What is meant by “word of mouth” in II Thessalonians 2:15?
Question:
In II Thessalonians 2:15, Paul states that the brethren must "stand firm and hold fast to the traditions" that they were taught, under the criteria that they were either given by "word of mouth" or by the Apostles. I'm having some trouble trying to understand what "word of mouth" means, because if we're taking that as what a Christian from one congregation would say to another congregation, then that would bring on the risk of that Christian either misinterpreting what was taught to him at that other congregation and accidentally causing another congregation to believe in a false teaching, or, a self-serving brother purposefully leading a congregation away from the truth. However, "of mouth" is in italics, which indicates that it was inserted into the NASB 1995 translation by the translators. If we were to take it as just simply "word", then an argument can be made that this might simply be referring to the word spoken directly (in person) by either Jesus or the Apostles.
Am I misunderstanding the text?
Answer:
"So then, brethren, stand firm and hold to the traditions which you were taught, whether by word of mouth or by letter from us" (II Thessalonians 2:15).
What is missed is that "from us" applies to both "by word of mouth" and "by letter." Paul is not saying to accept anything anyone tells you. He is reminding the Thessalonians to continue in the traditions that Paul taught them in person (by word of mouth) or through one of his letters.
Earlier in this discussion, Paul was concerned that the Thessalonians might be led astray. "Now we request you, brethren, with regard to the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to Him, that you not be quickly shaken from your composure or be disturbed either by a spirit or a message or a letter as if from us, to the effect that the day of the Lord has come" (II Thessalonians 2:1-2). The false teachers were attempting to bolster their claims by claiming they had a revelation (by a spirit), or that Paul told them something different from what the Thessalonians remembered (by a message), or that Paul wrote to them something different (by a letter). Their claims were false because God doesn't deliver contradictory messages. This is how Moses told Israel to spot a false prophet. "If a prophet or a dreamer of dreams arises among you and gives you a sign or a wonder, and the sign or the wonder comes true, concerning which he spoke to you, saying, 'Let us go after other gods (whom you have not known) and let us serve them,' you shall not listen to the words of that prophet or that dreamer of dreams; for the LORD your God is testing you to find out if you love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul. You shall follow the LORD your God and fear Him; and you shall keep His commandments, listen to His voice, serve Him, and cling to Him. But that prophet or that dreamer of dreams shall be put to death, because he has counseled rebellion against the LORD your God who brought you from the land of Egypt and redeemed you from the house of slavery, to seduce you from the way in which the LORD your God commanded you to walk. So you shall purge the evil from among you" (Deuteronomy 13:1-5). God's message is consistent because God cannot lie. If you accept that the original message is from God, then any contradictory message cannot be from God.
This is why Paul told the Thessalonians to stand firm in the things they had been taught, regardless of how the message was originally delivered to them. "Now we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you keep away from every brother who leads an unruly life and not according to the tradition which you received from us. For you yourselves know how you ought to follow our example, because we did not act in an undisciplined manner among you" (II Thessalonians 3:6).
Paul told the Corinthians the same thing. "Now I praise you because you remember me in everything and hold firmly to the traditions, just as I delivered them to you" (I Corinthians 11:2).
