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2 Thessalonians Chapter 3:1–17 Pray one for another 3.1. Finally, pray for us, brothers and sisters, that the Lord's message may spread quickly and be honored as in fact it was among you, Paul begins to sum up his letter by asking the Thessalonian Christians to pray for him Silas and Timothy. This shows the tremendous importance that Paul placed on God's people praying for one another (James 5: 16). He asks specifically that they pray that the Gospel message will continue to rapidly spread and triumph over every obstacle wherever it goes. The Lord Jesus Christ asked his disciples to pray that there would laborers to go into world to preach the Gospel message (Luke 10:2). Paul asks the Thessalonian church to pray also that the Word will be fruitful and be glorified by many souls coming to accept Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior just as they had (Acts 13: 48).
3.2. and that we may be delivered from perverse and evil people. For not all have faith. He further asks them to pray that they be delivered from those who seek to hinder the progress of the Gospel by incited people against it and those who proclaim it (Rom 15:30–31). It is a fact that everybody will not except the gospel message or embrace the Christian faith or live by it.
3.3. But the Lord is faithful, and he will strengthen you and protect you from the evil one. However, to those who have believed the Lord Jesus Christ who has saved them is faithful (1 Cor 1: 9). He will give spiritual strength and guard them from evil and the snares of Satan (John 17: 15; Jude 24).
3.4. And we are confident about you in the Lord that you are both doing — and will do — what we are commanding. Paul has complete confidence and trust in the Lord that these believers will continue to do the things that they have been instructed in concerning Christ. This word confidence in the original means to be convinced to have an inward certainty (Philippians 1:6).
3.5. Now may the Lord direct your hearts toward the love of God and the endurance of Christ.
His prayer is that the Lord will lead them into a deeper understanding and realization of His love and of having this love for one another and for all men (John 13:34, 1 Thess 3:12, Deut 13:3). Also that by this love and the love that they have for Christ they will endure suffering and with patience wait for His return.
Unruly and idle Brethren 3.6. But we command you, brothers and sisters, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, to keep away from any brother who lives an undisciplined life and not according to the tradition they received from us Paul now turns to the important matter on how to handle those in the church who do not walk Christian instructions and teachings that they have received and who are slack in according to the performing their duty and who live unruly lives. In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by His authority he states that they should withdraw, keep away from such people (Rom 16:17, 1 Tim 6:3–5).
3.7. For you know yourselves how you must imitate us, because we did not behave without discipline among you, None of the Christians at Thessalonica were ignorant of how they should behave as believers for Paul and his companions were an example to them for they were not idle while they were with preaching and teaching the Word of God to them (1 Cor 11:1, 1 Thess 2:10). 3.8–9. and we did not eat anyone's food without paying. Instead, in toil and drudgery we worked night and day in order not to burden any of you. It was not because we do not have that right, but to give ourselves as an example for you to imitate. While they worked amongst the Thessalonians proclaiming the Gospel and teaching the Word of God they worked with their hands in order to provide their own food and shelter so as not to be a burden to anyone, Paul was a tentmaker by trade. As a minister of Christ Paul had the right to be financially supported by the churches (1 Cor 9:4–14). The reason he did not use this right was in order to be an example for them to follow. When taking his last farewell from the elders of the church at Ephesus Paul could say to them "I have coveted no one's silver or gold or apparel.” “Yes, you yourselves know that these hands have provided for my necessities, and for those who were with me” (Acts 20:33–34).
3.10. For even when we were with you, we used to give you this command: "If anyone is not willing to work, neither should he eat." While Paul was still with them it would appear that there were those in the church who were unwilling to work. So he gave the charge that if anyone will not work that they should not let them partake of the food that was provided by believers to relieve those who were in need among them. On considering these people to whom Paul refers it would seem that they were those who thought that now they had become Christians there was no need for them to work but they were quick enough to take the benefits that the church provided through the tithes and offerings of other members.
3.11. For we hear that some among you are living an undisciplined life, not doing their own work but meddling in the work of others. In spite of his command there were those who were still living a life of idleness and of neglectful their Christian duty. They were however busy poking their noses into other people's affairs and making a nuisance
of themselves. The JFB commentary puts it this way “Doing none of their own business, yet overdoing in the business of others.”
3.12. Now such people we command and urge in the Lord Jesus Christ to work quietly and so provide their own food to eat. To such people he gives a charge and an exhortation through the Lord Jesus Christ that they should repent of their unruly lives and settle down to honest work in order to provide themselves with food and such other things that they needed.
Faithful Obedience 3.13. But you, brothers and sisters, do not grow weary in doing what is right. The final exhortation for the faithful workers in the church is that they should not be discouraged, fainthearted or get weary of doing that which is right (Gal 6:9). They should continue on being faithful in obedience to the truth doing the good works that they were called to do (Eph. 2:10).
3.14. But if anyone does not obey our message through this letter, take note of him and do not associate closely with him, so that he may be ashamed. For those in the church who refuse to obey the word given in this letter they are to mark that person and not keep company with him/her (Romans 16:17). The purpose of this is twofold, firstly that it will not give the impression that the church approves of their conduct and secondly that the good conduct of those who are obedient should make them ashamed of their behavior.
3.15. Yet do not regard him as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother. He makes it clear however, that such persons should not be regarded as an enemy but be rebuked as a brother in Christ (James 5:19–20).
Personal Benediction 3.16. Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times and in every way. The Lord be with you all. In his closing prayer Paul prays that the Lord Jesus Christ who is the ‘Prince of Peace’ and the source of true peace may give them this peace at all times in whatever circumstances and conditions they may find themselves. Also that they may know the continual abiding presence of the Lord.
3.17. I, Paul, write this greeting with my own hand, which is how I write in every letter. This letter was dictated by Paul and written by someone else probable Silas or Timothy however, Paul writes this closing greeting and benediction in his own handwriting.
3.18. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. In all his letters Paul usual closed with a benediction similar to this one. What greater blessing can anyone pronounce than that the grace, spiritual blessing and favor of the Lord Jesus Christ be with you.
© Derek Williams & Mathew Bartlett 2016 Bible Studies Online UK www.biblestudiesonline.org.uk You may copy, print or distribute our studies freely in any form, just so long as you make no charges. Sign up today for our FREE monthly Bible study magazine “Living Word” Scriptures taken from the NET Bible www.bible.org