Day 357 - Hebrews 5-8

Day 357 - Hebrews 5-8

From Bible in a Year with Fr Paul by Fr Paul Guirgis

December 30, 2025 · 11 min · Season 2 · Episode 357

About this episode

Fr Paul discusses the significance of tradition in Christian practices, particularly in relation to baptism and the Eucharist.

Now, how long shall we saw away along the same line on this question [i.e., what is permitted], when we have a long-standing practice which by anticipation has all but settled the question? Even though no scriptural passage prescribes it, it is strengthened by a custom that certainly arose from tradition. How can anything become normal practice if it has not first been handed down to us? But, you tell me, “You must always have a written source if you are going to plead the force of tradition.” Let us look into the matter, then, of whether or not a tradition without a written source should be accepted. The answer will certainly be no if we cannot adduce examples of other observations which are without written source in Scripture and rest solely on the basis of tradition and yet have come to have the force of custom. To begin, for instance, with baptism: When we are about to enter the water, and, as a matter of fact, even a short while before, we declare in the presence of the congregation before the bishop that we renounce the devil, his pomps and his angels. After that, we are immersed in the water three times, making a somewhat fuller pledge than the Lord has prescribed in the…

People in this episode

Host: Fr Paul Guirgis

Topics covered

  • tradition
  • baptism
  • Eucharist
  • Christian customs
  • scriptural interpretation

Keywords

  • tradition
  • baptism
  • Eucharist
  • Christianity
  • scripture
  • customs

Mentioned in this episode

Books & works: Hebrews, Mat 28:19, 1Co 3:2, 1Pe 2:2

More episodes of Bible in a Year with Fr Paul

Explore listener stats, chart rankings, contacts and more on the Bible in a Year with Fr Paul podcast page.