2 Thessalonians 3 - ESV - Bible Reading / Study Notes

2 Thessalonians 3

Pray for Us

3:1 Finally, brothers,¹ pray for us, that the word of the Lord may speed ahead and be honored,² as happened among you, 2 and that we may be delivered from wicked and evil men. For not all have faith. 3 But the Lord is faithful. He will establish you and guard you against the evil one.³ 4 And we have confidence in the Lord about you, that you are doing and will do the things that we command. 5 May the Lord direct your hearts to the love of God and to the steadfastness of Christ.

Warning Against Idleness

6 Now we command you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you keep away from any brother who is walking in idleness and not in accord with the tradition that you received from us. 7 For you yourselves know how you ought to imitate us, because we were not idle when we were with you, 8 nor did we eat anyone’s bread without paying for it, but with toil and labor we worked night and day, that we might not be a burden to any of you. 9 It was not because we do not have that right, but to give you in ourselves an example to imitate. 10 For even when we were with you, we would give you this command: If anyone is not willing to work, let him not eat. 11 For we hear that some among you walk in idleness, not busy at work, but busybodies. 12 Now such persons we command and encourage in the Lord Jesus Christ to do their work quietly and to earn their own living.⁴

13 As for you, brothers, do not grow weary in doing good. 14 If anyone does not obey what we say in this letter, take note of that person, and have nothing to do with him, that he may be ashamed. 15 Do not regard him as an enemy, but warn him as a brother.

Benediction

16 Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times in every way. The Lord be with you all.

17 I, Paul, write this greeting with my own hand. This is the sign of genuineness in every letter of mine; it is the way I write. 18 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all.

Footnotes

[1] 3:1 Or brothers and sisters; also verses 6, 13
[2] 3:1 Or glorified
[3] 3:3 Or evil
[4] 3:12 Greek to eat their own bread

Commentary

v1-2: As we proclaim the message of God, we encounter some who oppose the message;

unbelief affects the mind, and some are unreasonable;
unbelief affects the actions, and some are wicked.

Not all have faith; universalism (which clams that all will be saved) is not true. And when we lack faith, we begin to live like unbelievers.

It is against this background that Paul requests prayer, that there might be fruit for the gospel. He looks for length, for rapid spread; and for width, that the word of God be honoured.

v3: In the environment of unbelief, we look to the Lord to establish us in the true faith, and to guard us from unbelief, and its influence.

v4: Our confidence is in the Lord, 1 Thess 4.9-10. This motivates us to press on; that the Thessalonians "will continue" in what Paul commanded.

v5: Therefore we pray to the Lord that we might know love and perseverance, from God.

v6: The discipline of believers; every brother must be subject to God's standards. An individual living an idle or disorderly life must be disciplined, see also v14.

This command is preceded with, "in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ," indicating true authority. This is not some whim of Paul's.

v7-9: Paul's example; he could have insisted on receiving material provision, but he chose not to use that authority (as in 1 Cor 9.1-18). He thus provided an example for the people in how to live.

v10-11: Some are lazy and disorderly, see also 1 Thess 5.14. There may have been an unruly element in the church; these words provide a warning to such.

v12: The command is clear; repent, and work in quietness.

v13: For all, persist in doing right.

v14-15: Some may not heed the warning; for such there is firm discipline, but never the loss of brotherly affection.

v16: The closing prayer for peace and the presence of God.

v17: Paul's personal words, see 2.2.

v18: Prayer for grace.