Description
If we just skim over 2 Thessalonians 2:15, we risk missing a point that is quite offensive to our modern way of thinking… (visit YouTube for more)
Transcript
Sometimes it’s amazing how absolutely relevant and immediately applicable, the verses are in the Bible. Look at 2 Thessalonians 2, verse 15. 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.
What Paul is saying here is that he has laid down traditions, he has laid down patterns of behaviour, of thinking, that are to be followed and held to firmly. And we live in an age where we are being taught by the church sometimes, and certainly by society, that the things we used to believe aren’t relevant anymore. There are views that we need to change.
Now, absolutely, in some cases where we have been behaving sinfully towards others, those things need to change, but we must hold to the traditions that we have been taught by the Apostles and the Prophets, by the Bible, by good Bible teachers. We do things because that’s the way we’ve always done them. And in some cases, it’s appropriate for us not to question that. Because we know that God knows best. So even if our modern thinking tells us that something in the Bible must be wrong, or must be outdated, or no longer applies to us, we must stop.
Paul is saying, hold to the traditions, hold to the teaching that he’s given. And that is extremely relevant. It is challenging, But very relevant. We need to interpret scripture correctly, we do, and our understanding of how to interpret scripture in some cases is improving, but in other cases it’s getting worse.
Lord God, please illuminate your scripture to us by the power of the Holy Spirit speaking to us so that we understand the traditions, the teachings, to which we must continue to hold in obedience and love to you, our God, Amen.
