Greek word · G3862

παράδοσις

paradosis

tradition

Literally 'a handing over.' It can mean (1) the act of handing something on, or (2) the thing handed on: a teaching, custom or body of instruction passed from one generation or teacher to the next. In New Testament Greek it nearly always has sense (2).

Appears 13 times in 13 verses of the Greek New Testament. · Updated November 01, 2026

What it means

παρά-δοσις, -εως, ἡ

(παραδίδωμι), [in LXX: Est.7:26 (אֵסוּר), Jeremiah 32:4 (נָתַן ni.), Jeremiah 34:2 * ;]

1. a handing down or over, transfer, transmission (Arist., Polyb., al., LXX).

2. tradition of doctrine (Plat., Epict., al.); by meton., of the doctrine itself : Matthew 15:2-3, 6, Mark 7:3, 1 Corinthians 11:2, Galatians 1:14, Colossians 2:8, 2 Thessalonians 2:15 3:9.†

(AS)

From G. Abbott-Smith, A Manual Greek Lexicon of the New Testament (1922), via STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0).

In depth

From the study of 1 Corinthians 11:2

Range of meaning: Literally 'a handing over.' It can mean (1) the act of handing something on, or (2) the thing handed on: a teaching, custom or body of instruction passed from one generation or teacher to the next. In New Testament Greek it nearly always has sense (2).
Against the English: BSB, NIV, ESV, NASB and WEB say 'traditions.' KJV says 'ordinances.' NLT says 'teachings.' YLT keeps the wordplay with 'deliverances.' 'Teachings' loses the sense of a fixed, received deposit. 'Ordinances' turns it into rules or church rites.
How it drifted: In modern English, 'tradition' often suggests habit, inherited custom with no authority, or, in Protestant settings, 'human tradition' set against Scripture (as in Mark 7). In Paul's world the word named the authoritative chain of transmission itself. Whether a tradition was good or bad depended on its source, not on the word.
Used elsewhere in the period: Josephus uses paradosis of the Pharisees' ancestral regulations, 'handed down from the fathers' (Antiquities 13.297, 408). Paul describes himself before his conversion as zealous for 'the traditions of my fathers' (Galatians 1:14). Jesus criticises 'the tradition of men' and 'your tradition' (Mark 7:3–13). Paul uses the same word positively: 'hold to the traditions which you were taught' (2 Thessalonians 2:15; 3:6). The idea matches the later rabbinic formula 'Moses received the Torah at Sinai and handed it on to Joshua' (Mishnah Avot 1:1), and Greek philosophical schools also spoke of 'handing on' doctrine.

From the study of Matthew 15:6

Range of meaning: From paradidōmi, 'to hand over'. It means the act of handing on, and then the thing handed on: teaching, rulings or customs passed from one generation or teacher to the next. In itself it is neutral and can be good or bad.
Against the English: 'Tradition' is accurate. But to English ears the word can suggest either harmless custom (holidays, heritage) or, in some Protestant settings, 'man-made religion' in general. The Greek term here refers to a specific, binding body of legal interpretation.
How it drifted: The negative sense many readers now hear comes partly from Reformation arguments over Scripture and church tradition, in which this verse was a key proof-text. In the NT the word itself carries no fixed negative charge: Paul praises the Corinthians for keeping 'the traditions' he handed on (1 Cor 11:2) and tells the Thessalonians to 'hold to the traditions' (2 Thess 2:15).
Used elsewhere in the period: Josephus (Antiquities 13.297) says the Pharisees 'handed down to the people certain regulations from a succession of fathers, which are not written in the laws of Moses', and that the Sadducees rejected them. Paul calls himself 'zealous for the traditions of my fathers' (Gal 1:14). Later rabbinic literature pictures a chain of transmission from Moses to the sages (Mishnah, Avot 1:1).

From the study of 2 Thessalonians 3:6

Range of meaning: Literally 'a handing over'. It is used for the act of passing something on and for the thing passed on: teaching, rules, practice. The value of a tradition depends on where it comes from. Jesus criticises 'the tradition of the elders' (Mark 7:3–13) with the same word that Paul uses here for apostolic teaching.
Against the English: 'Tradition' in modern English suggests long-standing custom, habits or ritual, or the later debates about Scripture versus Church Tradition. Older NIV editions used 'teaching', which conveys the content but loses the sense of something handed on. YLT 'deliverance' reflects the root ('handing over') but means something else to a modern reader.
How it drifted: Over time the English word came to mean inherited custom in general. Later church debates also gave capital-T 'Tradition' a meaning tied to the authority of the church across the centuries, which is not what Paul is pointing to here.
Used elsewhere in the period: The pair paradidōmi/paralambanō (hand on / receive) matches the Hebrew pair masar/qibbel used for passing on teaching, as in Mishnah Avot 1:1: 'Moses received the Torah ... and handed it on to Joshua.' Paul uses the same pair in 1 Cor 11:2, 23 and 15:1–3, and in 1 Thess 2:13, 4:1 and 2 Thess 2:15 ('hold to the traditions you were taught, whether by word or by letter of ours'). Josephus uses paradosis for Pharisaic tradition (Ant. 13.297).

Where it appears

Matthew · 3

Matthew 15:2 παράδοσιν tradition

“Why do Your disciples break the tradition of the elders? They do not wash their hands before they eat.”

Here: The teaching handed on from teacher to student: Pharisaic rulings on how to live out the Torah that were not written in the Torah itself. It is a formal, authoritative chain of teaching, not just habit or custom.
Matthew 15:3 παράδοσιν tradition

Jesus replied, “And why do you break the command of God for the sake of your tradition?

Here: The body of rulings handed down orally among the Pharisees, which they called "the tradition of the elders" (v. 2). Jesus repeats their word but changes who owns it.
Matthew 15:6 παράδοσιν tradition

he need not honor his father or mother with it. Thus you nullify the word of God for the sake of your tradition.

Here: The body of rulings and practices passed from teacher to student, which Pharisees treated as binding alongside the written Law. Here it covers the rules about dedicating property by vow.

Mark · 5

Mark 7:3 παράδοσιν tradition

Now in holding to the tradition of the elders, the Pharisees and all the Jews do not eat until they wash their hands ceremonially.

Here: A body of teaching and practice passed from teacher to pupil. Here it means the Pharisees' inherited rulings beyond the written law of Moses.
Mark 7:5 παράδοσιν tradition

So the Pharisees and scribes questioned Jesus: “Why do Your disciples not walk according to the tradition of the elders? Instead, they eat with defiled hands.”
Mark 7:8 παράδοσιν tradition

You have disregarded the commandment of God to keep the tradition of men.”
Mark 7:9 παράδοσιν tradition

He went on to say, “You neatly set aside the command of God to maintain your own tradition.

Here: The body of rulings and practices the Pharisees passed down orally, which told people how to live out the Torah: handwashing, washing of vessels (7:3–4), and, as vv. 11–13 show, how vows work.
Mark 7:13 παραδόσει tradition

Thus you nullify the word of God by the tradition you have handed down. And you do so in many such matters.”

Here: The body of rulings passed from teacher to student, the 'tradition of the elders' of verses 3 and 5. Here it means the specific ruling that a vow can shut parents out from a son's support.

1 Corinthians · 1

1 Corinthians 11:2 παραδόσεις teachings

Now I commend you for remembering me in everything and for maintaining the traditions, just as I passed them on to you.

Here: Literally 'the handings-over,' which echoes the verb just before it. This is the teaching and practice Paul passed on: gospel content, sayings of Jesus and patterns of community life.

Galatians · 1

Galatians 1:14 παραδόσεων. traditions.

I was advancing in Judaism beyond many of my contemporaries and was extremely zealous for the traditions of my fathers.

Here: Literally "handings-over": teachings and practices passed from teacher to student and from generation to generation. Here they are the received ways of interpreting and living the law that were prized by the circle Paul belonged to (he calls himself a Pharisee in Philippians 3:5). The word also sets up a contrast with verse 12, where Paul says his gospel was *not* passed on to him by any human being.

Colossians · 1

Colossians 2:8 παράδοσιν tradition

See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception, which are based on human tradition and the spiritual forces of the world rather than on Christ.

Here: Literally "a handing over." It means teaching passed from teacher to pupil. Paul uses the same idea positively of the gospel (2:6, "as you received Christ Jesus"). The problem here is not that the teaching was handed down. The problem is that it starts and ends with human beings.

2 Thessalonians · 2

2 Thessalonians 2:15 παραδόσεις traditions

Therefore, brothers, stand firm and cling to the traditions we taught you, whether by speech or by letter.

Here: The teachings Paul's team passed on to the church. It covered the gospel message, what to expect about the Lord's coming, and how to live (compare 3:6). The plural points to a body of handed-on instruction.
2 Thessalonians 3:6 παράδοσιν tradition

Now we command you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, to keep away from any brother who leads an undisciplined life that is not in keeping with the tradition you received from us.

Here: The teaching Paul and his co-workers 'handed over' in person and by letter (2:15). Here it centres on their instruction and example about working for your own bread (1 Thess 4:11; 2 Thess 3:10).

Word data: STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0), main text only.