1 Finally, brothers, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may spread rapidly and be glorified, even as also with you; 2 and that we may be delivered from unreasonable and evil men; for not all have faith. 3 But the Lord is faithful, who will establish you, and guard you from the evil one. 4 We have confidence in the Lord concerning you, that you both do and will do the things we command. 5 May the Lord direct your hearts into the love of God, and into the patience of Christ. 6 Now we command you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you withdraw yourselves from every brother who walks in rebellion, and not after the tradition which they received from us. 7 For you know how you ought to imitate us. For we didn't behave ourselves rebelliously among you, 8 neither did we eat bread from anyone's hand without paying for it, but in labor and travail worked night and day, that we might not burden any of you; 9 not because we don't have the right, but to make ourselves an example to you, that you should imitate us. 10 For even when we were with you, we commanded you this: "If anyone will not work, neither let him eat." 11 For we hear of some who walk among you in rebellion, who don't work at all, but are busybodies. 12 Now those who are that way, we command and exhort in the Lord Jesus Christ, that with quietness they work, and eat their own bread. 13 But you, brothers, don't be weary in doing well. 14 If any man doesn't obey our word in this letter, note that man, that you have no company with him, to the end that he may be ashamed. 15 Don't count him as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother. 16 Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times in all ways. The Lord be with you all. 17 The greeting of me, Paul, with my own hand, which is the sign in every letter: this is how I write. 18 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.
Analysis Of The Chapter
2 Thes. 3 is made up of exhortations and directions in regard to the performance of various Christian duties.
(1) the apostle asks for their prayers; 2-Thessalonians 3:1-2. He desires them to pray particularly that the true religion might be prospered, and that, in preaching the gospel, he might be delivered from the opposition of unreasonable and wicked men.
(2) he expresses confidence that God would incline them to do what was right, and prays that he would keep their hearts in his love, and in patient waiting for the Saviour; 2-Thessalonians 3:3-5.
(3) he commands them to remove from their number those who were disorderly, and especially those who were idle, and addresses an earnest exhortation to this class, that they would be diligently engaged in the prosecution of the business of their appropriate callings; 2-Thessalonians 3:6-12.
(4) he exhorts them not to be weary in doing well; 2-Thessalonians 3:13.
(5) he directs that if any one should not obey the commands given in this Epistle, he should be noted, and they were to separate themselves from him. Yet they were not to regard him as an enemy, but to admonish him as a brother; 2-Thessalonians 3:14-15.
(6) the Epistle closes with the usual salutations; 2-Thessalonians 3:16-18.
The apostle recommends himself and his brethren to the prayers of the Church, that their preaching might be successful, and that they might be delivered from wicked men, 2-Thessalonians 3:1, 2-Thessalonians 3:2. Expresses his confidence in God and them, and prays that they may patiently wait for the coming of Christ, 2-Thessalonians 3:3-5. Gives them directions concerning strict discipline in the Church; and shows how he and his fellow laborers had behaved among them, not availing themselves of their own power and authority, 2-Thessalonians 3:6-9. Shows them how to treat disorderly and idle people, and not to get weary in well doing, 2-Thessalonians 3:10-13. Directs them not to associate with those who obey not the orders contained in this epistle, 2-Thessalonians 3:14, 2-Thessalonians 3:15, Prays that they may have increasing peace, 16, And concludes with his salutation and benediction, 2-Thessalonians 3:17, 2-Thessalonians 3:18.
INTRODUCTION TO 2 THESSALONIANS 3
In this chapter the apostle requests of the Thessalonians, that they would pray for him, and other Gospel ministers; and he puts up prayers for them, gives them rules about dealing with disorderly persons, and concludes the epistle with his usual salutation. The request to pray for ministers is in 2-Thessalonians 3:1 the petitions to be made for them are, that their ministry might be succeeded, and their persons preserved and delivered from evil minded men, destitute of faith in Christ, 2-Thessalonians 3:1 and, for the consolation of the saints, observes the faithfulness of God engaged in their behalf to establish them in the faith they had, and to preserve them from everything and person that is evil, 2-Thessalonians 3:3 and expresses his confidence in them with respect to their walk and conversation, 2-Thessalonians 3:4 and then prays for them that their hearts might be directed into the love of God, and patience of Christ, 2-Thessalonians 3:5. And next follows an order to withdraw from every disorderly walker, particularly idle and slothful persons, 2-Thessalonians 3:6 and from such a lazy idle life the apostle dissuades by his own example, who behaved not disorderly, nor ate the bread of others, but wrought with his own hands, though he had a right to a maintenance without it, but did this to set an example to them, 2-Thessalonians 3:7. He puts them in mind of a precept of his when among them, that such who would not work should not eat, 2-Thessalonians 3:10 and the order he now gave, and the precept he reminds them of, were not without reason; seeing there were disorderly idle persons, and busy bodies, among them, whom the apostle exhorts and beseeches, in the name of Christ, to be industrious, and eat their own bread, as the fruit of their labours, 2-Thessalonians 3:11 and as for the other members of the church, he exhorts them to diligence and constancy in well doing, and to mark those that were incorrigible, and have no conversation with them, yet dealing with them not as enemies, but admonishing them as brethren, 2-Thessalonians 3:13. And closes all with prayers, that the Lord would give them peace, and grant his presence to them, and with his usual salutation, written with his own hand, as a token of this being a genuine epistle of his, and by which every epistle of his might be known, 2-Thessalonians 3:16.
(2-Thessalonians 3:1-5) The apostle expresses confidence in the Thessalonians, and prays for them.
(2-Thessalonians 3:6-15) He charges them to withdraw from disorderly walkers, particularly from the lazy and busybodies.
(2-Thessalonians 3:16-18) And concludes with a prayer for them, and a greeting.
SUMMARY.--A Request for Prayer. A Command to Withdraw from the Disorderly. An Admonition to the Idle. The Salutation with his Own Hand.
*More commentary available by clicking individual verses.