Bible Commentaries

2 Thessalonians 3. Final Counsels and Exhortations.—The apostle (a) asks for the prayers of the Thessalonian Christians on his own behalf (2 Thessalonians 3:1-5); (b) warns them against dis orderly conduct (2 Thessalonians 3:6-15); (c) concludes with a bene diction (2 Thessalonians 3:16-18).

2 Thessalonians 3:1-5. The request for prayer contains two points: (a) that the word of the Lord may make rapid progress; (b) that the apostle and his followers may be delivered from their opponents. The character of the opposition is not specified, but we may surmise that it emanated mainly from the Judaizing party.

2 Thessalonians 3:3. from the evil one: the Greek word may be either masculine (RV, as in the Lord's Prayer) or neuter (AV).

2 Thessalonians 3. Final Counsels and Exhortations.—The apostle (a) asks for the prayers of the Thessalonian Christians on his own behalf (2 Thessalonians 3:1-5); (b) warns them against dis orderly conduct (2 Thessalonians 3:6-15); (c) concludes with a bene diction (2 Thessalonians 3:16-18).

2 Thessalonians 3:6-15. The Rebuke to the Disorderly.—Under the influence of the Parousia Hope some Thessalonian Christians abandoned their ordinary occupations and claimed the right to be supported by the Church. Paul points to his own conduct at Thessalonica, and warns the Church to withdraw its support from those who will not work.

2 Thessalonians 3:9. in labour and travail: see 1 Thessalonians 2:9.

2 Thessalonians 3:11. work not at all, etc.: there is a play on the words in the original Greek which it is difficult to reproduce in English. "Doing no business but being busybodies" is probably the nearest equivalent.

2 Thessalonians 3:13. in well-doing: this is generally interpreted of acts of charity or Christian service, but there is no hint that such a limitation is intended. The phrase indicates every form of honourable action, in the ordinary secular callings of life as well as in the service of the Church.

2 Thessalonians 3:16-18. Benediction and Farewell.

2 Thessalonians 3:17. The salutation: the circulation of forged epistles (cf. 2 Thessalonians 2:2) made it necessary for Paul to add at the end of his letters a signature in his own handwriting (1 Corinthians 16:21, Galatians 6:11). The main body of the epistle was generally dictated to an amanuensis.