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)
C. And keep you from evil: from the evil of sin; not from the being and commission of it entirely, which is not to be expected in this life; but from the dominion of it, at least from its reigning unto death, and from the damning power of it: and also from that evil one Satan; from his snares and temptations, so as to be entangled and overcome by them; for God is faithful, who will not suffer his to be tempted beyond their strength, but will enable them to bear it, and make way for their escape, and deliver out of it; and likewise from evil men, unreasonable and wicked men, so as not to be drawn aside by them, by their principles and practices, by their frowns or flatteries. (Gill’s Exposition)
2nd Thess. 3:4 And we have confidence in the Lord touching you, that ye both do and will do the things which we command you.
3:4 We have confidence in the Lord concerning you, that you are doing and will continue to do the things [which] we command.
A. “Confidence” = agree, assure, believe, obey, persuade, trust, yield. (E-Sword Greek)
B. And we have confidence in the Lord - Not primarily in you, for you have hearts like others, but in the Lord. It is remarkable that when Paul expresses the utmost confidence in Christians that they will live and act as becomes their profession, his reliance is not on anything in themselves, but wholly on the faithfulness of God. He must be a stranger to the human heart who puts much confidence in it even in its best state; (Albert Barnes)
C. And we have confidence in the Lord. The apostle confidently expects the obedience of the Thessalonians, but his confidence is not fixed on them—on their own efforts, endeavors, and resolutions—but on the Lord, namely, Christ; on his grace and strength communicated to and perfected in weakness. The obedience of the Thessalonians flowed from the grace of Christ; it was in consequence of the communication of the influences of his Spirit that they were enabled to make progress and to persevere in the Christian life. (Pulpit Comm.)
D. It is not enough that the pastor or church officers alone share the Word; each Christian must be a part of this vital ministry. The word “command” means “a military order passed down from a superior officer.” Christ is the Captain of our salvation. In a battle, it is not enough for only the officers fight; every man must do his duty. This is also true in the work of the local church. What if an army were run with the same lack of obedience, order, and discipline that we often see in the local church? (W. W. W. pg 204)
2nd Thess. 3:5 And the Lord direct your hearts into the love of God, and into the patient waiting for Christ.
3:5 May the Lord direct your hearts into the love of God and into the steadfastness and patience of Christ.
A. Direct your hearts; as the heart is the fountain of Christian life—the center of the will. (Pulpit)
B. Waiting for Christ - He is coming for us. This has been the theme of Paul’s two Letters to the Thessalonians, and he related this truth to every day practical living. As God’s soldiers, we must be sharing the Word, for He will one day return to ask for an accounting of our lives. (W. W. W. pg 204)
C. (Overview of vs. 1-5)There are four great responsibilities for us to fulfill: believe the truth, guard the truth, practice the truth, share the truth. (W. W. W. pg 204)
2nd Thess. 3:6 Now we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye withdraw yourselves from every brother that walketh disorderly, and not after the tradition which he received of us.
3:6 Now we command you, believers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ and by His authority, that you withdraw and keep away from every brother or sister who leads an undisciplined life and does not live in accordance with the tradition and teaching that you have received from us.
A. When problems are not solved, they grow and become worse. A sliver left in the finger can become infected and cause a toxic condition so serious that surgery may become necessary. If you tell your doctor that you stepped on a rusty nail, he will immediately give tetanus shot, even though the wound may appear insignificant to you. Church problems are like physical problems: if left unsolved, they grow and become worse, and they infect more people. The local church is a body; and what germs are to the physical body, sin is to the spiritual body. When Paul wrote his first letter to the Thessalonican church, he warmed the idle busybodies to get to work (1 Thes. 4:11). He admonished the church leaders to "warn them that are unruly" (1 Thes. 5:14). The word unruly means "a soldier out of rank." Apparently these troublemakers did not repent, because Paul devoted the rest of his second letter to this problem. What was the problem? Some members of the assembly had misinterpreted Paul's teachings about the return of Christ, left their jobs, and were Iiving off the generosity of the church. They were idle while others were
working. Yet they expected the church to support them. (W. W. W. pg 204)
B. The apostle proceeds to a discourse of another kind, which is about their carriage to disorderly members in the church. And having before declared his confidence, 2 Thessalonians 3:4, that they did and would do the things he commanded them, he now tells them what he commands; and because either it is a matter of great importance, or that which they would be backward in, he therefore speaks with great vehemence. When he spake in the former Epistle, 1 Thessalonians 5:14, of warning the unruly, he then spake with greater mildness: (Matt Poole’s)
C. Here Paul is dealing, as he had to deal in the previous letter, with the situation produced by those who took the wrong attitude to the Second Coming. There were those in Thessalonica who had given up their work and had abandoned the routine claims of every day to wait about in excited idleness for Christ to come. Paul uses a vivid word to describe them. Twice he uses the adverb ataktos and once the verb ataktein. The word means to play truant. It occurs, for instance, in the papyri, in an apprentice's contract in which the father agrees that his son must make good any days on which he plays truant. The Thessalonians in their excited idleness were truants from work. (W. B. pg 217)
D. That ye withdraw yourselves from every brother-- or avoid, as the word signifies, and is so rendered, 2 Corinthians 8:20. The word is used also, Galatians 2:12, of Peter’s withdrawing himself from eating with the Gentiles; and rendered drawing back, Hebrews 10:38, alluding, as some think, there to a soldier that draws back from the battle; but here in the text to a mariner that steers his ship from the rocks; and so it implies the danger of not withdrawing, which may be the reason of the apostle’s so solemn command about it. And it is not from a heathen man, but a brother, one that is of the church; and it is every brother, let him be rich or poor, high or low, &c.; as he writes to the Corinthians, 1 Corinthians 5:11: If any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, covetous, &c.; with such an one no not to eat; alluding to the custom of the Jews, who would not eat with the Gentiles; . (Matt Pooles’)
E. that walketh disorderly; literally, out of the ranks (see 1Th_5:14). (Pulpit Comm.)
F. Paul had used this powerful word command in his first Thessalonian letter (1 Thes. 4:2, 11): and we met it earlier in this chapter (2 Thes. 3:4). He used it again in 2 Thessalonians 3:10, 12. The word means "a military order handed down from a superior officer." Paul considered the church to be like an army; and if the army does not obey the orders, there can be no order. Unfortunately, some of the saints were "out of rank" (unruly' in 1 Thes. 5:14, and "disorderly” in 2 Thes 3:6-7 and 11). (W. W. W. pg 205)
G. Paul commands that those who disregard his instructions must be dealt with by the community. But they are to be dealt with not as enemies but as brothers. The discipline given by man who contemptuously looks down upon the sinner and speaks to hurt may terrify and wound but it seldom amends. It is more likely to produce resentment than reformation. When Christian discipline is necessary it is to be given as by a brother to a brother, not in anger, still less in contempt but always in love. (W. B. pg 219)
H. And not after the tradition; or, the instructions; not the example of the apostle, which is afterwards mentioned, but the instructions which he orally delivered when at Thessalonica, and subsequently confirmed by the Epistle which he had written to them (see 2Th_2:15) (Pulpit Comm.)
2nd Thess. 3:7 For yourselves know how ye ought to follow us: for we behaved not ourselves disorderly among you;
3:7 For you yourselves know how you ought to follow our example, because we did not act in an undisciplined or inappropriate manner when we were with you [we were never idle or lazy, nor did we avoid our duties],
A. For yourselves know; without it being necessary for me to say anything about the matter; ye yourselves are witnesses. (Pulpit Comm.)
B. To follow us.—The word, of course, means “to imitate”; and the rather compressed expression seems to stand for something fuller, such as, “Yourselves know how you ought to live, for you have but to imitate us: you recollect not only a tradition, but an example.” This is better than (with St. Chrysostom) to make the whole “tradition” consist of example without precept, however such an interpretation might simplify the logic. (Ellicott Comm.)
C. We behaved not ourselves disorderly among you, which he speaks not in a way of self-commendation, but for their imitation; and he useth here the same word to express his own practice which he did in theirs, being properly a military word, as was said before. He went before them as it captain before the army, and taught them order by his own example; for in the negative the positive is included. (Matt Poole’s Comm.)
2nd Thess. 3:8 Neither did we eat any man's bread for nought; but wrought with labor and travail night and day, that we might not be chargeable to any of you:
3:8 nor did we eat anyone’s bread without paying for it, but with labor and hardship we worked night and day [to pay our own way] so that we would not be a financial burden on any of you [for our support];
A. To bring them to their senses Paul quotes his own example All his life he was a man who worked with his hands. The Jew glorified work. "He who does not teach his son a trade,'" they said, "teaches him to steal." Paul was a trained Rabbi: but the Jewish law laid it down that a Rabbi must take no pay for teaching. He must have a trade and must satisfy his daily needs with the work of his hands. So we find Rabbis who were bakers. barbers, carpenters, masons and who followed all kinds of trades. The Jews believed in the dignity of honest toil: and they were sure that a scholar lost something when he became so academic and so withdrawn from life that he forgot how to work with his hands. (W. B. pg 218)
B. In this we have the example of Jesus himself. He was the carpenter of Nazareth and legend has it that he made the best ox-yokes in all Palestine and that men came from all over the country to buy them. (W. B. pg 218)
2nd Thess. 3:9 Not because we have not power, but to make ourselves an ensample unto you to follow us.
3:9 not because we do not have a right to such support, but [we provided our own financial support] to offer ourselves as a model for you, so that you would follow our example.
A. As an apostle, Paul had the right to expect financial support; but he deliberately gave up this right that he might be an example to the young believers (see 1 Cor. 9:6-14). In this attitude, Paul proved himself to be a mature Christian leader. Selfish leaders use people to build up their support, and they are aways claiming their rights. A truly dedicated leader will use his rights to build up the people, and will lay aside his rights and privileges for the sake of others. (W. W. W. pg 206)
B. He had referred to his example in labor in his previous letter (1 Thes. 2:9). His readers knew that Paul and his associates had not taken any support from the infant church. Instead, they had set the example of meeting their own needs and also helping to meet the needs of others. "You ought to imitate us," he admonished his readers. (W. W. W. pg 206)
2nd Thess. 3:10 For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat.
3:10 For even while we were with you, we used to give you this order: if anyone is not willing to work, then he is not to eat, either.
A. The greatest influence is that of godly living and sacrifice. A Christian leader may appeal to
the authority of the Word; but if he cannot point also to his own example of obedience,
his people will not listen. This is the difference between authority and stature. A leader earns stature as he obeys the Word and serves His people in the will of God. Authority comes from position; stature comes from practice and example. Stature earns the leader the right to exercise authority. (W. W. W. pg 206)
B. Paul quotes a saying, "If a man refuses to work, neither let him eat." It is the refusal to work that is important. This has nothing to do with the unfortunate man who, through no fault of his own, can find no work to do. This has been called "the golden rule of work." Deissmann has the happy thought that, when Paul said this, "he was probably borrowing a bit of good old workshop morality, a maxim coined perhaps by some industrious workman as he forbade his lazy apprentice to sit down to dinner." (W. B. pg 218)
2nd Thess. 3:11 For we hear that there are some which walk among you disorderly, working not at all, but are busybodies.
3:11 Indeed, we hear that some among you are leading an undisciplined and inappropriate life, doing no work at all, but acting like busybodies [meddling in other people’s business].
A. We hear. The apostle had either heard from Timothy who had rejoined him from Thessalonica, or from the report of the bearers of the First Epistle. (Pulpit Comm.)
B. That there are some which walk among you disorderly, working not at all, but are busybodies. There is here a paranomasia or play upon words, the words "working" and "busybodies" being cognate. It is difficult to preserve the resemblance in a translation. "Busy only with what is not their own business" (Jowett); "Working at no business, but being busybodies" (Ellicott); "Not busy, but busybodies" (Wordsworth). The word "busybodies" denotes busy in useless and superfluous things, about which one need not trouble himself—occupied about trifles. The apostle refers to the fanatical excitement in the Church on account of which the Thessalonians, instead of occupying themselves with the fulfilment of the duties of their earthly calling, busied themselves about matters which were unprofitable and vain. (Pulpit Comm.)
2nd Thess. 3:12 Now them that are such we command and exhort by our Lord Jesus Christ, that with quietness they work, and eat their own bread.
3:12 Now such people we command and exhort in the Lord Jesus Christ to settle down and work quietly and earn their own food and other necessities [supporting themselves instead of depending on the hospitality of others].
A. Now them that are such,.... For this was not the case and character of them all. Did such practices generally obtain, no community, civil or religious, could subsist. And the apostle wisely distinguishes them from others, that the innocent might not be involved in the charge. (Gill)
B. We command and exhort by our Lord Jesus Christ; using both authority and entreaty; taking every way to reclaim them, commanding in the name of Christ and beseeching for the sake of Christ. (Gill)
C. that with quietness they work: with their own hands, at their proper callings, and so support themselves, provide for their families, and have something to give to them that are in need; by which means they will live peaceable and quiet lives, in godliness and honesty, and not disturb the peace of neighborhoods, churches, and families: (Gill)
D. and eat their own bread; got by their own labor, and bought with their money, and not the bread of others, or that of idleness. (Gill)
2nd Thess. 3:13 But ye, brethren, be not weary in well doing.
3:13 And as for [the rest of] you, believers, do not grow tired or lose heart in doing good [but continue doing what is right without weakening].
A. The faithful Christians were discouraged by the conduct of the careless saints who refused to work. "If they don't have to work, why should we? was their argument; and Paul nipped it in the bud. (W. W. W. pg 206)
B. Sin in the life of a believer always affects the rest of the church. As members of His body, we belong to each other and we affect each other. The bad example of a few saints can destroy the devotion, and hinder the service, of the rest of the church. Paul named the sins of this group. To begin with, they were "disorderly," or out of order, out of rank They were disobeying orders, and this brought confusion and division to the assembly. (W. W. W. pg 206)
C. "But ye, brethren, be not weary in welldoing." The Apostle exhorts them not to lose heart, not to faint as cowards, in doing whatever is honorable and good—all actions which are fair in themselves and blissful in their results. An implied commendation is in the injunction. They are even now engaged in welldoing, and they are urged, by perseverance therein, to show forth "the patience of Christ." There is to be well doing in the widest sense of the word. Surveying the huge circumference of human love, Christ’s people are never to faint in the work of leaving the world better than they found it. "In due season we shall reap if we faint not." (J. . Hutchison)
2nd Thess. 3:14 And if any man obey not our word by this epistle, note that man, and have no company with him, that he may be ashamed.
3:14 Now if anyone [in the church] does not obey what we say in this letter, take special note of that person and do not associate with him, so that he will be ashamed and repent.
A. Paul had already taken the first step when he exhorted them in his first letter (1 Thes. 5:14) and warned them that they were wrong. But they had persisted in their unruly behavior. He now warned them again in his second letter, and then added a further step: if these believers did not obey, the members of the church should personally [kick them out?] discipline them. (W. W. W. pg 206)
B. If any man obey not our word — Whether spoken to you during our short abode with you, or signified by this, or our former epistle; (Joseph Benson)
C. note that man — set a mark upon, or point out, that man. Probably he intended that the rulers of the church should point him out to the rest, (J. B.)
D. that they might avoid all familiarity and needless correspondence with him, which is meant by having no company with him; that he may be ashamed In order that, being shunned by all as an evil-doer, he may be ashamed of his conduct and amend. (J. B.)
E. Church discipline is to the church member what family discipline is to a child; it is an exercise of, and evidence of, correcting love. When a parent disciplines his child, he is not a judge punishing a criminal; he is a loving father seeking to make his child a better person. (W. W. W. pg 207)
2nd Thess. 3:15 Yet count him not as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother.
3:15 Do not regard him as an enemy, but keep admonishing him as a [believing] brother.
A. Yet count him not as an enemy — An obstinate, incurable sinner, no more to be regarded; (J. B.)
B. but admonish him as a brother — Remind him of his duty and danger as a member of the same body with yourselves; or tell him lovingly of the reason why you shun him. (J. B.)
C. Lot was out of fellowship with God and Abraham because he lived in Sodom; yet Abraham rescued Lot from the enemy because Lot was still a brother. (W. W. W. pg 208)
D. It requires much patience, love, and grace to help an erring brother; and this is why Paul added a final motive for earning a living. (W. W. W. pg 208)
E. If there is trouble in the church, it is because there is trouble in somebody’s heart. (W. W. W. pg 208)
2nd Thess. 3:16 Now the Lord of peace himself give you peace always by all means. The Lord be with you all.
3:16 Now may the Lord of peace Himself grant you His peace at all times and in every way [that peace and spiritual well-being that comes to those who walk with Him, regardless of life’s circumstances]. The Lord be with you all.
A. Now the Lord of peace himself — Christ may be here intended, and called the Lord of peace, in allusion to Isa_9:6, where he is foretold under the character of the Prince of peace, because he was to reconcile Jews and Gentiles to God and to one another. Give you peace by all means — In every way and manner. This prayer the apostle subjoins to the foregoing command, to intimate that if the rulers of the church are faithful in their exhortations and admonitions, it is to be expected that the Lord will follow their labors with his blessing, and make them effectual for producing peace and righteousness among the members of his body. (Joseph Benson)
B. The Lord be with you all — A wish this founded on Christ’s promise, (Mat_28:20,) Lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world, with which promise it is probable Paul was made acquainted. (Joseph Benson)
2nd Thess. 3:17 The salutation of Paul with mine own hand, which is the token in every epistle: so I write.
3:17 I, Paul, write you this final greeting with my own hand. This is the distinguishing mark in every letter [of mine, that shows it is genuine]. It is the way I write [my handwriting and signature].
A. At the end Paul adds his autograph to authenticate his letter. "Look," he says, this is what my handwriting is like. Mark it, so that you will know it again." And then, with the truth expounded, with praise and rebuke lovingly intermingled, he commends the Thessalonian Church to the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ. (W. B. pg 219)
B. He did this because of the counterfeit letter they had received. (W. W. W. pg 208)
2nd Thess. 3:18 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.
3:18 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with all of you.
A. Finally, Paul reminded them of God's grace. "The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be you all" (2 Thes. 3:18) was Paul's official nature to his letters. If we depend on the grace of God, we can do His will to the glory of God. "My grace is sufficient for thee" (2 Cor. 12:9). (W. W. W. pg 208)
B. The soldier who is out of rank and disobedient of the Lord's command proves that he is not surrendered to his Master. Church problems are individual problems, and they must be solved individually. God wants order in the church. "Let all things be done decently and in order" (1 Cor. 14:40). (W. W. W. pg 208)
C. Are you a part of the peace of the church or part of a war in the church? (W. W. W. pg 208)
D. Let's do what Joshua did and fall at the feet of the Captain of the Hosts of the Lord, that He might enable us to win the victory (Josh. 5:13-15), and fulfill His purposes for His people.
(W. W. W. pg 208)
