What Does 2 Thessalonians 2:15 Mean in the King James?

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

2 Thessalonians 2:15 · KJV

The analysis reads the King James wording.

King James Version The King James Version, first published in 1611. Selah Verse shows the standard text.

THE KEY

What steadies you is something first handed to you.

THE MEANING

You stand now by holding what reaches you through teaching, whether spoken or written. The two channels carry what you have received and keep close.

WHAT THIS UNDOES

The belief that your footing must come only from ideas you generate yourself dissolves here: steadiness comes through holding what has already been taught and handed on.

THE ROOT

παραδόσεις

paradoseis

GROWS FROM

δίδωμι

didōmi

To give; in the compound ⁨παραδίδωμι⁩, to hand over.

The word translated “traditions” names what has been handed over to you. Its root keeps the movement of giving inside the teaching: it reaches you because it has been passed on.

ALSO GROWS

paradidōmi: Hand over; deliver.

παραδίδωμι

This verb is the source of the noun in the verse: the teaching is something handed over.

didōmi: Give; place; set.

δίδωμι

The basic root shows the act of giving beneath the transmission.

κρατεῖτε

krateite

GROWS FROM

κρατ-

krat-

Strength or might; the force to prevail and hold.

“hold” in this verse is krateite. The verb ⁨κρατέω⁩ carries the sense of grasping or holding fast. Beside “stand fast,” it pictures steadiness as both a firm stance and an active grip.

ALSO GROWS

krateō: Grasp; hold fast.

κρατέω

This is the verb used here: the received teaching is something you keep hold of.

kratos: Strength; might; power.

κράτος

The related noun gives “hold fast” its sense of strength and staying power.

THE PATTERN

Received teaching becomes a living chain as it is held, spoken, and handed forward.

Which we have heard and known, and our fathers have told us.

Psalm 78:3 · KJVWhat is heard and known reaches the present through what has been told and carried forward.

For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;

1 Corinthians 15:3 · KJVThe verse joins receiving with delivering, showing teaching moving from one set of hands to another.

And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also.

2 Timothy 2:2 · KJVWhat is heard is entrusted onward, forming a chain that continues through teaching.

THE THREAD

For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;

1 Corinthians 15:3 · KJV

“Delivered” comes from the same Greek root family as “traditions” here. The wording reveals a chain of reception and passing on: what steadies you has first been received, then carried forward.

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