2 Thessalonians 2:15
Therefore, brethren, stand fast, and hold the traditions which ye have been taught, whether by word, or our epistle. Therefore, brethren, stand fast, and hold the traditions which ye have been taught, whether by word, or our epistle.
Therefore the call to the brethren is to stand firm and hold fast the traditions taught by Paul and the apostles, whether conveyed orally by spoken word or in written form by epistle or letter. That firm holding applies equally to instruction received by direct speech and to instruction received by letter, with no distinction in authority between the spoken and the written teaching.
Those so addressed are brethren beloved of the Lord, chosen from the beginning to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth. They are called by the gospel to the obtaining of the glory of Christ, even the glory of the Lord Jesus Christ. This steadfastness belongs together with that sanctifying work of the Spirit, with belief in the truth, and with the hope and comfort given through grace.
The command stands amid the working of lawlessness, deception, and rejection of the truth described in the surrounding verses. In the setting of last-day dangers and deception it supports remaining faithful to the truth and its sanctifying influence. It is a present command for the last great crisis when the working of the man of sin is revealed.
In that crisis the Wicked is revealed after working with all power and signs and lying wonders and with all deceivableness of unrighteousness. Those who received not the love of the truth that they might be saved are sent strong delusion to believe a lie. They are damned for believing not the truth but having pleasure in unrighteousness, while he will be consumed with the spirit of Christ's mouth and destroyed with the brightness of His coming.
Standing fast means the strong, loving, working faith of the human agent uniting with divinity in partnership as laborers together with God. It means taking Christ's yoke and learning of Him. Holding fast does not mean giving up duties or waiting idly for deliverance, but continuing faithfully in the work God has given and sharing the truth received.
The work to hold to is seeking and saving that which is lost and calling sinners to repentance. It refuses to be idle or indifferent while souls perish. It searches for truth as for hidden treasure and knows at peril of the soul the conditions of enlistment in the Lord's army.
The following prayer asks the Lord Jesus Christ Himself and God the Father, who love believers and give everlasting consolation and good hope through grace, to comfort their hearts. That same divine love and grace establishes and strengthens them in every good word and work, for every good word and deed. Christ and God the Father are thus the source of everlasting comfort and good hope through grace for those who stand fast.