John Calvin Commentary 2 Thessalonians 2:15

"So then, brethren, stand fast, and hold the traditions which ye were taught, whether by word, or by epistle of ours." — 2 Thessalonians 2:15 (ASV)

He deduces this exhortation on good grounds from what precedes, since our steadfastness and power of perseverance rest on nothing else than the assurance of divine grace. When God calls us to salvation, stretching out His hand to us, as it were; when Christ, through the doctrine of the gospel, presents Himself to us to be enjoyed; when the Spirit is given to us as a seal and guarantee of eternal life—even if the heavens should fall, we must, nonetheless, not become disheartened.

Paul, accordingly, wants the Thessalonians to stand, not merely when others continue to stand, but with a more settled stability, so that even if they see almost everyone turning away from the faith and all things are full of confusion, they will, nonetheless, retain their footing. And certainly, the calling of God ought to fortify us against all causes for stumbling in such a manner that not even the entire ruin of the world will shake, much less overthrow, our stability.

Hold fast the institutions. Some restrict this to precepts of external church order, but I do not agree with this, because he is pointing out the way to stand firm. Now, to be equipped with invincible strength is something much greater than external discipline. Therefore, in my opinion, he includes all doctrine under this term, as if he had said that they have ground on which they can stand firm, provided they persevere in sound doctrine, just as they had been instructed by him.

I do not deny that the term παραδόσεις is aptly applied to the ordinances which are appointed by the churches for the purpose of promoting peace and maintaining order, and I admit that it is taken in this sense when human traditions are being discussed (Matthew 15:6). Paul, however, will be found in the next chapter making use of the term tradition as meaning the rule that he had established, and the very meaning of the term is general.

The context, however, as I have said, requires that it be understood here to mean the entirety of that doctrine in which they had been instructed. For the subject being discussed is the most important of all—namely, that their faith may remain secure in the midst of a terrible turmoil within the Church.

Papists, however, act foolishly in inferring from this that their traditions should be observed. Indeed, they reason in this way: that if Paul was permitted to command traditions, it was also permitted for other teachers; and that, if it was a devout act to observe the former, the latter also should no less be observed.

However, even granting them that Paul speaks of precepts belonging to the external government of the Church, I maintain that they were, nonetheless, not devised by him but divinely communicated. For he declares elsewhere (1 Corinthians 7:35) that it was not his intention to ensnare consciences, as it was not lawful either for him or for all the Apostles together.

They act even more ridiculously in aiming to pass off, under this pretext, the abominable cesspool of their own superstitions, as if they were the traditions of Paul. But let us dismiss these trivialities, since we possess Paul’s true meaning.

And we can judge in part from this Epistle what traditions he here recommends, for he says—whether by word, that is, discourse, or by epistle. Now, what do these Epistles contain but pure doctrine, which overturns the whole of the Papacy to its very foundation, and every invention that is contrary to the simplicity of the Gospel?