Passing the teaching on was a formal discipline with technical vocabulary: “received” and “delivered.” The Mishnah opens with a chain: “Moses received the Torah at Sinai and transmitted it to Joshua, Joshua to the elders, and the elders to the prophets, and the prophets to the Men of the Great Assembly” (Avot 1:1). Paul uses exactly this language for the gospel, “I delivered unto you… that which also I received” (1 Cor 15:3), and orders the next link forged: “commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also” (2 Tim 2:2). The Gospels’ “tradition of the elders” (Mark 7:3) is this same chain seen from inside, orally transmitted rulings, finally written down c. AD 200 as the Mishnah.
Daily life in Bible times
The chain of transmission
Preserving the text
Sources, trace every one
Every cited verse, in full. Tap any reference to open it in the reader.
- 1 Corinthians 15:3bsb
For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures,
- 2 Timothy 2:2bsb
And the things that you have heard me say among many witnesses, entrust these to faithful men who will be qualified to teach others as well.
- Mark 7:3bsb
Now in holding to the tradition of the elders, the Pharisees and all the Jews do not eat until they wash their hands ceremonially.
On contested questions we show every major view, attributed and cited, and pick no winner. Answers are synthesized from primary sources, truth you can trace, not opinion.