Bible Study 2 Thessalonians 3: 1-18

 

A Commentary of the Book of 2 Thessalonians 

By Dr. Barry L. Jenkins

Text Used: Legacy Standard Bible

Bible Study 2 Thessalonians 3: 1-18

Text: 

Finally, brothers, pray for us that the word of the Lord will [a]spread rapidly and be glorified, just as it did also with you; 2 and that we will be rescued from [b]perverse and evil men, for not all have [c]faith. 3 But the Lord is faithful, who will strengthen and guard you [d]from the evil one. 4 And we have confidence in the Lord about you, that you are doing and will continue to do what we command. 5 And may the Lord direct your hearts into the love of God and into the steadfastness of Christ.

6 Now we command you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you [e]keep away from every brother who walks in an [f]unruly manner and not according to the tradition which [g]they received from us. 7 For you yourselves know how you ought to imitate us, because we did not act in an unruly manner among you, 8 nor did we eat [h]anyone’s bread [i]without paying for it, but with labor and hardship we kept working night and day so that we would not be a burden to any of you; 9 not because we do not have the authority, but in order to offer ourselves as a model for you, so that you would imitate us. 10 For even when we were with you, we used to command this to you: if anyone is not willing to work, neither let him eat. 11 For we hear that some among you are walking in an unruly manner, doing no work at all, but acting like busybodies. 12 Now such persons we command and exhort in the Lord Jesus Christ, that working with quietness, they eat their own bread. 13 But as for you, brothers, do not lose heart in doing good.

14 And if anyone does not obey our word [j]in this letter, take special note of that person to not associate with him, so that he will be put to shame. 15 And yet do not regard him as an enemy, but [k]admonish him as a brother.

16 Now may the Lord of peace Himself continually give you peace in every [l]circumstance. The Lord be with you all!

17 The greeting is in my own hand—[m]Paul, which is a distinguishing mark in every letter; this is the way I write. 18 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all.

Verse by verse commentary:

Verse 1: “Finally, brothers, pray for us that the word of the Lord will spread rapidly and be glorified, just as it did also with you;”

Paul consistently asked for prayer for the success of the gospel mission and for the protection of those who bring it. He faced almost constant physical danger during his years of ministry. The word translated “spread” could have  been translated “run.” I like the image of the Gospel message running to and fro seeking the lost. 

Verse 2: :”and that we will be rescued from perverse and evil men, for not all have faith.”

These were Paul’s enemies at Corinth, where he ministered when he wrote, who were perverse and aggressively unrighteous in their opposition of him and the gospel.

Again, Paul asked prayer for deliverance "from perverse and evil men." "Perverse" labels them as capable of outrageous and extremely harmful acts against others; "evil" speaks of persons not only themselves thoroughly corrupted but intent on corrupting others and drawing them into their own slide toward hell. Who were they? The best suggestion ties these "perverse and evil men" to unbelieving Jews in Corinth where Paul was encountering opposition as he wrote. As Paul wrote this second letter, he was facing a severe attack in Corinth.

Verse 3: “But the Lord is faithful, who will strengthen and guard you from the evil one.”

The literal translation of “evil one” is just “evil.” This is a statement of the Lord’s faithfulness against all evil, not just the evil one. Contrasting with the faithlessness mentioned in the previous verse is the steadfast faithfulness of our unchanging God. Our Lord will never let His sheep down or disappoint the faithful.

Verse 4: “And we have confidence in the Lord about you, that you are doing and will continue to do what we command.”

As Christians, we are commanded to do and not do things, and there are specific commandments for Christians. We saw that in Paul’s first epistle to the Thessalonians where he recorded twenty-two commandments in the fifth chapter alone. There are not only ten commandments but twenty-two commandments which the believers are to do. Paul had “confidence in the Lord about” them. He committed them to the Lord in prayer with assurance that they were doing and would continue doing the things which he commanded.

Verse 5: “And may the Lord direct your hearts into the love of God and into the steadfastness of Christ.”

Our hearts should journey to these safe spiritual harbors of meditation; it is a journey directed by the Lord. It is the Lord that directs your heart and you follow in obedience and faith. He will direct your heart toward real love for Him and others. This is not an emotional acceptance and tolerance for sin and sinful lifestyles. Rather, this is love based on the truth of the Word of God. God will never lead you to sin. He will lead you to holiness and righteousness. 

Verse 6: “Now we command you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you keep away from every brother who walks in an unruly manner and not according to the tradition which they received from us.”

Paul’s directions were not mere suggestions, but rather they carried the weight and authority of a court order which the apostle delivered and enforced. Hear this all you that believe that church growth is more important than Gospel truth. Paul didn’t care about growth because that was God’s business. He cared about the holiness and purity of the church. He required separation so that obedient Christians were not to fellowship with habitually disobedient believers. May we hear this same message.

Verse 7: “For you yourselves know how you ought to imitate us, because we did not act in an unruly manner among you,”

Paul called for them to imitate him because he imitated Christ’s example. What does your life say about who your leader is? Do you want your family and friends to follow your example? Paul was confident about his testimony. May we have the same confidence.

Verse 8: “nor did we eat anyone’s bread without paying for it, but with labor and hardship we kept working night and day so that we would not be a burden to any of you;”

Paul’s practice was that he would not let anyone pay him for his missionary work among them. When he arrived in town as a missionary, there was no reservation for him at the local motel. There was no daily stipend given to him, no love offering taken for him the first time he was there. Paul was very careful about paying his own way. He mentions that to the Thessalonians and also to the Corinthians. When he was establishing churches he supported himself by tentmaking. This is a clear example for clergy to be bi-vocational in their ministry. I always was and I think that is God’s preferred plan. That way the minister can speak freely without fear of financial loss. A pastor that fears the repercussions from speaking hard truths is a compromised minister and he needs a backbone of a new career.

Verse 9: “not because we do not have the authority, but in order to offer ourselves as a model for you, so that you would imitate us.”

Paul was stating that as an apostle who had led them to the Lord and established a church among them, he had the right and authority to claim a financial compensation. However, he did not do this because he wanted to be an example to the believers in Thessalonica so as to prevent “ministers” trying to take money from them. Paul was making his ministry very practical. He supported himself by working with his hands, and he did it to be an example to the Thessalonian believers.

Verse 10: “For even when we were with you, we used to command this to you: if anyone is not willing to work, neither let him eat.”

A believer who is looking for the Lord to return is not a dreamer; he is a worker. No work—no food. That is the rule laid down by the apostle. “If any are not willing to work,  neither let him eat.” Some were spending most of their time looking for the Lord's return and refusing to work. Paul says in essence, if they don’t want to work, don’t feed them. Good practical advice. 

Verse 11: “For we hear that some among you are walking in an unruly manner, doing no work at all, but acting like busybodies.”

Word had come to Paul that, in spite of his teaching them to work and writing to them about it  some were still not willing to work. These were commanded to settle down and begin an ordered life of work. There is no retirement plan in the work of God. You may burn out, but you never will rust out. Let us commit to work daily for the Lord Jesus Christ.

Verse 12: “Now such persons we command and exhort in the Lord Jesus Christ, that working with quietness, they eat their own bread.”

Churches are full of people that give a little and complain a lot. I have seen it many times over my years of ministry. The smallest givers were the most trouble. There must have been people like that in Thessalonica. Paul says that they were to quietly go to work and mind their own business.

Verse 13: “But as for you, brothers, do not lose heart in doing good.”

A believer who holds the blessed hope of the second coming of the Lord Jesus Christ should not grow weary of working for the Lord. As the famous evangelist Dwight Moody said: “I get weary in the work, but not weary of the work.”

Verse 14: “And if anyone does not obey our word in this letter, take special note of that person to not associate with him, so that he will be put to shame.”

People in the church should withdraw from troublemakers, church bosses and all those that oppose the work of God in the local assembly. Don’t be afraid of the tongues of those that seek to hinder the work of God. Instead, you should withdraw from the gossip and troublemakers and focus on the work of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Verse 15: “And yet do not regard him as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother.”

Paul’s instruction was for the purpose of winning the erring one back to following Christ. An attempt should generally be made to win the wayward member back to Christ. 

Verse 16: “Now may the Lord of peace Himself continually give you peace in every circumstance. The Lord be with you all!”

This is the beginning of his benediction. He wanted to give some encouragement to the church in Thessalonica. Paul knew this attribute of God, i.e. peace, would be most meaningful to reflect upon in light of the intense spiritual persecution that raged against the Thessalonians.

Verse 17: “The greeting is in my own hand—Paul, which is a distinguishing mark in every letter; this is the way I write.”

Though Paul had the help of secretaries in writing his letters, he customarily wrote the final greeting or benediction in his own hand. That is the case here. It showed the letter’s authenticity.  

Verse 18: “The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all.”

This is the conclusion of an epistle which teaches that the knowledge of prophecy, rather than leading to fanaticism or laziness, brings peace to the heart and will lead the believer to work for the Kingdom of God.