2nd Thessalonians Chapter 3

From The Open Bible Project

3:1 Finally, brothers, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may spread rapidly and be glorified, even as also with you;

• (1) He adds now consequently according to his manner, various admonitions: the first of them is, that they pray for the increase and passage of the Gospel, and for the safety of the faithful ministers of it.

3:2 and that we may be delivered from unreasonable and evil men; for not all have faith.

• (a) Who do not do or care about their duty. (2) It is no wonder that the Gospel is hated by so many, seeing that faith is a rare gift of God. Nonetheless, the Church will never be destroyed by the multitude of the wicked, because it is grounded and stayed upon the faithful promise of God.

3:3 But the Lord is faithful, who will establish you, and guard you from the evil one.

• (b) From Satan’s snares, or from evil.

3:4 We have confidence in the Lord concerning you, that you both do and will do the things we command.

• (3) The second admonition is, that they always follow the doctrine of the apostles as a rule for their life.

3:5 May the Lord direct your hearts into the love of God, and into the patience of Christ.

• (4) Thirdly, he diligently and earnestly admonishes them of two things which are given to us only by the grace of God, that is, of charity, and a watchful mind to the coming of Christ.

3:6 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.

• (5) Fourthly, he says that idle and lazy persons ought not to be supported by the Church; indeed, they are not to be endured.

3:7 For you know how you ought to imitate us. For we didn't behave ourselves rebelliously among you,

• (6) Lest he might seem to deal harshly with them, he sets forth himself as an example, who besides his travail in preaching, laboured with his hands, which he says he was not bound to do.

3:8 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;

3:9 not because we don't have the right, but to make ourselves an example to you, that you should imitate us.

3:10 For even when we were with you, we commanded you this: "If anyone will not work, neither let him eat."

• (c) What will we do then with those fat lazy monks, and sacrificing priests? A monk (says Socrates, book eight, of his Tripartite History) who does not work with hands, is like a thief.

3:11 For we hear of some who walk among you in rebellion, who don't work at all, but are busybodies.

• (7) How great a fault idleness is, he declares in that God created no man in vain or to no purpose, neither is there any to whom he has not allotted as it were a certain position and place. From which it follows, that the order which God has appointed is troubled by the idle, indeed broken, which is great sin and wickedness. * (8) He reprehends a vice, which is joined with the former, upon which follows an infinite sort of mischiefs: that is, that there are none more busy in other men’s matters, than they who neglect their own.

3:12 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.

• (9) The Lord commands and the apostles pray in the name of Christ, first, that no man be idle, and next, that every man quietly and carefully sees to do his duty in that office and calling in which the Lord has placed him.

3:13 But you, brothers, don't be weary in doing well.

• (10) We must take heed that the unworthiness of some men does not cause us to be slack in well-doing.

3:14 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.

• (11) Excommunication is a punishment for the obstinate.
• (12) We must have no familiarity or fellowship with the one who has been excommunicated.
• (13) The end of the excommunication is not the destruction, but the salvation of the sinner, that at least through shame he may be driven to repentance.

3:15 Don't count him as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother.

• (14) We must avoid familiarity with the one who has been excommunicated in such a way, that we diligently seek every occasion and means that may be, to bring them again into the right way.

3:16 Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times in all ways. The Lord be with you all.

• (15) Prayers are the seals of all exhortations.

3:17 The greeting of me, Paul, with my own hand, which is the sign in every letter: this is how I write.

• (16) The apostle writes the conclusion of his letter with his own hand, so that false letters might not be brought and put in place of true ones.

3:18 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.