2nd Thessalonians Chapter 3 (This Is A Detailed Study Verse By Verse Of Chapter 3. You Will Need To Analyze, Synthesize, And Then Summarize To Fit Your Need.) Series

2nd THESSALONIANS - Chapter 3

2nd Thess. 3:1 Finally, brethren, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may have free course, and be glorified, even as it is with you: (King James Version)

3:1 Finally, brothers and sisters, pray continually for us that the word of the Lord will spread rapidly and be honored [triumphantly celebrated and glorified], just as it was with you; (Amplified Version

A. ONCE again Paul comes to the end of a letter with the request that his people should pray for him (cp. 1 Thessalonians S: 25: Romans l5: 30 f.; Philemon 22). There is something deeply moving in the thought of this giant among men asking for the prayers of the Thessalonians who so well recognized their own weakness. Nowhere is Paul's humility more clear to see. (William Barclay pg 216)

B. How much of a Christian teacher’s power, increasing as time goes on, comes from the accumulation of intercession from his spiritual children! (Ellicott)

C. That the word of the Lord may have free course -The idea is, that it might meet with no obstruction, but that it might be carried abroad with the rapidity of a racer out of whose way every hindrance was removed. The gospel would spread rapidly in the earth if all the obstructions which men have put in its way were removed; and that they may be removed should be one of the constant subjects of prayer. (A. B.)

D. If we believe the truth, it changes our lives. We guard the truth and practice it so that we share it with others. God’s Word is alive, we must let it move freely. (W. W. W. pg 203)

E. God’s Word will accomplish God’s work. When the sheep are fed, they will flock together in love, reproduce, follow the shepherd—and they can be “fleeced” and will love it. It is when the sheep are hungry that they start biting each other, becoming sick, and wandering away. (W. W. W. pg 203)

F. Dr. Donald Coggan, Archbishop of Canterbury, has said of Christian pastors, “It is their task to feed the sheep—not entertain the goats. (W. W. W. pg 203)

G. As it is with you - It is evident from this that Paul met with some obstructions in preaching the gospel where he was then laboring. What they were, he mentions in the next verse. He was then at Corinth (see the introduction), and the history in the Acts of the Apostles informs us of the difficulties which he had to encounter. (A. B.)

2nd Thess. 3:2 And that we may be delivered from unreasonable and wicked men: for all men have not faith.

3:2 and [pray] that we will be rescued from perverse and evil men; for not everyone has the faith.

A. Of course, there is always opposition to the Word and work of God. Paul asked that his friends to pray that he might be delivered from unbelieving men who were evil and wicked. Just as the Spirit uses dedicated people to share the Word, Satan uses wicked people to oppose the Word. (W. W. W. pg 203)

B. And wicked men - Men with bad aims and purposes. It is not always true that those who would come under the appellation of what the apostle here calls “unreasonable,” are wicked. They are sometimes well-meaning, but misguided people. But in this case, it seems, they were men of bad character, who were at heart opposed to what was good, as well as inclined to put things out of their place. (A. B.)

2nd Thess. 3:3 But the Lord is faithful, who shall stablish you, and keep you from evil.

3:3 But the Lord is faithful, and He will strengthen you [setting you on a firm foundation] and will protect and guard you from the evil one.

A. But the Lord is faithful - -Though human beings cannot be trusted, God is faithful to his promises and his purposes. He may always be confided in; and when people are unbelieving, perverse, unkind, and disposed to do us wrong, we may go to him, and we shall always find in him one in whom we may confide. (Barnes’ Notes)

B. Who shall stablish you: in the doctrines of the Gospel, so as not to be moved away from them, or be finally and totally seduced by those unreasonable and wicked men; and also in the grace of faith, which though it may be weakened, and there may be a falling from a degree of the steadfastness of it, as to its act and exercise, yet it shall never finally and totally fail, he who is the author will be the finisher of it; and likewise in the profession both of the doctrine and grace of faith, which true believers shall hold fast unto the end; for God will not suffer the righteous to be moved, or to depart from him; he has promised them perseverance, and he is faithful to give it to them. (Gill’s Exposition)