[Greek] ἀναδίδωμι (anadidōmi), [Latin] tradere: to hand over, to give up, to yield, to deliver; Acts 23:33
This image can represent both oral tradition (handing over the faith to others) or Christians being forced to give up their faith (bibles).
Background information:
Greek Hellenism: This term means to give up, to hold up, to deliver, to send to a higher authority, to distribute, and to go back. Polybius’ Histories 29.10.7 states “For they at once sent ambassadors to Crete, to renew their friendly relations with the entire Cretan people.” Plutarch’s Aemilus Paulis 25 states “Suddenly and spontaneously the people on their own accord spread a report of a victory, and this story coursed through Rome. This rumor quickly melted away in the city, but when Domitian was setting out with the army for the war and was already on the march, messages and letters announcing the victory came to him.”
New Testament: This term means to deliver, to hand over, or to present. Paul was arrested and being escorted by the Roman soldiers to Caesarea. The Roman commander Claudius Lysias wrote a letter providing the circumstances of Paul’s arrest. The soldiers delivered this letter to the governor and presented Paul to him.
Tradition: This word tradition comes from the Latin verb tradere. During the New Testament culture, the scriptures were considered the Old Testament scriptures. Aside from oral tradition and Paul’s letters, the New Testament had not yet been determined or formulated. The gospel message (Christianity) was transmitted through oral stories (tradition). Essentially, these oral traditions were “handed over” (delivered) from one generation to the next.
Traditores: The Traditores refer to those bishops and Christians who willingly turned over their scriptures and betrayed their fellow Christians to the Roman authorities under the threat of persecution.
Lapsi: The Lapsi were apostates who renounced their faith under persecution by the Roman authorities. This term refers to those who have lapsed or fallen away from their faith, only to return to it later. The Decian Persecution (250 AD) required all Roman citizens to publically sacrifice to traditional gods. Upon completion of this sacrifice, individuals (Christians) received a certificate of sacrifice (libellus).
Conclusion:
Trade, traitor, tradition, treason, lapse, libel
In Greek Hellenism, this term conveys the sense of sending out, which can apply to all types of situations or contexts. We can identify when representatives are sent. When rumors are started, they are in a sense “sent out” which can be either ignored, promoted, or dismissed.
In the New Testament, this term really does not have much significance. It is just a letter that is sent out to the governer in Caesarea. No big deal. Paul’s letters to his congregation are much more important.
The early Christians essentially learned their faith by the oral tradition previously handed down. Traditores were essentially traitors to their faith. The Lapsi essentially lapsed in their faith.
As in times past, we all must be mindful that today there are Christians being persecuted or even being forced to give up their faith.
I think I am done here. Now it is time to deliver this post to my blogging site.