Summary of Paul’s Message from Paul Himself

Stumbled across this today while studying something else.

Kind of jumped out at me for some reason.

Read on…

Tradition! (Imagine Fiddler on the roof)

It amazes me how little I know about God’s workings.

I read and study and invariably I come across some extra information that sheds additional light on God’s amazing plan.
For example, today I was reading and I came across the “IVP Bible Background Commentary”.  I was studying 2 Thessalonians and I ran across 2 Thessalonians 2:15:

“So then, brethren, stand firm and hold to the traditions which you were taught, whether by word of mouth or by letter from us.”

Paul is encouraging the church (Thessalonica then, us now) to stand firm!  Hold to the traditions we are taught, by word of mouth or by letter.

So I asked myself, what are the traditions? What did Paul mean by this?  Did he mean sacraments? Did he mean communion? What’s he getting at here?

I came across this note in the “IVP Bible Background Commentary” that says:

“Pharisaic Judaism emphasized the careful passing on of traditions from earlier teachers. Paul passed on to the Thessalonian believers the teachings of Jesus, many of which he has alluded to in this chapter. “
-from IVP Bible Background Commentary

I knew that the Pharisees passed down their traditions.  And I knew Paul was a former Pharisee but I had never considered the idea that God used one of the key Pharisaic practices to help build the early Christian church.