2:6, 7 A good example of Paul’s pastoral style, in which the “ought” of the Christian life builds upon the “is” of having received the gift of life in Christ. Although Paul sometimes describes the good news of Jesus Christ as a tradition that can be received, his use of “tradition” does not refer to human custom or historical opinion but to the handing over of a divine message from God (1 Cor. 11:2; 2 Thess. 3:6). Because the Colossians will continue on the basis of what they have already come to know of Christ, their further obedience will be grounded in thankfulness (3:17) rather than in frustrated, anxious guilt (3:1 note).