Request for Prayer
1Finally, brothers, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may spread quickly and be held in honor, just as it was with you. 2And pray that we may be delivered from wicked and evil men; for not everyone holds to the faith. 3But the Lord is faithful, and He will strengthen you and guard you from the evil one. 4And we have confidence in the Lord that you are doing and will continue to do what we command. 5May the Lord direct your hearts into God’s love and Christ’s perseverance.
- 2TH 3:3[NOTABLE]Paul just asked them to pray for him because not everyone has faith, 3:2. Then he turns it around: people are not always faithful, but the Lord is. Your safety does not rest on how strong you are. It rests on Him.
- 2TH 3:5[HEART]May the Lord direct your hearts into God's love.
A Warning against Idleness
6Now we command you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, to keep away from any brother who leads an undisciplined life that is not in keeping with the tradition you received from us. 7For you yourselves know how you ought to imitate us, because we were not undisciplined among you, 8nor did we eat anyone’s food without paying for it. Instead, in labor and toil, we worked night and day so that we would not be a burden to any of you. 9Not that we lack this right, but we wanted to offer ourselves as an example for you to imitate. 10For even while we were with you, we gave you this command: “If anyone is unwilling to work, he shall not eat.”
- 2TH 3:6[NOTE]THE IDLE. Some had quit working, maybe because they thought Jesus was coming any day, maybe because rich believers would feed them. Paul worked night and day to set an example, 3:8 to 9, the tentmaker way, Acts 18:3. Faith in the return of Jesus is never a reason to stop working.
- 2TH 3:10[NOTABLE]This is about the unwilling, not the unable. The church cared for widows and the sick, 1 Timothy 5:3. But a believer who could work and chose not to was not to live off everyone else. Paul set the example by working night and day, 3:8.
11For we hear that some of you are leading undisciplined lives, accomplishing nothing, but being busybodies. 12We command and urge such people by our Lord Jesus Christ to begin working quietly to earn their own living. 13But as for you, brothers, do not grow weary in well-doing.
- 2TH 3:13[NOTABLE]Doing good gets old when people take advantage of you, like the idle ones in 3:11. Paul says keep going anyway. Galatians 6:9 says the same: in due time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.
14Take note of anyone who does not obey the instructions we have given in this letter. Do not associate with him, so that he may be ashamed. 15Yet do not regard him as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother.
- 2TH 3:14[NOTE]CHURCH DISCIPLINE. Do not associate with him, so he will feel ashamed and turn around. But do not treat him as an enemy. Warn him as a brother, 3:15. The goal is always to win the person back, Matthew 18:15 and Galatians 6:1.
Signature and Final Greetings// 1 Corinthians 16:19–24; Colossians 4:15–18
16Now may the Lord of peace Himself give you peace at all times and in every way. The Lord be with all of you.
- 2TH 3:16[NOTABLE]Peace does not come from your situation. It comes from a Person. Paul prays it over a church facing persecution, confusion about the end and lazy members. At all times and in every way means there is no situation too messy for His peace.
17This greeting is in my own hand—Paul. This is my mark in every letter; it is the way I write.
- 2TH 3:17[FIELD NOTES]See the In My Own Hand Field Notes page.
18The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with all of you.