2 Thess - Chapter 3

2 Thessalonians - Chapter 3

The Apostle Paul winds up his letter to the believers at the Church of Thessalonica by reaffirming what he has already taught them while he was with them 1 1/2 years earlier.

Praying For One Another

1.  Finally, brethren, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may run swiftly and be glorified, just as it is with you, ² and that we may be delivered from unreasonable and wicked men; for not all have faith.

The Apostle Paul begins this last section of his letter by pointing out the value and responsibility of praying for one another.  If we were to examine every letter that the apostle has written to the churches he had established, we will see that he continually is asking for prayer.  He knew that the success of his ministry as a whole depended on the prayers of God's people. 

Paul, just like the believers at Thessalonica, were subject to persecution continuously.  Where the apostle traveled, he was subject to persecution - sometime even having his life threatened.  While he has diligently prayed for the believers at the Church at Thessalonica, he is asking them to pray for him as well as he and his team continue to spread the Gospel so that many can hear and receive.  They faced continually unreasonable and wicked men, and was in need of constant prayer so they were free to do the work of the ministry - without hinderance.

Instructions for Christian Living

³ But the Lord is faithful, who will establish you and guard you from the evil one. ⁴ And we have confidence in the Lord concerning you, both that you do and will do the things we command you.

God is faithful and had promised to keep Satan on a lease, where God would no allow any temptation to become too great for him (1 Cor 10:13).  Satan could not have free reign in his life and in the life of his team.

As Paul is giving out instructions to the Church at Thessalonica on how to live, he is praying and believing the same promises for them as he is believing for himself - that God would not allow any temptation to become too great for them.  Satan could not have free reign in their lives as well.

⁵ Now may the Lord direct your hearts into the love of God and into the patience of Christ.

Just as the apostle is believing the best of God's promises to them, their part is to remain faithful, being patient in the things of the Lord.  Obedience to the Word of God always brings on spiitual maturity and stability.  The apostle is telling them he is praying for the endurance to remain strong in the things of the Lord.

Guard Against False Teachers

⁶ But we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you withdraw from every brother who walks disorderly and not according to the tradition which he received from us. 

Here, the apostle is giving a command that they withdraw from every brother who walks disorderly and not in accordance to the beliefs the apostle had taught them.  In other words, those false teachers who came in to lie, be on guard.  Expose and warn them.  In doing so, they need to be disciplined (1 Thess 5:14) in hopes they  would repent and stop their lies. 

• Sometimes, depending on the extremity, that could mean being put out of the church in hopes that they might miss the fellowship of the church so much that they would repent of their disobedience.  The purpose, however, is never to condemn or punish, but to bring about repentance and salvation. 
• The Church needs to be a place of love and comfort so that one could genuinely feel sad and sorry to be excluded from the church.  Churches today should also fit that description.
• The purpose of the Church is to love, exhort, and encourage one another so that we can grow into maturity in the things of the Lord.  Sadly, there will always be those who for whatever reason refuse to grow in the Lord, or much worse, those who set out to hurt others.

The correct standard to uphold is the apostolic traditions and teachings that came down from God to Jesus to His apostles - from the apostles to  the disciples - then and now.  That has never changed. 

• Any traditions of man should be ignored and repelled as false teachings.  Only that which comes from the heart of God should remain in our hearts as well.

The Importance of Hard Work

⁷ For you yourselves know how you ought to follow us, for we were not disorderly among you; ⁸ nor did we eat anyone’s bread free of charge, but worked with labor and toil night and day, that we might not be a burden to any of you, ⁹ not because we do not have authority, but to make ourselves an example of how you should follow us.

The Apostle Paul was an excellent example among the Thessalonians in that he worked hard to support his own needs and that of his team.  It didn't mean he didn't have the right to request support, but it was because he wanted to set a good example of hard work and prove false any accusations that he preached the Gospel for personal gain like the other pagan missionaries were doing in the marketplace as they peddled their pagan gods  (See article on 1 Thessalonians - Background).

As the apostle was setting an example of working hard, this was also to help the believers there to understand that Christians need to work for their keep, not becoming lazy of dependant upon others for their keep.  We all need to work hard with the willingness to sacrifice ourselves for the furtherance and the integrity of the Gospel.

¹⁰ For even when we were with you, we commanded you this: If anyone will not work, neither shall he eat. ¹¹ For we hear that there are some who walk among you in a disorderly manner, not working at all, but are busybodies. ¹² Now those who are such we command and exhort through our Lord Jesus Christ that they work in quietness and eat their own bread.

Simply put - if anyone is not willing to work, neither shall he eat.  God's plan is to provide for our needs through our work.  While the word retirement is not in the Bible, today, those who have invested a lifetime in the work field probably has put away money to live off in their retirement days as the body slows down.  That does not mean, however, that we lay around being lazy, which brings on taking advantage of Christian generosity, or become busybodies in other peoples' affairs.  Idleness can be a sin.  Getting involved in other people's affairs as a busybody, causes harm in relationships and should be avoided at all costs.  While we treasure close relationships, we must avoid becoming a busybody in other people's lives. 

Instead, we need to reach out to those in need or volunteer at church as a way of giving back to the Lord.  In other words, work is a part of living, whether one received a salary or have put away monies to live off of while retired.  We work!

• Paul has commanded that believers work in whatever area one is gifted in - and then eat of your own bread.  But then, there will be times when something needs to be done, and you are available.  See that as an opportunity the Lord has given you to serve.  In other words, earn your own keep.  Don't expect others to provide for you.

¹³ But as for you, brethren, do not grow weary in doing good. 

Sadly, there are believers around us who do take advantage of other people's generosity.  We should never let the manipulations of some discourage us from doing good to the truly needy.

• It takes a lot of effort to keep doing good.  It involves self-denial, but it is worth it when we consider the rewards.
• Sometimes that means rulling up our shirt sleeves and do a good day's work in whatever needs to be done.

¹⁴ And if anyone does not obey our word in this epistle, note that person and do not keep company with him, that he may be ashamed. ¹⁵ Yet do not count him as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother.

The instruction of the apostle is for those who do not obey the commands he wrote in this letter, they should not keep company with them.  While you should not fellowship with them, they do need to be admonished as a brother or sister in the Lord.  Don't treat them as your enemy, but a brother or sister in the Lord.  All this to say is that discipline within the church is often necessary.

Benediction

¹⁶ Now may the Lord of peace Himself give you peace always in every way. The Lord be with you all. 

As his closing benediction, the apostle is praying God's peace over them in every area of their lives, and that the Lord be with them.

Verification of the Apostle's Words

¹⁷ The salutation of Paul with my own hand, which is a sign in every epistle; so I write.  ¹⁸ The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen

This is an importance sentence here from the Apostle Paul as he gives his closing salutation.  This letter was written in his own handwriting which verifies that this letter was directly from the apostle - not some fake letter(s) given to them through the false teachers who were trying to tell these Thessalonian believers that they had missed the Rapture of the Church.  All they had to do is compare the handwriting from the apostle's first letter to this one.  The believers in Thessalonica could sthen see for themselves that it is the same handwriting.  That should settle the dispute once and for all.

As typical, the apostle finishes his letter by extending God's grace, which is God's riches blessings) upon them.

Amen