IS IT CORRECT TO TRANSLATE ‘PARADOSIS’ AS ‘TEACHINGS’
INSTEAD OF ‘TRADITIONS’?
There are three occasions
in the NT when the Greek word ‘παραδόσεις’, which literally means ‘Traditions’,
is sometimes translated as ‘Teachings’.
The passages are
1Corinthians 11:2, 2Thessalonians 2:15, and 2Thessalonians 3:6.
THE LITERAL
VERSION
In the original Greek,
the passages are these:
1 CORINTHIANS
11:2
Ἐπαινῶ δὲ ὑμᾶς, ὅτι πάντα μου μέμνησθε καὶ
καθὼς παρέδωκα ὑμῖν
τὰς παραδόσεις κατέχετε.
“Now I commend
you, because you remember me in everything and maintain the traditions
even as I delivered them to you.”
2
THESSALONIANS 2:15
Ἄρα οὖν, ἀδελφοί, στήκετε, καὶ
κρατεῖτε τὰς παραδόσεις ἃς
ἐδιδάχθητε, εἴτε διὰ
λόγου, εἴτε δι' ἐπιστολῆς ἡμῶν.
“So then,
brothers, stand firm, and hold fast to the traditions that you were
taught, whether by word, or by letter from us”
2 THESSALONIANS
3:6
Παραγγέλλομεν δὲ
ὑμῖν, ἀδελφοί, ἐν ὀνόματι τοῦ Κυρίου ἡμῶν
Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ, στέλλεσθαι ὑμᾶς
ἀπὸ παντὸς ἀδελφοῦ ἀτάκτως περιπατοῦντος,
καὶ μὴ κατὰ τὴν παράδοσιν ἣν
παρέλαβε παρ’ ἡμῶν·
Now we command
you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you keep away from
any brother who is walking in idleness, and not in accord with the tradition
that you received from us.
The word ‘Paradosis
– Παράδοσις’ which literally means ‘Tradition’, is translated sometimes as ‘Teachings
– Διδασκαλία - Διδάσκω’ in some versions, like the NIV in English or the Reina
Valera in Spanish; and this is rejected by some as not being a legitimate
version of the word and what it implies in the original.
THE
TRANSLATION
Even though the
literal translation of the word should be ‘Tradition’, or one of its variants,
this ‘Tradition’ implies ‘oral teachings’ in the context of the passages, which
consisted in oral instructions as well as practices taught by example.
We can take the
case of Baptism.
The Scripture teaches
us that we need to be baptized in water. That is an express command from Lord
Jesus, clear and straight (Mt 28:19), and that would have been told by word and
example. By word, explaining the reason why we get baptize and what it means
for us (διδάσκω), and the manner of how to do it, by example, through the execution
of the command (ἔργον). Both manners of instruction, by word and
example, when maintained orally, can be called a ‘Tradition’ after a second
recipient receives this instruction and command.
In the three cases
above, Paul praises the Corinthians and Thessalonians for maintaining these traditions
he delivered them, because they maintain themselves within apostolic teaching.
Even in the last paragraph, Paul condemns all those who do not maintain that tradition.
In consequence,
Paul is clearly referring here to instructions, by word and example, even
though the word ‘example’ is not mentioned here, but it is implicit, because of
practices like Baptism, Holy Supper, Anointing of the Sick, Commissioning, and
others, which included a certain modality in practice.
Another reason
this Tradition also included practical and doctrinal teachings, is in the fact
that Paul mentions them to have been delivered ‘by writing’ (2Thess 2:15).
Theoretical
moral and doctrinal teachings can be delivered in writing, as well as practical
guidance; like the coming judgement (2Th 1), the Man of Lawlessness (2Th 2), or
Idleness, which also includes certain practical instructions (2Th 3).
Since all
practical instructions are also teachings, and these can be clearly explained
in writing, like what to do with the fornicator in Corinth (1Cor 5:1-2), or the
widows in Ephesus (1Tim 5), or how to baptize (Mt 28:19) we can also call these
traditions, teachings, because all apostolic instruction is necessarily related
to a doctrinal context, and without doctrine, there are not instructions to
care for.
CONCLUSION
Even though the literal
translation of ‘Paradosis’ should be ‘Tradition’, as it is translated in the majority
of versions in any language, the occasional use of ‘teachings’ or ‘instructions’
is also valid, since all these traditions have a doctrinal theoretical background.
When Didaskalia
is translated as Teaching, these teachings imply all forms of instruction,
practical and doctrinal, in the language that Paul is referring to. Instructions
about moral, doctrinal and practical issues.
The only reason
why some have a pronounced objection to this legitimate translation is because
they want a word of open meaning, where they can argue ‘privileged knowledge’ of
these ‘traditions’ to justify practices that go beyond Scripture.
Finally, all
these oral ‘traditions’ (instructions), doctrinal and practical, were put in
writing before the end of the first century in what we call today, the NT.
Omar Flores.
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