Bible Commentaries

Chapter3

He craveth their prayers for himself, 3testifieth what confidence he hath in them, 5 maketh request to God in their behalf, 6 giveth them divers precepts, especially to shun idleness, and ill company, 16 and last of all concludeth with prayer and salutation.

1. Finally [the word used by one who is rapidly proceeding to the end of what he has to say], brethren, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may have free course, and be glorified [a delicate reference here to the Psalter], even as it is with you:

2. And that we may be delivered from [the] unreasonable [Gr. absurd] and wicked men: for all men have not faith [for it is not all that have faith].

3. But the Lord is faithful, who shall stablish you, and keep you from evil [guard you from the Evil One].

4. And we have confidence in the Lord touching you, that ye both do and will do the things which we command you.

5. And [but may] the Lord direct your hearts, [another instance of prayer to Christ] into the love of God, and into the patient waiting for Christ [or "the patience of Christ."]

6. Now we command you, brethren [omit "brethren." This passage is important as bearing upon Apostolical authority] in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye withdraw yourselves [means "to abstain from habitual conversation with," "to keep at a distance from" "to treat with studied distance and coldness"] from every brother that walketh disorderly, and not after the tradition which he received of us.

7. For yourselves know how [it is better to teach by one's life than by one's sermons] ye ought to follow us: for we behaved not ourselves disorderly among you:

8. Neither did we eat any man's bread for nought [gratis, i.e. from a low, material point of view. Assuredly, the missionary or pastor does not get his bread without giving return, even when he pays no money for it. Cf. St. Luke 10:7; St. Matthew 10:10]; but wrought with labour and travail night and day, that we might not be chargeable to any of you:

9. Not because we have not power, but to make ourselves an ensample unto you to follow us.

10. For even when we were with you, this [the A.V. well marks the emphatic position of the pronoun this in the original] we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat [a favourite proverb in the Jewish schools].

11. For we hear that there are some which walk among you disorderly, working not at all, but are busybodies [busy only with what is not their own business].

12. Now them that are such we command and exhort by our Lord Jesus Christ [Chrysostom notes the softening tone of the Apostle here], that with quietness they work, and eat their own bread [their own is very emphatic, not other people"s].

13. But ye, brethren, be not weary in well doing [Bishop Ellicott well translates—"lose not heart in well doing."]

14. And if any man obey not our word by this Epistle, note that John 14:27). Again a prayer to Christ] always by all means. The Lord be with you all. [The old liturgical form, Latin and Greek, which took the place of Numbers 6:24 in the old rite. It most probably refers to the great promise ("I am with you alway," St. Matthew 28:20), and implies, "may that promise be fulfilled!"]

17. The salutation of Paul with mine own hand, which is the token in every Epistle: so I write [suggests a security against the possibility of forgery].

18. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. [With some slight variations in form, the "Grace" closes all the Pauline Epistles (and that to the Hebrews), and is peculiar to them. "Such a preacher of Divine Grace was Paul!" (Estius).] Amen.