Holding the Traditions (4)

II Thessalonians 2:15 declares, "Therefore, brethren, stand fast, and hold the traditions which ye have been taught." Since the word with which this text begins translates two Greek words which both mean "therefore," it is very closely related to the preceding verses.

All the people of God are commanded to hold the faithful traditions because, negatively, this is the way of avoiding destruction (10-12). There is vast apostasy in the professing churches and "the falling away" is coming (3; the Greek has the article "the"). The man of sin will say that he is God (4). He will work miracles (9) and be incredibly deceptive (10) and most in the church will be fooled (4). Moreover, God will send "strong delusion" (11). How then will we stand? Only by holding fast to the truth! Those who do not hold fast to the biblical traditions will be deceived and perish.

True, the manifestation of the man of sin may not happen in our day, though it might, since no one knows when he will be "revealed" (3). But the apostle teaches that "the mystery of iniquity doth already work" (7). Many today are falling for false doctrine. Unbiblical worship corrupts many churches. Millions are swept away by the false miracles of Roman Catholicism and of charismaticism, all over the world. What will happen when realmiracles are wrought with "all power" "after the working of Satan" (9) "with all deceivableness of unrighteousness" (10)?

Though they may say that they believe the truth, many do not receive "the love of the truth" (10) and so do not actually believe the truth (12). Instead, they believe "the lie" (11; the Greek has the article "the") and thus they shall be "damned" (12).

The imperatives, "stand fast" and "hold," are in the present tense. Thus, right now, you must cling to the truth as it is developed through the NT age. This includes holding fast to the biblical doctrine of the last times (eschatology) as taught in II Thessalonians 2 and elsewhere, for even in apostolic days there was false teaching on eschatology which deceived and unsettled people (1-3).

Not only must the professing Christian hold fast to biblical traditions lest he perish (10-12), but this adherence to the truth is also the way in which God saves us. God’s "beloved" people are "chosen" "from the beginning," "called," sanctified and glorified (13-14). But God has ordained that the way of salvation (and the blessed experience of salvation) is the way of "belief of the truth" and no other way (14). "Therefore, brethren, stand fast, and hold the traditions which ye have been taught" (15).