacrificed.

But (as this will come as difficult to swallow by not only Catholics, but many Protestants), hourly, weekly, monthly, eucharist-like communion ingestation is NOT required by the Torah, but instead is helpful to be done at least once a year at Passover time.

There is a mistranslation which has been responsible for the wrongly-presumed need to do communion hourly, daily, weekly, or monthly, and here it is:

First Corinthians 11:25 [RSV] In the same way also the cup, after supper, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me."
First Corinthians 11:26 [RSV] For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until he comes.

The correct version instead reads: "each time" or "as many times" that ye eat and drink . . .

First Corinthians 11:25 [JB2000] After the same manner also took the cup, after he had eaten supper, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood; do this each time that ye drink, in remembrance of me.
First Corinthians 11:26 [JB2000] For each time that ye eat this bread and drink this cup, ye declare the Lord’s death until he comes.

The Greek word pertaining to that is osakis and given Strong's identification number of 3740:

First Corinthians 11:25 After (G3326) the same manner (G5615) also (G2532) he took the (G3588) cup, (G4221) when he had supped, (G1172) saying, (G3004) This (G5124) cup (G4221) is (G2076) the (G3588) new (G2537) testament (G1242) in (G1722) my (G1699) blood: (G129) this (G5124) do (G4160) ye, as oft as (G3740) ye drink (G4095) it, in (G1519) remembrance (G364) of me.(G1699)

First Corinthians 11:26 For (G1063) as often as (G3740) ye eat (G2068) this (G5126) bread, (G740) and (G2532) drink (G4095) of this (G5124) cup, (G4221) ye do show (G2605) the (G3588) Lord's (G2962) death (G2288) until (G891) he comes. (G2064)

The correct version instead reads: "each time" or "as many times" that ye eat and drink . . .

First Corinthians 11:25 [JB2000] After the same manner also took the cup, after he had eaten supper, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood; do this each time that ye drink, in remembrance of me.
First Corinthians 11:26 [JB2000] For each time that ye eat this bread and drink this cup, ye declare the Lord’s death until he comes.

NOT "often" - but instead "each time."

That Holy Communion should at least be around Passover time (i.e. Holy Week during Lent each year, as on Maunday Thursday or Good Friday), is indicated by the following:

Exodus 30:10 Aaron shall make atonement upon its horns once a year; with the blood of the sin offering of atonement he shall make atonement for it once in the year throughout your generations; it is most holy to the LORD."
Judges 21:19 So they said, "Hey, there is the yearly feast of the LORD at Shiloh, which is north of Bethel, on the east of the highway that goes up from Bethel to Shechem, and south of Lebonah."
First Samuel 1:21 And the man Elkanah and all his house went up to offer to the LORD the yearly sacrifice, and to pay his vow.
First Samuel 20:6 If your father misses me at all, then say, 'David earnestly asked leave of me to run to Bethlehem his city; for there is a yearly sacrifice there for all the family.'

Hebrews 9:7 but into the second only the high priest goes, and he but once a year, and not without taking blood which he offers for himself and for the errors of the people.

Hebrews 9:25 Nor was it to offer himself repeatedly, as the high priest enters the Holy Place yearly with blood not his own

For those communicant parishoners starving, and simply too hungry to wait for the annual eucharistic-similar communion, sacred wafer niblets can be chewed and cuplets of wine sipped sometime between quarterly and semi-annually:

Exodus 23:17 Three times in the year shall all your males appear before the Lord GOD.
Exodus 34:23 Three times in the year shall all your males appear before the LORD God, the God of Israel.
Deuteronomy 16:16 Three times a year all your males shall appear before the LORD your God at the place which he will choose: at the feast of unleavened bread, at the feast of weeks, and at the feast of booths. They shall not appear before the LORD empty-handed

And, as far as eating pig and pig products (such as pork chops, bacon, ham, etc.), make sure your meat is well-done and never bloody rare nor even medium rare:

Leviticus 7:27 Whoever eats any blood, that person shall be cut off from his people." [Sorry Dracula, and all you vampires - to Hell you all go!]
Leviticus 17:10 If any man of the house of Israel or of the strangers who travel among them eats any blood, I will set my face against that person who eats blood, and will cut them off from among their people. [not simply by senility but more]

Acts 15:20 but should write to them to abstain from the pollutions of idols and from unchastity and from what is strangled and from blood. (i.e. meat bloody rare, medium rare, medium well-done)
Acts 15:29 that you abstain from what has been sacrificed to idols and from blood and from what is strangled and from unchastity. If you keep yourselves from these, you will do well. Farewell."
Acts 21:25 But as for the Gentiles who have believed, we have sent a letter with our judgment that they should abstain from what has been sacrificed to idols and from blood and from what is strangled and from unchastity."

Getting back to eating pig and bottom-feeder shellfish without fins:

Mark 7:19 [RSV] since it enters, not his heart but his stomach, and so passes on?" (Thus he declared all foods clean.)
Mark 7:19 [KJ21] because it entereth not into his heart, but into the belly and goeth out into the drain, thereby purging all meats?"

Acts 10:9 [RSV] The next day, as they were on their journey and coming near the city, Peter went up on the housetop to pray, about the sixth hour (i.e. noon time).
10 And he became hungry and desired something to eat; but while they were preparing it, he fell into a trance
11 and saw the heaven opened, and something descending, like a great sheet, let down by four corners upon the earth.
12 In it were all kinds of animals and reptiles and birds of the air.
13 And there came a voice to him, "Rise, Peter; kill and eat."
14 But Peter said, "No, Lord; for I have never eaten anything that is common or unclean."
15 And the voice came to him again a second time, "What God has cleansed, you must not call common."
16 This happened three times, and the thing was taken up at once to heaven.
17 Now while Peter was inwardly perplexed as to what the vision which he had seen might mean, Behold! the men that were sent by Cornelius, having made inquiry for Simon's house, stood before the gate
18 and called out to ask whether Simon who was called Peter was lodging there.

That is not to infer that common Italiens are swine, nor thus can be killed and eaten. Even "Corny" ones with Latin-sounding names.