:In the [[King James Bible]] the word [http://biblehub.com/greek/3862.htm ''paradosis'' '''παράδοσις'''] is translated as both "ordinance" and "tradition". Tradition is frequently defended and promoted by St. Paul as part of apostolic doctrine—1 Corinthians 11:2; Galatians 1:14; 2 Thessalonians 2:15; 3:6; Titus 3:10-11. Tradition is therefore not automatically ''[[ipso facto]] always'' vain worship invented by sinful men imposing a legalistic bondage opposed to the liberty of the children of God led by the Holy Spirit of Christ. To insist that '''''all''''' traditions are against God is a [[fallacy of analogy]] against the Bible itself (see again passages from Paul already cited here, also Hebrews 13:17; Acts 2:42). <br>Frequently, the fundamental rejection of "man made" traditions as diametrically opposed to the principle of ''[[sola scriptura]]'' is presented as a passionate [[Protestant Reformation|Reformation]] [[polemic]], in particular against the [[Catholic Church]], and more generally against all forms of church government ''above the level of the local congregation'', a tradition of interpretation not found in the Bible and a polemic [[Ignorance|unconscious]] of the Bible doctrine of obedience to "every human institution" of higher levels of "established" governing church authority as being the ordinance of God, the power with which Christ has invested some particular members of the body of Christ for maintaining discipline in his church.
::([http://biblehub.com/commentaries/1_corinthians/12-28.htm 1 Corinthians 12:28 "governments / administrators"]; Matthew 18:15-18; 23:1-3; Acts 20:28-30; Romans 13:1-2; 1 Peter 2:13—compare Acts 4:18-21 and 5:39; [http://biblehub.com/commentaries/3_john/1-9.htm 3 John 9]; [http://biblehub.com/commentaries/2_corinthians/13-2.htm 2 Corinthians 13:2] and [http://biblehub.com/commentaries/2_corinthians/13-10.htm 13:10].)
:See Galatians chapter 2 in which Paul states that he went up to the leaders of the church in Jerusalem to find out from them if in fact his doctrine was true or not, "''lest by any means I should run, or had run, in vain.... And when James, Cephas, and John, who seemed to be pillars, [[Discernment|perceived]] the [[Charism|grace]] that was given unto me, they gave to me and Barnabas the right hands of fellowship....''" (Galatians 2:2, 9 KJV). <br> Compare 1 Timothy 1:3-7. :The biblical example of both Peter and Paul and the Jerusalem church exercising oversight over many congregations in the ''[[Acts of the Apostles]]'' (Acts 9:32; 11;22-24; 15:1-35; 20:17-31; 21:17-25) has been used as a biblical argument (some say "proof text") against the 18th-19th century tradition of independent [[autonomy]] of local congregations, a tradition that rejects regional ecclesiastical oversight as being fundamentally opposed to what they firmly maintain was the pristine purity of independently autonomous Christian worship in the time of the apostles, which they see as originally free of intrusive external authority. (See for example, [[Churches of Christ]]; compare [[Independent Catholic churches]]; also [[Consensus]] and [[Tradition]].)
:*[http://www.catholic365.com/article/1785/protestantism-is-not-like-the-early-church.html '''Protestantism is NOT Like The Early Church''', Arnold Scott (catholic365.com)] —''classic "proof text" argument by a Catholic apologist''.
::—"Even St. Paul, who had a direct personal calling from Jesus, had to check his gospel with Church leadership to make sure he was "not running in vain." (Galatians 2:2). If St. Paul had to be in accord with Church teaching, shouldn't you? THAT is what the early Church was like." :The biblical example of both Peter and Paul and the Jerusalem church exercising oversight over many congregations in the ''[[Acts of the Apostles]]'' (Acts 9:32; 11;22-24; 15:1-35; 20:17-31; 21:17-25) has been used as a biblical argument (some say "proof text") against the 18th-19th century tradition of independent [[autonomy]] of local congregations, a tradition that rejects regional ecclesiastical oversight as being fundamentally opposed to what they firmly maintain was the pristine purity of independently autonomous Christian worship in the time of the apostles, which they see as originally free of intrusive external authority. (See for example, [[Churches of Christ]]; compare [[Independent Catholic churches]]; also [[Consensus]] and [[Tradition]].)
:Traditions of doctrinal interpretation and practice not explicitly mentioned in the Bible are found in all Protestant denominations, as also in Orthodoxy and Catholicism. <br>[[Apologetics|Apologists]] claim that [[pastor]]ally motivated traditions of faith and devotion not explicitly commanded in Sacred Scripture are legitimate if they never fundamentally contradict Scripture as a whole and are never elevated above the love and justice of God (Romans 2:6-11, 26-29; 3:31; 7:12). They claim that such traditions are intended to promote, encourage and support in practical ways [[corporal and spiritual works of mercy]], and those that do not must be abolished. Compare Ephesians 2:10; Philippians 2:13; James 2:14-26; 1 John 3:17-18; Revelation 22:12; Matthew 25:14-46. There is a long-standing debate over division between two [[Contradiction|contradictory]] and mutually irreconcilable interpretations of tradition according to the Bible: