Universal Tradition.

What is Universal Tradition?

That Christian Faith, which being handed down from Christ through the Apostles has been received, taught and believed by all Christians universally without addition nor subtraction. That which is plainly Universal in its reception is clearly Apostolic in its foundation. All else is either cultural or local additions (not damaging…like language transliteration) or heresy/false teaching, not known or received from Christ through His Apostles. A common quote often referred to is by St Vincent, “That which was believed in all times, in all places by all Christians”, is Universal Tradition.

What is NOT Universal Tradition?

1) New doctrine or different doctrine not received from Apostles. 2) New interpretations or different interpretations not received from Apostles. 3) Cultural applications and cultural additions. 4) Traditions of men, invented during Church history to overthrow Christian teachings.

Consider these Questions:

1) Can the Christian Faith change? 2) Can the Christian Faith develope into something it once was not? 3) Can the Christian Faith expand? 4) Is the Christian Faith static/unchanged/undeveloped? 5) Do we know ‘more’ anout the Christian faith than the Apostles? 6) Do we know ‘more’ about the Christian Faith than St. Ignatius? 7) Do we know ‘more’ about the Christian Faith than St. Athanasius? Do we know ‘more’ about the Christian Faith than St. Augustine?

The Holy Scriptures confirm Christian Tradition:

“But you must continue in the things which you have learned and been assured of, knowing from whom you learned them.” 2nd Timothy 3:14.

“So Philip ran to him, and heard him reading the prophet Isaiah, and said, “Do you understand what you are reading?” And he said, “How can I, unless someone guides me?” Acts 8:30,31.

“Now I praise you brethren, that you remember me in all things and keep the traditions just as I delivered them to you.” 1st Corinthians 11:2.

“Therefore brethren, stand fast and hold the traditions which you were taught, whether by word or our epistle.” 2nd Thessalonians 2:15.

“Just as those who from the beginning, were eyewitnesses and ministers of the word, delivered them to us.” Luke 1:2.

“And there are also many other things that Jesus did, which if they were written one by one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that would be written. Amen.” John 21:25.

“But we command you brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you withdraw from every brother who walks disorderly and not according to the tradition which he received from us.” 2nd Thessalonians 3:6.

“And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, He expounded in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself.”…….And they said to one another, ‘Did not our heart burn within us while He talked with us on the road, and while He opened the Scriptures to us?” Luke 24:27,32.

“And the things that you have heard from me among many witnesses, commit these to faithful men who will be able to teach others.” 2nd Timothy 2:2.

“Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.’ Amen.” Matthew 28:19,20.

“But you, carefully follow my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, love, perserverance.” 2nd Timothy 3:10.

The Church Fathers confirm Universal Tradition:

“Inventers of unlawful heresies who indeed refer to the Scriptures, but do not hold such opinions as the saints have handed down, and receiving them as the traditions of men, err, because they do not rightly know them, nor their power. Therefore Paul justly praises the Corinthians, (1st Cor. 11:2) because their opinions werre in accordance with his traditions.” St Athanasius the Apostolic. 298-373 AD.

“Hence it is manifest, that they did not deliver all things by Epistle, but many things also unwritten, and in like manner both the one and the other are worthy of credit. Therefore let us think the tradition of the Church also worthy of credit. It is a Tradition, seek no farther, there he shows that there were many who were shaken.” St John Chrysostom, Homily on 2nd Thessalonians 2:15.

“Wherefore, if laying aside the errors of human dispute, we return with a sincere and religious faith to the evangelical authority and to the Apostolic Tradition, we shall perceive that they (the heretics) may do nothing towards conferring the ecclesiastical and saving grace.” St Cyprian of Carthage.

“We follow that which wehave received from the Apostles.” St Cyprian of Carthage.

“Suppose there arise a dispute relative to some important question among us, should we not have recourse to the most ancient churches which the Apostles held constant intercourse and learn from them what is certain and clear in regard to the present question?” St Ireneaus, ‘Against Heresies”, p.417, Ante-Nicene Fathers.

“For if we return to the head and source of Divine Tradition, human error ceases.” St Cyprian of Carthage, “Epistles of St Cyprian”, p. 389, Ante-Nicene Fathers.

“Nor will anyone of the rulers in the Churches, however highly gifted he may be in point of eloquence, teach doctrines different from these (for no one is greater than the Master); Nor, on the other hand, will he who is deficient in power of expression inflict injury on the tradition. For the Faith being ever one and the same neither does one who is able at great length to discourse regarding it, make any addition to it, nor does one, who can say but little, diminish it.” St Ireneaus, ‘Against Heresies’, p.331, ANF.

“And this it behoves the priests of God to do now, if they would keep the divine precepts, that if any respect the truth have wavered and vacillated, we should return to our original and Lord and to the evangelical and Apostolic Tradition.” St Cyprian of Carthage, ‘Epistles of St Cyprian’, p.389, ANF.

Peace and grace.

an Orthodox friend

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