There are only three verses in the Bible where "traditions" are a positive thing.
2 Thessalonians 2:15
Therefore, brethren, stand fast and hold the traditions (παραδοσεις) which you were taught, whether by word or our epistle.
2 Thessalonians 3:6
But we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you withdraw from every brother who walks disorderly and not according to the tradition (παραδοσιν) which he received from us.
1 Corinthians 11:2
Now I praise you, brethren, that you remember me in all things and keep the traditions (παραδοσεις) just as I delivered them to you.
Today, 2026/05/04, I realized the significance of these verses in this order. It is generally believed that Paul's letters to the Thessalonians were written before first Corinthians. So the order of these three statements of Paul are a meaningful progression:
First the admonition to
- "stand fast and hold the traditions which you were taught ..."
Then a very strong command to
- "withdraw from every brother who walks ... not according to the tradition which he received from us."
And finally, praise to the Corinthian church
- "that you remember me in all things and keep the traditions just as I delivered them to you."
Think of it;
1) Instruction,
2) Strong correction,
and then
3) Praise to Corinth!?! for keeping it!
Now it seems that I have always heard all my life about "how bad the Corinthian church was." But here it is the church that Paul praised for keeping the traditions!
What???
Yes, they did have significant problems, but that is truly a blessing because Paul says things in this letter to the Corinthians that you will not find anywhere else in the entire Bible. And these things have to do with what they actually did in their meeting, that is, how they were "keeping the traditions" which Paul praised them for!
Notice at the very beginning of first Corinthians, Paul addresses who he is writing to, in verse 2 he says:
2 To the church of God which is at Corinth, to those who are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all who in every place call on the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours:
This letter, these instructions are to those "called to be saints, with all who in every place call on the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours"
"All ... in every place"
In this letter he emphasizes that there is only one body in chapters 6, 10 and 12 and he elaborates on the body having many different members in chapter 12.
Then he talks about the different members having differing gifts from the Holy Spirit, and how all are necessary, also in chapter 12. And at the end of chapter 12, the last verse, he shows "a more excellent way"; the Love chapter, chapter 13, a description of "agapa" love. Then in chapter 14 he gets down to the details of how to meet.
Here we see the outworking of the way they met, these are the "traditions" that they "were keeping," which he praised them for keeping, "just as I delivered them to you":
Pursue love, and desire spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy.
Notice that the word gifts in verse 14:1 is in italics, which means it is not in the Greek, but is supplied by the translators. But in the Greek for chapter 14 the word "gift" is not found at all.
So chapter 12 is all about the gifts of the Holy Spirit, given to God's "children." We give gifts to our children when they are young, and it is common for children to hit each other with their toys, given by their parents. This was happening with the spiritual gifts in Corinth. But after maturing into "the more excellent way", in Chapter 13, we come to spiritual functions in chapter 14 used properly, not to hurt each other. Not as "toys" to play with, but spiritual functions for the many body parts to function as a complete body.
Now finally in chapter 14 verses 26-33 we have a description in detail, that we do not find anywhere else in the Bible!
26 How is it then, brethren? Whenever you come together, each of you has a psalm, has a teaching, has a tongue, has a revelation, has an interpretation. Let all things be done for edification. 27 If anyone speaks in a tongue, let there be two or at the most three, each in turn, and let one interpret. 28 But if there is no interpreter, let him keep silent in church, and let him speak to himself and to God. 29 Let two or three prophets speak, and let the others judge. 30 But if anything is revealed to another who sits by, let the first keep silent. 31 For you can all prophesy one by one, that all may learn and all may be encouraged. 32 And the spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets. 33 For God is not the author of confusion but of peace, as in all the churches of the saints.
And notice that in verse 33 Paul adds "as in all the churches of the saints." So these instructions are applicable to "all the churches"!
Where do you see that today?