Someone asked, “I was wondering if you would be able to tell me how this verse would have been interpreted by the first century church?” The verse was,
2 Thessalonians 2:15, “Therefore brethren, stand fast, and hold the traditions which ye have bee taught, whether by word, or our epistle.”
Let me start off by giving you the meaning of the word, “Tradition.” It does not occur in the O.T. but there are generally three types of traditions spoken of in the N.T.
1. The first is the most common. It was that which had been handed down by the Jewish fathers and elders which constituted the oral law. This was considered by many Jews as being equal in authority with the revealed law of Moses. There was even a tenancy to make their traditions greater then the Scriptures.
Paul made reference to the great zeal of the fathers for traditions, Galatians 1:14. Josephus speaks of traditions delivered to the people that were not even written in the Law.
2. The second type of tradition is mentioned in,
Colossians 2:8, “Beware lest any man spoil you (plunder you, or take you captive) through philosophy and vain (empty) deceit, after (according to) the traditions of men, after the rudiments (basic principles) of the world, and not after Christ.”
There is some disagreement as to it meaning, be it Jewish heresies, or the human origin of certain teachings generally.
3. The third type of tradition mentioned is spoken of the general truths of the Gospel that were taught by Paul. He refers to them three times. The word, “Ordinances,” in 1 Corinthians 11:2, American Standard Version. In the K.J.V. it is, “Traditions.” Also in, 2 Thesslonians 2:15 and 3:6.
We can observe that there is a great deal of disparity in the way the word is used. So we must be careful in observe how it is used in the various verses mentioned, and in what category we may place it.
Tradition means, “instruction.” Paul had taught in Corinth and Thessalonica the doctrines of the Gospel, and urged them to keep them in mind.
Following is the meaning of the word, “Tradition,” in the N.T.
Tradition: Traditions: 3862. Greek is, paradosia; delivery, as in the act of delivering over from one to another.
In N.T. any thing orally delivered, precept, ordinance, instruction, as in,
Generally as precept or doctrine.
1. 1 Corinthians 11:2, “keep the ordinances, as I delivered them to you.”
2. 2 Thessalonians 2:14-15, “Whereunto He (God) called you (Christian brothers) by our gospel, to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, brethren, stand fast and hold the traditions which you were taught, whether by word or our epistle.”
3. 2 Thessalonians 3:6, “withdraw yourselves from every brother that walketh disorderly, and not after the tradition which he received of us.”
B. Of oral precepts delivered down from age to age, tradition, traditional law,
1. Matthew 15:2, “Why do thy disciples transgress the tradition of the elders?” for they wash not their hands when they eat bread.”
2. Mark 7:8, Matthew 15:3, Jesus said, “Why do ye also transgress the commandment of God by your traditions?”
Verse 6, “ye made the commandment of God of none effect by your tradition.”
3. Mark 7:3, “The Pharisees, and — the Jews, except they wash their hands oft, eat not, holding the traditions of the elders.”
4. Mark 7:5, “Why walk not thy disciples according to the tradition of the elders, but eat bread with unwashed hands?”
5. Mark 7:9, Jesus said, “Full well ye reject the commandment of God, that ye may keep your own tradition.”
6. Mark 7:13, “Jesus said, “Making the word of God of none effect through your tradition, which ye delivered: and many such like things do ye.”
7. Galatians 1:14, Paul was saying that he, “profited in the Jews religion above many my equals in mine own nation, being more exceedingly zealous of the traditions of my fathers.”
8. Colossians 2:8, “Beware lest any man spoil you (plunder you, or take you captive) through philosophy and vain (empty) deceit, after (according to) the traditions of men, after the rudiments (basic principles) of the world, and not after Christ.”
The letters to the Thessalonians by Paul, was written about 52 or 53 A.D. well before many of the other N.T, books had been completed. There was yet so much more to be given to the apostles and disciples by the Holy Spirit. For example,
The Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John were not yet written; Matthew in, 60 A.D. Mark between 65-70 A.D. Luke after 70. A.D. Acts, about 61 or 62 A.D. John between 90 and 94 A.D.
1 John about 90 A.D. 2 John, about 95-96 A.D. 3 John about, 96-97 A.D. Revelation was written after Nero’s death, and near the end of Domitian’s reign, between 95 and 97 A.D.
From the above we can observe that few books and letters of the N.T. had not been completed when 1st and 2ed Thessalonians were written.
Unlike today, we can print out thousands of copies in hours. Back then there may have been a few copies of the books or letters hand written. These were most likely treasured in the churches that obtained them. If they were moved, the actual letter or a hand written copy was carried from one church to another. If not, then oral communication (memorized by the speaker) was the only other alternative.
Of the books or letters completed, they most likely were taken to memory, than taught to others. Not until 375 A.D. was the Bible gathered together for the most part in the format we are familiar with today.
So it was a necessity for men to put to memory certain parts of the O.T. and that of the New when available. In this way and manner was the Bible taught and kept in tact until the word of God was finished, than it was put into book form.
Even after this period, the Scriptures were written in Latin, and the few copies that existed were usually chained to the desk of the clergy that possessed them, this in order to keep them from the population at large. Only when the Guttenburg press and then the K.J.V. were published in 1611, did the public have access to the Holy Word of God in full, and in various languages.
Concerning 2 Thessalonians 2:15, in order to keep the precepts, ordinances, law and general truths of the Gospel that were taught by Paul in Corinth and Thessalonica, that being the doctrines of the Gospel, Paul urged them to keep them in mind. In this, they were delivered orally, and in some rare cases the original letter may have been on hand.
Phillip LaSpino www.seekfirstwisdom.com