So then, brothers, stand firm, and hold the traditions which you were taught by us, whether by word, or by letter.
and hold the traditions which ye have been taught: The word "hold" (krateo) means "to hold fast...not to discard or let go; to keep carefully and faithfully" (Thayer 359-1-2902). The word "traditions" (paradosis) means "a giving over which is done by word of mouth or in writing...what is delivered, the substance of the teaching" (Thayer 481-2-3862). We need to be careful to understand and accept that today we use the word "tradition" to indicate our custom or perhaps our manmade ways of doing things; however, in the scriptures, especially in the passage under consideration, the word "tradition" is not used in that way; it is used to convey precepts received from the fathers, whether handed down in the Old Testament books or orally. These precepts were to be accepted with equal force and reverence. The common use of the word "tradition" is used some in the New Testament (Mark 7:8; Colossians 2:8) but let us not misunderstand its usages in this passage and others.