2 Thessalonians 3

2 Thessalonians 3:1-2

¹Finally, brothers, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may spread rapidly and be glorified, even as also with you, ²and that we may be delivered from unreasonable and evil men; for not all have faith.

Paul asks prayer that the Lord’s word would run and be glorified as it was among them, and that the missionaries would be delivered from unreasonable and evil men, since not all have faith.

2 Thessalonians 3:3

³But the Lord is faithful, who will establish you and guard you from the evil one.

In contrast to faithless men, the Lord is faithful: He will establish the Thessalonians and guard them from the evil one.

2 Thessalonians 3:4-5

⁴We have confidence in the Lord concerning you, that you both do and will do the things we command. ⁵May the Lord direct your hearts into God’s love and into the perseverance of Christ.

Paul expresses confidence in the Lord that the Thessalonians do and will obey what he commands, and prays the Lord would direct their hearts into God’s love and Christ’s perseverance.

2 Thessalonians 3:6-9

⁶Now we command you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you withdraw yourselves from every brother who walks in rebellion and not after the tradition which they received from us. ⁷For you know how you ought to imitate us. For we didn’t behave ourselves rebelliously among you, ⁸neither did we eat bread from anyone’s hand without paying for it, but in labor and travail worked night and day, that we might not burden any of you. ⁹This was not because we don’t have the right, but to make ourselves an example to you, that you should imitate us.

In the Lord Jesus’ name Paul commands withdrawal from every brother walking in rebellion against apostolic tradition; the missionaries modeled non-idle labor, paying for their own bread night and day—not lacking the right to support, but providing an example to imitate.

2 Thessalonians 3:10

¹⁰For even when we were with you, we commanded you this: “If anyone is not willing to work, don’t let him eat.”

Paul recalls their standing command: if anyone is not willing to work, he should not eat—targeting willful refusal, not inability.

2 Thessalonians 3:11-12

¹¹For we hear of some who walk among you in rebellion, who don’t work at all, but are busybodies. ¹²Now those who are that way, we command and exhort in the Lord Jesus Christ, that they work with quietness and eat their own bread.

Paul has heard that some walk in rebellion—not working but being busybodies—and he commands and exhorts them in the Lord Jesus to work quietly and eat their own bread.

2 Thessalonians 3:13

¹³But you, brothers, don’t be weary in doing what is right.

Paul urges the brothers not to grow weary in doing what is right—persevering in good despite others’ idleness or the cost of obedience.

2 Thessalonians 3:14-15

¹⁴If any man doesn’t obey our word in this letter, note that man and have no company with him, to the end that he may be ashamed. ¹⁵Don’t count him as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother.

If anyone disobeys the letter’s word, the church should note him and avoid company so that he may be ashamed—yet not treat him as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother.

2 Thessalonians 3:16

¹⁶Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times in all ways. The Lord be with you all.

Paul prays that the Lord of peace Himself would give the Thessalonians peace at all times in every way, and that the Lord would be with them all.

2 Thessalonians 3:17-18

¹⁷I, Paul, write this greeting with my own hand, which is the sign in every letter. This is how I write. ¹⁸The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.

Paul authenticates the letter with his own handwritten greeting as the sign in every letter, then blesses them all with the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ.

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