2 Thessalonians 2:15
“Therefore, brethren, stand fast, and hold the traditions which ye have been taught, whether by word, or our epistle.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →In light of all this, Paul calls the believers to stand firm and hold onto the teachings he delivered to them, whether spoken or written.
What Does 2 Thessalonians 2:15 Mean?
"Therefore" gathers up everything Paul has said about God's saving purpose and turns it into a charge: "stand fast." Because their salvation rests on God's faithful calling, they are to be steady, not blown about by rumors and false messages. The same church that was "shaken in mind" is now urged to plant its feet and hold its ground.
Specifically, they are to "hold the traditions which ye have been taught," the trustworthy apostolic teaching delivered to them "by word" and by "epistle." These traditions are not human inventions but the gospel and its implications, handed down faithfully and meant to be kept. Standing firm is not stubbornness; it is loyalty to what is true. In a season of confusion, the call is not to chase the latest claim but to cling to the sound teaching already received. The remedy for instability is a firm grip on the truth that has been entrusted to us.
In the Original Language
paradosis (παράδοσις), "traditions" — that which is handed over or passed down, here the trustworthy teaching delivered by the apostles.