2 Thessalonians 2:15

Text (2 Thessalonians 2:15)

15 So then, brethren, stand fast, and hold the traditions which ye were taught, whether by word, or by epistle of ours.

Translation and Paraphrase

15.

Therefore then, brethren, stand (solidly) and hold fast the teachings which ye were taught, whether by (our spoken)·word or by our letter.

Notes (2 Thessalonians 2:15)

1.

If the Thessalonians did not stand fast in the traditions that they had been taught, they would soon be in the condition of those who loved not the truth, and were deceived by delusion. See 2 Thessalonians 2:10-12.

We likewise must stand fast in what we have been taught. We cannot be revamping the gospel message in each generation to suit ourselves.

2.

We must mention again the use of that beautiful term, brethren. Christians ought to address one another as brother or sister.

3.

The command, Stand fast, is very emphatic. It enjoins us stand firm, persist and persevere. Compare 1 Corinthians 16:13; Galatians 5:1.

4.

The reference to traditions in this verse might give some people the idea that the church today should have spoken traditions as a guide as well as the Written word. This is the Roman Catholic position.

A Catholic booklet entitled A Catechism For Inquirers says, Where is God's revelation to man contained? The answer given is that God's Revelation to man is contained in the Bible and in Tradition. It asks another question: Where else, then, is God's Revelation contained? Answer: It is contained in Tradition, i.e. in the living word of Christ and His apostles, which was not written down by them. (The booklet here refers to 2 John 1:12 and 2 Thessalonians 2:14 as proof of their statement.) Another question from the same book asks, Where is this Tradition to be found? Answer: This Tradition is to be found chiefly in the writings of the Fathers of the Church of the first centuries of Christianity, in the decrees of the Church Councils, in the decisions of the Popes, and in the ceremonial of the Church.

5.

It is a fact that the early church depended partly on oral teaching. But it is a mistake to allege that the gift of inspired oral teaching has been preserved by the Church. By the close of Paul's life he wrote to Timothy and said, All Scripture is given by inspiration of God - that the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works. 2 Timothy 3:16-17. If the Scriptures alone can make us perfect, and thoroughly furnished unto ALL good works, we do not need any other traditions.

6.

Furthermore, there is a grave danger that we may fall into the same condemnation that the Jews received because they added human traditions to the laws of God. Jesus said, In vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men. Matthew 15:9. Also note Mark 7:9: Full well ye reject the commandment of God, that ye may keep your own tradition.

7.

The only apostolic traditions we now have are those in the Scriptures. This was not true of the Thessalonians. They had oral information, and at the time Paul wrote to them very few of the New Testament books had been written.

8.

Paul declared that if anyone preached a gospel different from what he preached, he was to be accursed. Galatians 1:8-9. Paul told us that when we read, we may understand his knowledge of the mystery of Christ. Ephesians 3:4. Let no one be misled or intimidated by people who claim to know more of God's will than the apostles have left for us in the New Testament. Often we see things practiced by people who follow their traditions that are contrary to what we read in the Bible. Surely any tradition that contradicts what the New Testament says cannot be a tradition approved by God.

9.

Let us stand fast, and hold the apostolic traditions as we have been taught. The Thessalonians had been taught by word of mouth. We haven-'t. Both we and the Thessalonians have been taught by Paul's letters. Let us hold fast to these teachings.