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Saturday, October 26th, 2024
the Week of Proper 24 / Ordinary 29
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World English Bible

2 Thessalonians 2:15

So then, brothers, stand firm, and hold the traditions which you were taught by us, whether by word, or by letter.

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Character;   Commandments;   Decision;   Perseverance;   Stability;   Tradition;   Word of God;   Thompson Chain Reference - Steadfastness;   Steadfastness-Instability;   The Topic Concordance - Steadfastness;  

Dictionaries:

- American Tract Society Bible Dictionary - Tradition;   Bridgeway Bible Dictionary - Apostle;   Canon;   Election;   Inspiration;   Perseverance;   Teacher;   Tradition;   Baker Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology - Education in Bible Times;   Faith;   Gospel;   Thessalonians, First and Second, Theology of;   Charles Buck Theological Dictionary - Antichrist;   Easton Bible Dictionary - Tradition;   Fausset Bible Dictionary - Luke, the Gospel According to;   Thessalonians, the Epistles to the;   Tradition;   Holman Bible Dictionary - Call, Calling;   Trinity;   2 Thessalonians;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - Predestination;   Thessalonians, Second Epistle to the;   Hastings' Dictionary of the New Testament - Betrayal;   Commandment;   Election;   Faithfulness;   Gospels (2);   Organization (2);   Perseverance;   Sayings (Unwritten);   Thessalonians Epistles to the;   Morrish Bible Dictionary - Tradition,;   People's Dictionary of the Bible - Tradition;   Watson's Biblical & Theological Dictionary - Roman Catholics;   War;  

Encyclopedias:

- International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Paul, the Apostle;   Tradition;   Trine (Triune) Immersion;  

Parallel Translations

Easy-to-Read Version
So, brothers and sisters, stand strong and continue to believe the teachings we gave you when we were there and by letter.
Revised Standard Version
So then, brethren, stand firm and hold to the traditions which you were taught by us, either by word of mouth or by letter.
Tyndale New Testament (1525)
Therfore brethren stonde fast and kepe ye ordinaunces which ye have learned: whether it were by oure preachynge or by pistle.
Hebrew Names Version
So then, brothers, stand firm, and hold the traditions which you were taught by us, whether by word, or by letter.
New American Standard Bible
So then, brothers and sisters, stand firm and hold on to the traditions which you were taught, whether by word of mouth or by letter from us.
New Century Version
So, brothers and sisters, stand strong and continue to believe the teachings we gave you in our speaking and in our letter.
Update Bible Version
So then, brothers, stand fast, and hold the traditions which you were taught, whether by word, or by epistle of ours.
Webster's Bible Translation
Therefore, brethren, stand fast, and hold the traditions which ye have been taught, whether by word, or our epistle.
English Standard Version
So then, brothers, stand firm and hold to the traditions that you were taught by us, either by our spoken word or by our letter.
Wesley's New Testament (1755)
Therefore, brethren, stand fast and hold the traditions, which ye have been taught, whether by word, or by our Epistle.
Weymouth's New Testament
So then, brethren, stand your ground, and hold fast to the teachings which you have received from us, whether by word of mouth or by letter.
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
Therfor, britheren, stonde ye, and holde ye the tradiciouns, that ye han lerud, ethir bi word, ethir bi oure pistle.
English Revised Version
So then, brethren, stand fast, and hold the traditions which ye were taught, whether by word, or by epistle of ours.
Berean Standard Bible
Therefore, brothers, stand firm and cling to the traditions we taught you, whether by speech or by letter.
Contemporary English Version
My friends, that's why you must remain faithful and follow closely what we taught you in person and by our letters.
Amplified Bible
So then, brothers and sisters, stand firm and hold [tightly] to the traditions which you were taught, whether by word of mouth or by letter from us.
American Standard Version
So then, brethren, stand fast, and hold the traditions which ye were taught, whether by word, or by epistle of ours.
Bible in Basic English
So then, brothers, be strong in purpose, and keep the teaching which has been given to you by word or by letter from us.
Complete Jewish Bible
Therefore, brothers, stand firm; and hold to the traditions you were taught by us, whether we spoke them or wrote them in a letter.
Darby Translation
So then, brethren, stand firm, and hold fast the instructions which ye have been taught, whether by word or by our letter.
International Standard Version
So then, brothers, stand firm, and cling to the traditions that you were taught by us, either by word of mouthby word">[fn] or by our letter.1 Corinthians 11:2; 16:13; Philippians 4:1; 2 Thessalonians 3:6;">[xr]
Etheridge Translation
15 Wherefore, my brethren, stand fast, and persevere in the precepts [fn] which you have been taught, whether by word, or by our epistle.
Murdock Translation
Therefore, my brethren, be established, and persevere in the precepts which ye have been taught, whether by word or by our epistle.
King James Version (1611)
Therefore, brethren, stand fast, and hold the traditions which yee haue beene taught, whether by word or our Epistle.
New Living Translation
With all these things in mind, dear brothers and sisters, stand firm and keep a strong grip on the teaching we passed on to you both in person and by letter.
New Life Bible
So then, Christian brothers, keep a strong hold on what we have taught you by what we have said and by what we have written.
New Revised Standard
So then, brothers and sisters, stand firm and hold fast to the traditions that you were taught by us, either by word of mouth or by our letter.
Geneva Bible (1587)
Therefore, brethren, stand fast & keepe the instructions, which ye haue bene taught, either by worde, or by our Epistle.
George Lamsa Translation
Henceforth, my brethren, stand fast, and hold to the commandments which you have been taught, either by word, or by our epistle.
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
Hence, then, brethren, stand firm, and hold fast the instructions which ye were taught - whether through discourse, or through our letter.
Douay-Rheims Bible
(2-14) Therefore, brethren, stand fast: and hold the traditions, which you have learned, whether by word or by our epistle.
Bishop's Bible (1568)
Therfore brethren stande fast, and holde the ordinaunces whiche ye haue ben taught, whether it were by our preachyng, or by our epistle.
Good News Translation
So then, our friends, stand firm and hold on to those truths which we taught you, both in our preaching and in our letter.
Christian Standard Bible®
So then, brothers and sisters, stand firm and hold to the traditions you were taught, whether by what we said or what we wrote.
King James Version
Therefore, brethren, stand fast, and hold the traditions which ye have been taught, whether by word, or our epistle.
Lexham English Bible
So then, brothers, stand firm and hold fast to the traditions which you were taught, whether by spoken word or by letter from us.
Literal Translation
So, then, brothers, stand firm and strongly hold the teachings you were taught, whether by word or by our letter.
Young's Literal Translation
so, then, brethren, stand ye fast, and hold the deliverances that ye were taught, whether through word, whether through our letter;
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
Therfore brethren stonde fast, and kepe the ordinaunces which ye haue lerned, whether it were by oure preachinge or by epistle.
Mace New Testament (1729)
be stedfast therefore, and firmly maintain the doctrine I have delivered to you, either by word of mouth, or by my letter.
THE MESSAGE
So, friends, take a firm stand, feet on the ground and head high. Keep a tight grip on what you were taught, whether in personal conversation or by our letter. May Jesus himself and God our Father, who reached out in love and surprised you with gifts of unending help and confidence, put a fresh heart in you, invigorate your work, enliven your speech.
New English Translation
Therefore, brothers and sisters, stand firm and hold on to the traditions that we taught you, whether by speech or by letter.
New King James Version
Therefore, brethren, stand fast and hold the traditions which you were taught, whether by word or our epistle.
Simplified Cowboy Version
So sit tall in the saddle my friends. Tie hard and fast to the truth that we taught y'all. It doesn't matter if you heard it straight from us or by letter. The truth is the truth and you should believe it.
New American Standard Bible (1995)
So then, brethren, stand firm and hold to the traditions which you were taught, whether by word of mouth or by letter from us.
Legacy Standard Bible
So then, brothers, stand firm and hold to the traditions which you were taught, whether by word of mouth or by letter from us.

Contextual Overview

13 But we are bound to always give thanks to God for you, brothers loved by the Lord, because God chose you from the beginning for salvation in sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth; 14 whereunto he called you through our gospel, to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. 15 So then, brothers, stand firm, and hold the traditions which you were taught by us, whether by word, or by letter.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

stand: 1 Corinthians 15:58, 1 Corinthians 16:13, Philippians 4:1

hold: 2 Thessalonians 3:6, 1 Corinthians 11:2

the traditions: Romans 16:17, Jude 1:3,*Gr.

whether: 2 Thessalonians 2:2, 2 Thessalonians 3:14

Reciprocal: 1 Corinthians 15:2 - keep in memory Galatians 5:1 - Stand 1 Thessalonians 5:21 - hold 1 Timothy 6:20 - keep Titus 1:9 - Holding

Cross-References

Genesis 2:2
On the seventh day God finished his work which he had made; and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had made.
Genesis 2:8
Yahweh God planted a garden eastward, in Eden, and there he put the man whom he had formed.
Job 31:33
If like Adam I have covered my transgressions, By hiding my iniquity in my heart,
Psalms 128:2
For you will eat the labor of your hands. You will be happy, and it will be well with you.
Ephesians 4:28
Let him who stole steal no more; but rather let him labor, working with his hands the thing that is good, that he may have something to give to him who has need.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

Therefore, brethren, stand fast,.... In the doctrine of the Gospel in general, and in the article of Christ's second coming in particular, and not in the least waver about the thing itself, nor be shaken in mind, and troubled as if it was just at hand; and the rather it became them to be concerned that they stood fast in the truth, and persevered unto the end, since there was to be a falling away, and the mystery of iniquity was already working, and antichrist would shortly appear, whose coming would be with all deceivableness, of unrighteousness; and they had the greater encouragement to continue firm and unmoved, seeing they were chosen from eternity unto salvation through sanctification and belief of the truth, and were called in time by the Gospel to the enjoyment of the glory of Christ in another world.

And hold the traditions which ye have been taught: meaning the truths of the Gospel, which may be called traditions, because they are delivered from one to another; the Gospel was first delivered by God the Father to Jesus Christ, as Mediator, and by him to his apostles, and by them to the churches of Christ; whence it is called the form of doctrine delivered to them, and the faith once delivered to the saints: and also the ordinances of the Gospel which the apostles received from Christ, and as they received them faithfully delivered them, such as baptism and the Lord's supper; as well as rules of conduct and behaviour, both in the church, and in the world, even all the commandments of Christ, which he ordered his apostles to teach, and which they gave by him; see 2 Thessalonians 3:6. And so the Syriac version here renders it, "the commandments": and these were such as these saints had been taught by the apostles, under the direction of Christ, and through the guidance of his Spirit; and were not the traditions of men or the rudiments of the world, but what they had received from Christ, through the hands of the apostles:

whether by word, or our epistle, that is, by "our" word, as well as by our epistle, and so the Arabic version reads; these doctrines, ordinances, and rules of discipline were communicated to them, both by word of mouth, when the apostles were in person among them, and by writing afterwards to them; for what the apostles delivered in the ministry of the word to the churches, they sent them in writing, that they might be a standing rule of faith and practice; so that this does not in the least countenance the unwritten traditions of the Papists; and since these were what were taught them, "viva voce", and they received them from the mouth of the apostles, or by letters from them, or both, it became them to hold and retain them fast, and not let them go, either with respect to doctrine or practice.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Therefore - In view of the fact that you are thus chosen from eternity, and that you are to be raised up to such honor and glory.

Stand fast - Amidst all the temptations which surround you; compare the notes on Ephesians 6:10-14. And hold the traditions which ye have been taught On the word “traditions,” see the notes on Matthew 15:2. It means properly things delivered over from one to another; then anything orally delivered - any precept, doctrine, or law. It is frequently employed to denote that which is not written, as contradistinguished from that which is written (compare Matthew 15:2), but not necessarily or always; for here the apostle speaks of the “traditions which they had been taught by his epistle;” compare the notes, 1 Corinthians 11:2. Here it means the doctrines or precepts which they had received from the apostle, whether when he was with them, or after he left them; whether communicated by preaching or by letter. This passage can furnish no authority for holding the “traditions” which have come down from ancient times, and which profess to have been derived from the apostles; because:

(1)There is no evidence that any of those traditions were given by the apostles;

(2)Many of them are manifestly so trifling, false, and contrary to the writings of the apostles, that they could not have been delivered by them;

(3)If any of them are genuine, it is impossible to separate them from those which are false;

(4)We have all that is necessary for salvation in the written word; and,

(5)There is not the least evidence that the apostle here meant to refer to any such thing.

He speaks only of what had been delivered to them by himself, whether orally or by letter; not of what was delivered from one to another as from him. There is no intimation here that they were to hold anything as from him which they had not received directly from him, either by his own instructions personally or by letter. With what propriety, then, can this passage be adduced to prove that we are to hold the traditions which professedly come to us through a great number of intermediate persons? Where is the evidence here that the church was to hold those unwritten traditions, and transmit them to future times?

Whether by word - By preaching, when we were with you. It does not mean that he had sent any oral message to them by a third person.

Or our epistle - The former letter which he had written to them.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse 15. Therefore, brethren, stand fast — Their obtaining eternal glory depended on their faithfulness to the grace of God; for this calling did not necessarily and irresistibly lead to faith; nor their faith to the sanctification of the spirit; nor their sanctification of the spirit to the glory of our Lord Jesus. Had they not attended to the calling, they could not have believed; had they not believed, they could not have been sanctified; had they not been sanctified they could not have been glorified. All these things depended on each other; they were stages of the great journey; and at any of these stages they might have halted, and never finished their Christian race.

Hold the traditions which ye have been taught — The word παραδοσις, which we render tradition, signifies any thing delivered in the way of teaching; and here most obviously means the doctrines delivered by the apostle to the Thessalonians; whether in his preaching, private conversation, or by these epistles; and particularly the first epistle, as the apostle here states. Whatever these traditions were, as to their matter, they were a revelation from God; for they came by men who spake and acted under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit; and on this ground the passage here can never with any propriety be brought to support the unapostolical and anti-apostolical traditions of the Romish Church; those being matters which are, confessedly, not taken from either Testament, nor were spoken either by a prophet or an apostle.


 
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