Theological Glossary
Six Christian traditions define Tradition below — each in its own words, paraphrased from its official documents. These are attributed positions, not assertions of fact.
The Catholic Church teaches that Sacred Tradition and Sacred Scripture form one sacred deposit of the Word of God, both flowing from the same divine wellspring. It holds that Tradition is the Church's living transmission of the apostles' teaching, guarded and interpreted by the Magisterium.
Source: CCC 80–86 ↗
The Orthodox Church teaches Holy Tradition as the life of the Holy Spirit in the Church — Scripture, the creeds, the councils, the liturgy, and the Fathers forming one indivisible whole. It holds that Scripture itself is part of Tradition, rightly understood only within the Church's living faith.
Lutherans teach that human traditions in the Church are to be kept only insofar as they serve good order and do not burden consciences or obscure the gospel. They hold that the ancient creeds and the Fathers are honored witnesses, but every tradition must be judged by Scripture, the sole norm.
Source: Augsburg Confession, Art. XV; XXVI; Formula of Concord, Epitome, Rule and Norm ↗
The Reformed tradition teaches that church tradition — including confessions and the writings of theologians — is valuable but always subordinate to Scripture, the only infallible rule. It holds that traditions of men that contradict or add to God's Word are to be rejected.
Source: Westminster Confession 1.10 ↗
Baptists teach that Scripture alone is the supreme standard, and that all traditions, creeds, and religious opinions must be tried by it. They hold that tradition can be a helpful witness to how Christians have read the Bible, but it carries no binding authority over the conscience.
Source: BFM 2000, I ↗
Methodists honor tradition as one side of the Wesleyan quadrilateral — 'the witness of development and growth of the faith through the past centuries' — that helps interpret Scripture. They hold that Scripture is the primary source and standard for doctrine, with tradition enlightening but never overriding the Bible.
See how the traditions compare on related topics: