2 Thessalonians-Chapter 3
Copyright © 1999 Darroll Evans-All rights
reserved
2 Thessalonians 3:1-2
1 Finally, brethren, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may have free
course, and be glorified, even as it is with you:
2 And that we may be delivered from unreasonable and wicked men: for all men
have not faith.
Here, Paul asks for prayer. Paul may have
become concerned with what appears to him may be slow progress in the
dissemination of the gospel.
We must recall that the Thessalonians grabbed
the gospel with both hands and refused to let go. They were enthusiastic!
His prayer is also that God may deliver him
and his companions from those that persecuted them. Then, Paul says something
that is unexpected.
Paul says, "For all men have not
faith." Isn't this the same Paul who said that God had given a measure of
faith to each of us (Romans 12:3)?
Why would he say something different here?
It could be that he had not written the
letter the Romans, and simply forgot. Or, it could be that he is referring
to faith in Jesus.
But, why would he say something so obvious?
Unreligious men did not hound Paul. Those who
appeared to be religious Jews or Christians stalked him.
They had no faith in God or in His Messiah,
but they appeared to be men of true faith.
Paul spoke to God about a thorn in the flesh
(2 Corinthians 12:7). Many have theorized that the thorn may have been poor
eyesight or some other physical malady.
In at least one Old Testament reference
(Ezekiel 28:24), a thorn is a reference to enemies of God. Could it be that
those men that tried to destroy the gospel of grace were Paul's "thorn in
the flesh?"
2 Thessalonians 3:3-5
3 But the Lord is faithful, who shall stablish you, and keep you from evil.
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 the Lord direct your hearts into the love of God, and into the patient
waiting for Christ.
The Lord is completely faithful to His word.
In times of distress He will strengthen us. It is God Who shall protect us from
the deceptive practices of Satan.
Have faith in the Lord concerning your life.
Become a doer of the word.
The Lord shall direct you into a deeper
understanding of His love. The Holy Spirit shall guide you into a loyal
perseverance that is available only in Christ Jesus.
2 Thessalonians 3:6 Now we command you,
brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye withdraw yourselves
from every brother that walketh disorderly, and not after the tradition which
he received of us.
This section is best explained by the advice
a great man of God gave to all that came to him for help. Danny Barnes devoted
his life to helping alcoholics and drug addicts.
At the end of the time they spent under his
guidance he would tell them, "If you truly want to change your life,
change your playmates."
We cannot avoid coming into contact with
those that pretend to be Christians. However, we cannot fellowship with them.
Fellowship implies condoning what they do. We
cannot condone sin in any form.
The New American Standard Bible describes
these folks as "unruly." Don't condone such behavior in other
Christians.
2 Thessalonians 3:7-9
7 For yourselves know how ye ought to follow us: for we behaved not
ourselves disorderly among you;
8 Neither did we eat any man's bread for nought; 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.
We are to follow the example of those of good
reputation. The best example we have is Christ Jesus.
He did not live in an unrestrained manner. He
is the ultimate example.
Paul followed Christ's example. He was never
a burden on others.
I have found something extraordinary in
Christ's life. You may be saying, "That's not difficult."
In the entire Bible, no verse says that Jesus
did one minute's worth of manual labor. Yet, He gave to all in need.
2 Thessalonians 3:10 For even when we were
with you, this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he
eat.
This verse needs wisdom and compassion. It
has been greatly abused.
If we define work in the way it is most used
from the Greek text, the first definition must be "manual labor."
Using that definition, no president of a Fortune 500 company works.
"Work" must be defined to include
all those things people do to add something to the betterment of society. One
job that is extremely important to the welfare of society is the Garbage Man.
Can you imagine what would happen to modern
society if we did not have somebody to carry off the trash? Their daily
contribution to society is greater then many
Welfare given for the wrong reasons to the
wrong people produces a state of dependence that smothers our desire to act and
to be liberated.
Many multi-million dollar companies exist due
to corporate welfare. Welfare, corporate or individual, is not an evil within
itself. Only when it produces long-term dependency does it become a
self-perpetuating drain on society.
2 Thessalonians 3:11-13
11 For we hear that there are some which walk among you disorderly, working
not at all, but are busybodies.
12 Now them that are such we command and exhort by our Lord Jesus Christ,
that with quietness they work, and eat their own bread.
13 But ye, brethren, be not weary in well doing.
The Thessalonians had become victims of false
teaching: "Christ is returning tomorrow, therefore I will do no work
today."
Such heresy had produced
"busybodies" within the Church. Human minds and human hands will
always find something to occupy the time, even if it's wrong.
It is written that Jesus went about
"doing good" (Acts 10:38). Let that be our goal.
2 Thessalonians 3:14-15
14 And if any man obey not our word by this epistle, note that man, and have
no company with him, that he may be ashamed.
15 Yet count him not as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother.
I know of one Church that actually
disciplined a member because of his anti-Christian lifestyle. Only one!
Paul gives advice on how to handle such
matters. "Don't count him as an enemy, but do admonish him as you would a
brother."
2 Thessalonians 3:16 Now the Lord of peace
himself give you peace always by all means. The Lord be with you all.
Paul pronounced a blessing on the
You can't give what you don't have. God's
peace is real.
2 Thessalonians 3:17-18
17 The salutation of Paul with mine own hand, which is the token in every
epistle: so I write.
18 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.
He ends with a note concerning his personal
addendum to the letter. We might say that he "signed" it.
Paul wrote what he had so many times before,
"The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen." The
beauty and power of that is beyond description.