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2 Thessalonians 3

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Request for Prayer and Divine Guidance 1–5

1
Finally, brethren, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may run and be glorified, even as alsoit iswith you; ​
2
and that we may be delivered from unreasonable and evil men; for all have not faith. ​
3
But the Lord is faithful, who shall establish you, and guard you from the evil one.
4
And we have confidence in the Lord touching you, that ye both do and will do the things which we command.
5
And the Lord direct your hearts into the love of God, and into the patience of Christ. ​

Command to Discipline the Disorderly 6–15

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 they received of us. ​
7
For yourselves know how ye ought to imitate us: for we behaved not ourselves disorderly among you;
8
neither did we eat bread for nought at any man’s hand, but in labor and travail, working night and day, that we might not burden any of you: ​
9
not because we have not the right, but to make ourselves an ensample unto you, that ye should imitate us.
10
For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, If any will not work, neither let him eat. ​
11
For we hear of some that walk among you disorderly, that work not at all, but are busybodies. ​
12
Now them that are such we command and exhort in the Lord Jesus Christ, that with quietness they work, and eat their own bread.
13
But ye, brethren, be not weary in well-doing. ​
14
And if any man obeyeth not our word by this epistle, note that man, that ye have no company with him, to the end that he may be ashamed. ​
15
And yet count him not as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother. ​

Final Benediction and Greeting 16–18

16
Now the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times in all ways. The Lord be with you all. ​
17
The salutation of me Paul with mine own hand, which is the token in every epistle: so I write. ​
18
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all.

Bible text: American Standard Version (1901) · Public domain

Study Notes for 2 Thessalonians 3

Verse 1

may have free course — Trecho, to run: the word is to 'run' and be glorified, a message moving quickly. The same advance is reported in Acts 19:20, 'So mightily grew the word of God and prevailed', and in Thessalonica itself, where it 'sounded out' (1 Thess 1:8).

Verse 2

unreasonable and wicked men — Atopos, literally without a place, so improper or harmful, joined with poneros, hurtful. The cause is given: 'for all men have not faith', the unbelief Paul asks to be delivered from elsewhere (Rom 15:31, 'them that do not believe in Judaea').

Verse 5

the patient waiting for Christ — Hypomone, endurance that stays under a load, not passive idleness. 'Direct' is kateuthyno, to make straight: the Lord levels the path of the heart toward 'the love of God' and toward steadfast waiting for Christ, whose own endurance appears in Heb 12:2–3.

Verse 6

withdraw yourselves — Stello, to set oneself apart, keep away from. It is a command 'in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ', aimed at a 'brother' who walks ataktos, out of rank, and not by the 'tradition' (paradosis) received. See 1 Thess 5:14, 'warn them that are unruly'.

Verse 8

labour and travail night and day — Kopos and mochthos, toil and hardship, the same pair as 1 Thess 2:9, 'our labour and travail'. Paul's trade was tentmaking (Acts 18:3). He worked so as to be no weight (epibareo) on any of them: 'that we might not be chargeable'.

Verse 10

if any would not work, neither should he eat — 'Would not' is thelo: the unwilling, not the unable. Paul says he gave this rule while present with them, and it rests on the old sentence 'In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread' (Gen 3:19).

Verse 11

working not at all, but are busybodies — A wordplay: ergazomai, to work, against periergazomai, to work around, bustle about. The idle became meddlers. Compare 1 Tim 5:13, 'idle, wandering about from house to house', and 1 Pet 4:15, 'a busybody in other men's matters'.

Verse 13

be not weary in well doing — Ekkakeo, to lose heart; kalopoieo, to do what is good. Set against the idle, the diligent are not to tire of doing right. The same charge appears in Gal 6:9, 'let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.'

Verse 14

note that man — Semeioo, to mark (from semeion, a sign), so that he is recognised. 'Have no company' is synanamignymi, to mix up together, as in 1 Cor 5:11, 'not to keep company'. The purpose is stated: 'that he may be ashamed'.

Verse 15

admonish him as a brother — Noutheteo, to put in mind, warn gently, the verb of 1 Thess 5:14 ('warn them that are unruly'). The one set apart in v.14 is still 'a brother', not an echthros, an enemy; the separation aims at correction.

Verse 16

the Lord of peace — Eirene is peace, here given by 'the Lord of peace himself', as by 'the God of peace' in Rom 15:33. 'Always by all means' is literally through all time and in every manner, a prayer set after the discipline of vv.6–15. 'The Lord be with you all' includes the disorderly.

Verse 17

with mine own hand — Paul closes in his own writing, the semeion, 'token', of every letter. The same line is found in 1 Cor 16:21, 'The salutation of me Paul with mine own hand', and Col 4:18. The rest of the letter was dictated; this greeting authenticates it.