NOTES for Th2 2:15

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¹⁵Therefore, brethren, stand fast, and hold the traditions which ye have been taught, whether by word, or our epistle.

The apostle Paul calls his spiritual children to faithfulness. To "stand" means not to "sit" and not to "lie down," that is, not to be relaxed, not to flee from that spiritual battle which Christian life in this world proves to be.

Of course, this is not easy, but there is something that can strengthen us in such "standing." Paul calls this spiritual weapon "tradition," that is, what has been handed on to us by someone who received it from the Source of spiritual strength, from Christ Himself. We, in turn, having received this weapon through instruction, can become able to pass it on further to other people who need strengthening.

Let us note that Paul speaks of two ways of instruction: through the spoken word and through the written word. By this he indicates that important for us are both Revelation fixed in written form, Holy Scripture, and the experience accumulated by the Church in interpreting Scripture and preaching the Word of God, Holy Tradition. Taken together, they become the spiritual weapon that strengthens us in "standing."

Let us note this detail for ourselves: "taken"! A weapon is useless if it has not been taken; therefore in the apostle Paul's call to faithfulness there are these words: "hold to the traditions."

Other notes

For Th2 2:13-3:5

¹³But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth:

¹⁴Whereunto he called you by our gospel, to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.

¹⁵Therefore, brethren, stand fast, and hold the traditions which ye have been taught, whether by word, or our epistle.

¹⁶Now our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God, even our Father, which hath loved us, and hath given us everlasting consolation and good hope through grace,

¹⁷Comfort your hearts, and stablish you in every good word and work.

¹Finally, brethren, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may have free course, and be glorified, even as it is with you:

²And that we may be delivered from unreasonable and wicked men: for all men have not faith.

³But the Lord is faithful, who shall stablish you, and keep you from evil.

⁴And we have confidence in the Lord touching you, that ye both do and will do the things which we command you.

⁵And the Lord direct your hearts into the love of God, and into the patient waiting for Christ.

“Keep away from disorderly and wicked people.” Lack of discipline is a terrible enemy of our faith... Read more

“Keep away from disorderly and wicked people.” Lack of discipline is a terrible enemy of our faith. Indiscipline, laxity, and disorder always become the first signs that not everything is well in the house. Doubt and rejection of faith have not yet found expression in words, but disorder is already present, along with the abandonment of daily prayer and the everyday labor of putting one's inner house in order so as to receive Christ in one's heart. Of course, the Lord is always with us, and our prayerful bond with Him need never be interrupted. But all too often such freedom becomes the cause of having no life of prayer at all. “I can pray at any time” turns into “I never have to pray.” Here, human inconstancy can be overcome not by moods and emotions, but by an iron discipline of daily prayer.

For Th2 2:13-3:5

¹³But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth:

¹⁴Whereunto he called you by our gospel, to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.

¹⁵Therefore, brethren, stand fast, and hold the traditions which ye have been taught, whether by word, or our epistle.

¹⁶Now our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God, even our Father, which hath loved us, and hath given us everlasting consolation and good hope through grace,

¹⁷Comfort your hearts, and stablish you in every good word and work.

¹Finally, brethren, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may have free course, and be glorified, even as it is with you:

²And that we may be delivered from unreasonable and wicked men: for all men have not faith.

³But the Lord is faithful, who shall stablish you, and keep you from evil.

⁴And we have confidence in the Lord touching you, that ye both do and will do the things which we command you.

⁵And the Lord direct your hearts into the love of God, and into the patient waiting for Christ.

From the theme of the end of time, Paul turns to the theme of election. At first glance it may appear that... Read more

From the theme of the end of time, Paul turns to the theme of election (13-14). At first glance it may appear that one has nothing to do with the other. Yet on closer examination it becomes clear that this is not so. Speaking of "election for salvation," the apostle undoubtedly follows the view of the Messiah and the people of God commonly accepted in his day in rabbinic circles, a view that held that both the Messiah and the people were conceived by God even before the creation of the world. Of course, in this case the point is not the fate of specific people, which God by no means predetermines, leaving human beings freedom of choice, but only the very fact of the existence of the people of God, destined to appear in the world and play their role in God's design. Paul transfers this idea to the Church, in which he sees the new people of God. Turning to Christ and being joined to the Kingdom, the one who is joined becomes part of the people of God, conceived before the creation of the world, and a participant in the plan that has existed from eternity. But the coming of the Kingdom of God is also part of this plan, whose realization entered a new, decisive stage with the Savior's coming into the world.

The spread of the "word," that is, of witness, is nothing other than the entrance of the Kingdom into the world, because it is through witness that those seeking new life are joined to it. It is no accident that the apostle speaks of the importance of the word being spread and "glorified," and also of the need to be delivered from those who preach the Kingdom insincerely (1-2). In mentioning "glorification," Paul undoubtedly has in mind the presence of God revealed to Moses during the Sinai theophany (Exod 3:1-6) and accompanying the people throughout their history, which later came to be called "the glory of God" or "the glory of Yahweh" (in the Synodal translation, "the glory of the Lord").

Being joined to the Kingdom naturally also implied abiding in the presence of God, that sanctification of the faithful and, through them, of the whole world which previously, before Christ's coming into the world, was possible only in part, but has now become possible in all its fullness. This is God's plan, in which everyone joined to the life of the Kingdom becomes a participant. It is not surprising that the history of the Kingdom and its becoming in our world, transformed but not yet transformed to the end, the spiritual path of each faithful person, and the design of God that determines both, are united into one whole. The Kingdom does not belong to God alone. He shares it with everyone who, in turn, is ready to share his life with Him.

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