2 Thessalonians (Lesson 5) 2 Thess. 3:  1 Finally, brethren, pray for us that the word of the Lord will spread rapidly and be glorified, just as it did also with you;  2 and that we will be rescued from perverse and evil men; for not all have faith.  3 But the Lord is faithful, and He will strengthen and protect you from the evil one.

2 Thessalonians (Lesson 5) 2 Thess. 3:  4 We have confidence in the Lord concerning you, that you are doing and will continue to do what we command.  5 May the Lord direct your hearts into the love of God and into the steadfastness of Christ.

2 Thessalonians (Lesson 5) Prayers On Both Sides: 2 Thess. 3:  Paul doubtless enjoyed the prayers of many Christians, for he often asked his brethren to pray for him.  Prayers by the Thessalonians should seek three things in particular from the Lord:  Paul knew from bitter experience that “not all men have faith.”

2 Thessalonians (Lesson 5) Prayers On Both Sides: 2 Thess. 3:  Paul’s most recent encounter with such opponents of the gospel had occurred, or was soon to occur, at Corinth, from where this letter was written.  The Thessalonian disciples certainly were not among those without faith.  Although there are many men who have no faith in the goodness of the Lord, He always shows faith in the goodness of men who want to be good.

2 Thessalonians (Lesson 5) Prayers On Both Sides: 2 Thess. 3:  The sincere Christian can rest on two clear promises from God:  As always, Paul relied not on what he could do for people but on what God could do through him.  Paul’s prayer for the saints was as fervent as he expected theirs to be for him.

2 Thessalonians (Lesson 5) 2 Thess. 3:  6 Now we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you keep away from every brother who leads an unruly life and not according to the tradition which you received from us.  7 For you yourselves know how you ought to follow our example, because we did not act in an undisciplined manner among you,  8 nor did we eat anyone’s bread without paying for it, but with labor and hardship we kept working night and day so that we would not be a burden to any of you;

2 Thessalonians (Lesson 5) 2 Thess. 3:  9 not because we do not have the right to this, but in order to offer ourselves as a model for you, so that you would follow our example.  10 For even when we were with you, we used to give you this order: if anyone is not willing to work, then he is not to eat, either.

2 Thessalonians (Lesson 5) Traditions and Examples: 2 Thess. 3:  For the most part, the condition of the young church at Thessalonica was in pretty good shape.  Nevertheless, there were a few negative situations needing attention before the final words of this letter were written.  In his first letter, Paul had told the disciples to “warn them that are unruly” (1Thes. 5:14) about their unruliness.

2 Thessalonians (Lesson 5) Traditions and Examples: 2 Thess. 3:  It appears that Paul’s earlier direction about warning insubordinate members had not achieved satisfactory results to the time of his second epistle.  “Disorderly” conduct obviously includes all disobedience to apostolic instructions, but Paul here makes a particular application of the term to the idleness of which some church members were guilty, as the next few verses demonstrate.

2 Thessalonians (Lesson 5) Traditions and Examples: 2 Thess. 3:  Two ideas about this idleness are found in the various commentaries on the passage:  Paul had supported himself with honest labor during his stay in Thessalonica when he took the gospel there.  Thus, both by tradition and by personal example, the lesson had been made clear to all: “If anyone will not work, neither shall he eat!”

2 Thessalonians (Lesson 5) 2 Thess. 3:  10 For even when we were with you, we used to give you this order: if anyone is not willing to work, then he is not to eat, either.  11 For we hear that some among you are leading an undisciplined life, doing no work at all, but acting like busybodies.  12 Now such persons we command and exhort in the Lord Jesus Christ to work in quiet fashion and eat their own bread.

2 Thessalonians (Lesson 5) Walking Disorderly: 2 Thess. 3:  The Thessalonians had been taught many traditions to observe in their worship, work, and personal relationships as members of the Lord’s church (3:15).  We know that this “disorderly” behavior was a real and present problem and not just something that only had the potential to become a problem for the church.  A simple solution was available for this unapproved conduct:

2 Thessalonians (Lesson 5) 2 Thess. 3:13...  13 But as for you, brethren, do not grow weary of doing good.

2 Thessalonians (Lesson 5) A Note of Caution: 2 Thess. 3:13...  It is easy to become discouraged about doing good deeds for others when we see unworthy people taking advantage of our willingness to help.  The Galatian churches were exhorted similarly about persistence in doing good (Gal. 6:9), although Paul’s admonition to them probably had a broader application than this statement made to the Thessalonians.

2 Thessalonians (Lesson 5) 2 Thess. 3:  14 If anyone does not obey our instruction in this letter, take special note of that person and do not associate with him, so that he will be put to shame.  15 Yet do not regard him as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother.

2 Thessalonians (Lesson 5) Church Discipline: 2 Thess. 3:  Much is said in the New Testament about the necessity of church discipline.  Discipline, from sophron, literally means, “saving the mind,” and is used primarily to describe a “calling to soundness of mind or self-control” [Vine].  Discipline has both positive and negative aspects.

2 Thessalonians (Lesson 5) Church Discipline: 2 Thess. 3:  Perhaps there were those at Thessalonica whose deviant behavior had already been given appropriate attention but who had not responded in a desirable manner.  Attitudes would still play a prominent role in the final outcome of all recovery efforts.

2 Thessalonians (Lesson 5) 2 Thess. 3:  16 Now may the Lord of peace Himself continually grant you peace in every circumstance. The Lord be with you all!  17 I, Paul, write this greeting with my own hand, and this is a distinguishing mark in every letter; this is the way I write.  18 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all.

2 Thessalonians (Lesson 5) Words of Farewell: 2 Thess. 3:  Paul’s final prayer for the spiritual health of the young converts to whom he wrote is found in verses 16 and 18.  Verse 17 suggests that Paul might sometimes have been bothered by unprincipled men who had forged documents purporting to have been written by the apostle.  Evidently, Paul had devised some kind of mark by which churches and individuals could recognize a letter from him as genuine.

2 Thessalonians (Lesson 5) Words of Farewell: 2 Thess. 3:  Paul’s final prayer for the spiritual health of the young converts to whom he wrote is found in verses 16 and 18.  Verse 17 suggests that Paul might sometimes have been bothered by unprincipled men who had forged documents purporting to have been written by the apostle.  Evidently, Paul had devised some kind of mark by which churches and individuals could recognize a letter from him as genuine.