CHAPTER 3

(A.D. 54)

PRAYER

¹Finally, Brethren, pray for us, that the Word of the Lord may have free course (will accomplish its intended purpose; this depends largely on the proper intercession of the Saints, hence Paul asking for prayer), and be glorified (bringing forth its full power, which speaks of a positive effect in peoples lives), even as it is with you (the Gospel had changed the lives of the Thessalonians):

²And that we may be delivered from unreasonable and wicked men (these false teachers gave undue prominence to things other than the Cross [I Cor. 1:17]): for all men have not Faith. (This should have been translated, for all men have not the Faith. It speaks of the Finished Work accomplished at the Cross.)

³But the Lord is Faithful (though some men cannot be trusted, God can be depended on), Who shall stablish you, and keep you from evil. (The Cross of Christ and ones Faith in the Cross guarantee the help of the Holy Spirit, and protects the Believer from both the Evil One and his evil designs.)

⁴And we have confidence in the Lord touching you (pertaining to the Thessalonians), that you both do and will do the things which we command you. (Growth in Grace can be realized only as Believers maintain an attitude of obedience towards God, actually an attitude that is motivated by a love for Him that transcends all other objects of affection.)

⁵And the Lord direct your hearts into the Love of God (tells us the Lord wants total control within our lives, but it is control which must be freely given by us to Him), and into the patient waiting for Christ. (This pertains to our waiting for Him to rectify the situation, whatever it might be.)

THE EXAMPLE

⁶Now we command you, brethren, in the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ (the Apostle is saying that what he is telling the people is the Word of God, and must be heeded!), that you withdraw yourselves from every brother who walks disorderly (literally means, to walk out of the ranks of the Word of God; in abbreviated form, it means we should withdraw fellowship from those who teach something other than the Cross; it does not speak of excommunication), and not after the tradition which he received of us (after the teaching which Paul had given, which was definitely from the Lord; tradition, as it is used here, does not mean unwritten doctrines, as this word normally means; the Apostle is referring to what the Lord had given him, which he had faithfully taught to the people).

⁷For yourselves know how you ought to follow us (it was to Paul the meaning of the New Covenant was given, which is the meaning of the Cross [Gal. 1:11-12]; so, what he was saying was the Word of the Lord; people had better make sure the Preacher they are following is of God): for we behaved not ourselves disorderly among you (the opposite of disorderly is a Sanctified life, in that sin has no dominion over the individual [Rom. 6:14]);

⁸Neither did we eat any mans bread for nought (the Apostle didnt make himself a burden to others); but wrought with labour and travail night and day, that we might not be chargeable to any of you (he worked at his craft of tent making in order to meet his material needs):

⁹Not because we have not power (refers to the fact that he was a Preacher of the Gospel, and by all rights should have been supported by the people; however, he did not avail himself of that privilege in Thessalonica, and for a purpose), but to make ourselves an example unto you to follow us. (The heathen priests in this Gentile city were constantly scheming in order to get money from the people. Paul wanted nothing in his Ministry to resemble that. However, he did receive two offerings from Philippi when he was in Thessalonica [Phil. 4:15-16].)

EXHORTATION

¹⁰For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat. (If a person is lazy and wont work, then let them do without. In other words, its wrong to give money to someone of this nature.)

¹¹For we hear that there are some which walk among you disorderly, working not at all, but are busybodies (sponging off others).

¹²Now them who are such we command and exhort by our Lord Jesus Christ (refers to the Apostle having the Mind of the Lord, and the authority of the Lord in making these statements), that with quietness they work, and eat their own bread. (Quit being busybodies, attempting to meddle in other peoples affairs. Let them tend to their own business.)

¹³But you, Brethren, be not weary in well doing. (The idea is that while they were to refuse to support those who were busybodies and lazy, they were not to forget the worthy poor.)

¹⁴And if any man obey not our word by this Epistle, note that man, and have no company with him, that he may be ashamed. (This doesnt actually speak of excommunication, but rather a withdrawal of fellowship within the local Body. In some sense, after being repeatedly warned, the individual was to be pointed out.)

¹⁵Yet count him not as an enemy (means to not count him outside of Christ, but only as an erring Brother, which means hes going in the wrong direction), but admonish him as a Brother. (Admonish him not as one lost, but as one who belongs to the Lord, but yet erring.)

BENEDICTION

¹⁶Now the Lord of Peace Himself give you Peace always by all means. (This is Sanctifying Peace. It doesnt refer to an absence of problems or troubles, but rather to an unending Peace in the midst of problems and troubles, etc., which can only be given by the Lord, and is a result of Grace which comes through the Cross.) The Lord be with you all. (It means all can have this Sanctifying Peace. In fact, the pronoun all includes even the offending ones whom Paul has been addressing, that is if they will turn to the right way.)

¹⁷The salutation of Paul with my own hand (it seems that Paul dictated this Letter to a Scribe up to this particular Verse; at this point, he took the pen in his own hand to add a closing greeting), which is the token in every Epistle: so I write. (This presents the Apostle saying that this is his style. That is, the signature is sign or proof of the genuineness of the Epistle.)

¹⁸The Grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all (made possible by the Cross). Amen.