Chapter Three
A Request for Prayer
3:1 Finally, brothers, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may speed ahead and be honored, as happened among you, 2 and that we may be delivered from wicked and evil men. For not all have faith.
Paul stops in the middle of the epistle to request prayer. He asks them to pray for his ministry, which is not unusual. In Ephesians 6:19 “that words may be given to me in opening my mouth boldly to proclaim the mystery of the gospel” (ESV); in Colossians 4:3-4 “that God may open to us a door for the word, to declare the mystery of Christ, on account of which I am in prison–that I may make it clear, which is how I ought to speak.” (ESV); and previously in 1 Thessalonians 5:25 “pray for us” (ESV). Here Paul asks that the Word of the Lord spread rapidly and give honor to that teaching, just as it was among them. He adds an additional request, that their prayers would also include being delivered from perverse and evil people as not everyone is a believer.
Paul explains that the root problem behind such evil persons is, “not all have the faith.” He does not ascribe their condition to some other lack, as of proper environment, or education, or cultural good manners. The absence of faith in them influences and molds them to be at enmity with God and those who represent His truth. Another way to say this is that men love darkness rather than light (John 3:19–21). How different from these God is, who in Paul’s next statement is “faithful” and supportive to His channels of truth, though these unreasonable and evil people are subversive.[1]
3:3 But the Lord is faithful. He will establish you and guard you against the evil one. 4 And we have confidence in the Lord about you, that you are doing and will do the things that we command. 5 May the Lord direct your hearts to the love of God and to the steadfastness of Christ.
Unlike man, God is faithful! Paul expresses the fact that they can rely on God. He will establish them (Greek stērixei, to set fast, to establish, to strengthen, to make more firm) and protect them from the evil one. Paul further expresses that they have confidence in them, not from their human abilities, but from God granting them the ability to continue doing what Paul and his fellow workers have instructed them to do. Paul intercedes for them by asking God to direct their hearts to the love of God. He is asking God to keep them from turning away from Him, this applies to all believers as doubt and anxiety can creep into the hearts of any believer, that instead their hearts be directed to the love of God and the steadfastness that comes from Jesus to persevere.
Considerations
The Persecuted Church is a Praying Church
Are some people’s prayers heard and responded to more than others? There is no evidence of that in the Bible, but we do know a lot depends on our hearts when we pray. For example many believers pray the Lord’s Prayer so often that the words are just that, words, without thought, just spoken out of rote. Of course the prayers are heard, but where’s the heart, the desire to fellowship with God? Comfort can be an enemy of our faith. If we get too comfortable in life we become more self-sufficient and less reliant on God. And that can include our worship (being obedient to God, see Romans 12:1) and our praise (the Sunday morning experience being essentially the same week after week).
But if someone is in a less-than-desirable situation, be it harassment, persecution, financial stress, an illness, a chronic condition, a victim of crime, loss of a loved one, or any other form of suffering, the prayers go beyond rote to specific with an expectation of God responding. The person becomes less self-sufficient to being reliant on God. Then extending that concept to that of a church which is being persecuted, and since they have an heightened expectation on God responding, their prayers are heartfelt and powerful. A persecuted church (or believer) is definitely a praying church (or believer) because He is faithful. “Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it.” (John 14:13-14, ESV)
Problem Number Two - Idleness
3:6 Now we command you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you keep away from any brother who is walking in idleness and not in accord with the tradition that you received from us.
Paul proceeds to introduce the second issue that he had heard about, some believers were doing very little or nothing (see verse eleven). He begins with a command in the name of Jesus, that they stay away from any fellow believer who is walking in idleness (Greek ataktōs, pertaining to refusing to work, being disorderly, Paul used the same word in his first epistle when he told them to admonish the idle, see 1 Thessalonians 5:14) and not in accordance with the tradition (same word that he used in 1 Thessalonians 2:15, instruction that was communicated from one to another) they received from them. Paul does not give much details as they likely understood the situation. But as for us readers, since the word ataktōs can describe a person who desires to disrupt instead of complying with what they were taught, as well as, refer to an unwillingness to work, this section is generally interpreted in two ways: 1) Paul is referring to those who disobey and that their disruptive and destructive nature is unacceptable; and 2) since the word can imply a laziness, Paul is describing those who for whatever reason are not working and perhaps unwilling to work. Due to Paul’s approach outlined in the following verses most theologians and commentators prefer the second interpretation. But many question why did this issue become so widespread? Some believe that this idleness is connected to the first problem, being the belief that the rapture had already occurred and that they were not working because they expected Jesus to return very soon.
3:7 For you yourselves know how you ought to imitate us, because we were not idle when we were with you, 8 nor did we eat anyone’s bread without paying for it, but with toil and labor we worked night and day, that we might not be a burden to any of you. 9 It was not because we do not have that right, but to give you in ourselves an example to imitate. 10 For even when we were with you, we would give you this command: If anyone is not willing to work, let him not eat.
Paul reminds them of how they lived while they were there. That they were never idle, they did not eat without paying for the food, and they worked night and day, so that they would not be a burden to them. He notes that their self-sufficiency wasn’t because they couldn’t expect to be paid, but that they wanted them to use their life-style as an example. Paul then further reminds them of their instruction, “If anyone is not willing to work, let him not eat.”
3:11 For we hear that some among you walk in idleness, not busy at work, but busybodies. 12 Now such persons we command and encourage in the Lord Jesus Christ to do their work quietly and to earn their own living.
After introducing the subject of idleness and how they served as role models, Paul now addresses the second problem. He tells them that they had heard that some of them “walk in idleness” that they were not doing any work, that instead they were “busybodies” (Greek periergazomenous, to work around, everywhere doing everything but doing nothing, doing nothing but meddle in the affairs of others). Paul says these people are to be encouraged as believers to get back to work and to do their earn their living quietly (no complaining).
3:13 As for you, brothers, do not grow weary in doing good. 14 If anyone does not obey what we say in this letter, take note of that person, and have nothing to do with him, that he may be ashamed. 15 Do not regard him as an enemy, but warn him as a brother.
In closing Paul calls them to never grow weary of doing good. He warns that if anyone does not obey what he has addressed in this epistle, to take notice of who they are, and to have nothing to do with them so that they will feel ashamed. But on the other hand, don’t treat them as an enemy, but as a fellow believer.
Considerations
Work to Eat
The concept of working for a livelihood, or more specifically for food, has its roots all the way back to Adam and Eve after sinning in the garden of Eden. In response to their disobedience, God told Adam that, “…cursed is the ground because of you; in pain you shall eat of it all the days of your life; thorns and thistles it shall bring forth for you; and you shall eat the plants of the field. By the sweat of your face you shall eat bread...” (Genesis 3:17b-19a, ESV) Later in the New Testament there still is an expectation for people, that if they are able, to supply for their own needs. Paul revisits that concept and tells Christians that they should pursue an honest and legal living, and not be a burden to others (see Ephesians 4:28; 1 Thessalonians 4:11; 2 Thessalonians 3:8-12). It is interesting to note that Paul gave that command to them in the name of the “Lord Jesus Christ,” this is not to be taken lightly.
Benediction and Closing
3:16 Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times in every way. The Lord be with you all.
Calling on Jesus using the unique title of “the Lord of peace,” Paul requests that Jesus grant them peace at all times and in every way, and that He be with them. To have peace under all circumstances is truly a wonderful blessing!
3:17 I, Paul, write this greeting with my own hand. This is the sign of genuineness in every letter of mine; it is the way I write. 18 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all.
As what became a custom for Paul, he would write a prayer, blessing, or greeting at the end of his epistles to authenticate that it was from him. He closes with the final blessing that the grace (undeserved favor) of the Lord Jesus Christ be with them.
It is reasonable that a letter that warns the recipients about forged letters (2 Thessalonians 2:2, 15) should conclude with a guarantee of authenticity. However, a signature at the conclusion of a letter, as here in v. 17, is not an uncommon feature in Pauline letters. There is an abundance of evidence demonstrating that Paul wrote his letters using the services of an amanuensis (a secretary who assisted with the writing of a document). The amanuensis who assisted in the writing of Romans included his own greeting at its conclusion: “I, Tertius, who wrote down this letter, greet you in the Lord” (Romans 16:22).[2]
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[1] Rosscup, J. E. (2008). An Exposition on Prayer in the Bible: Igniting the Fuel to Flame Our Communication with God (p. 2405). Lexham Press.
[2] Martin, D. M. (1995). 1, 2 Thessalonians (Vol. 33, p. 291). Broadman & Holman Publishers.