Note 4 at 2 Th. 2:15: Paul is now admonishing the Christians to be not quickly shaken (stand fast), and to hold, that is, retain and grasp firmly, the traditions that they were taught. The word "traditions" is the Greek noun PARADOSIS, and literally means "to use strength, i.e. seize or retain" (Strong). In light of Paul's strong words in verses 11-12, it is especially important to hold on to the truth they had been taught.

Note 5 at 2 Th. 2:15: The "tradition" that Paul is speaking of here is the gospel itself that had been handed down to the Thessalonian believers. Paul states here that the traditions may have been oral (by word), or written (that is, by his epistle).

W.E. Vine states that "at the outset, and for twenty years thereafter, there is no evidence that anything was committed to writing whether by the apostles or by their colleagues, but before the last of the apostles had passed away each book of the New Testament had been written and was in circulationamong the churches" (W.E. Vine-1 & 2 Thessalonians, p. 200).