> [[2-thessalonians-02|← Previous]] | [[2-thessalonians-00|TOC]] --- # 2 Thessalonians, Chapter 3 ## Chapter 3 **Request for Prayers.** 1 Finally, brothers, pray for us, so that the word of the Lord may speed forward and be glorified, as it did among you, ^2-thessalonians-03-1 2 and that we may be delivered from perverse and wicked people, for not all have faith. ^2-thessalonians-03-2 3 But the Lord is faithful; he will strengthen you and guard you from the evil one. ^2-thessalonians-03-3 4 We are confident of you in the Lord that what we instruct you, you \[both\] are doing and will continue to do. ^2-thessalonians-03-4 5 May the Lord direct your hearts to the love of God and to the endurance of Christ. ^2-thessalonians-03-5 **Neglect of Work.** 6 We instruct you, brothers, in the name of \[our\] Lord Jesus Christ, to shun any brother who conducts himself in a disorderly way and not according to the tradition they received from us. ^2-thessalonians-03-6 7 For you know how one must imitate us. For we did not act in a disorderly way among you, ^2-thessalonians-03-7 8 nor did we eat food received free from anyone. On the contrary, in toil and drudgery, night and day we worked, so as not to burden any of you. ^2-thessalonians-03-8 9 Not that we do not have the right. Rather, we wanted to present ourselves as a model for you, so that you might imitate us. ^2-thessalonians-03-9 10 In fact, when we were with you, we instructed you that if anyone was unwilling to work, neither should that one eat. ^2-thessalonians-03-10 11 We hear that some are conducting themselves among you in a disorderly way, by not keeping busy but minding the business of others. ^2-thessalonians-03-11 12 Such people we instruct and urge in the Lord Jesus Christ to work quietly and to eat their own food. ^2-thessalonians-03-12 13 But you, brothers, do not be remiss in doing good. ^2-thessalonians-03-13 14 If anyone does not obey our word as expressed in this letter, take note of this person not to associate with him, that he may be put to shame. ^2-thessalonians-03-14 15 Do not regard him as an enemy but admonish him as a brother. ^2-thessalonians-03-15 16 May the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times and in every way. The Lord be with all of you. ^2-thessalonians-03-16 # IV. Final Greetings 18 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with all of you. ^2-thessalonians-03-18 \* (3:1] – [18) The final chapter urges the Thessalonians to pray for Paul and his colleagues ([2 Thes 3:1] – [2]) and reiterates confidence in the Thessalonians ([2 Thes 3:3] – [5]), while admonishing them about a specific problem in their community that has grown out of the intense eschatological speculation, namely, not to work but to become instead disorderly busybodies ([2 Thes 3:6] – [15]). A benediction ([2 Thes 3:16]) and postscript in Paul’s own hand round out the letter. On [2 Thes 3:17] – [18], cf. note on [2 Thes 2:2]. \* (3:6) Some members of the community, probably because they regarded the parousia as imminent or the new age of the Lord to be already here ([2 Thes 2:2]), had apparently ceased to work for a living. The disciplinary problem they posed could be rooted in distorted thinking about Paul’s own teaching (cf. [1 Thes 2:16]; [3:3] – [4]; [5:4] – [5]) or, more likely, in a forged letter ([2 Thes 2:2]) and the type of teaching dealt with in [2 Thes 2:1] – [15]. The apostle’s own moral teaching, reflected in his selfless labors for others, was rooted in a deep doctrinal concern for the gospel message (cf. [1 Thes 2:3] – [10]). a. (3:1) [Eph 6:19]; [Col 4:3]. b. (3:3) [1 Thes 5:24] / [1 Cor 16:13] / ([[matthew-06|Mt 6]]:13]. c. (3:4) ([[2-corinthians-07|2 Cor 7]]:16]; [1 Thes 4:1] – [2]. d. (3:8) [1 Thes 2:9]. e. (3:9) [[matthew-10|Mt 10]]:10]; [Phil 3:17]. f. (3:10) [1 Thes 4:11]. g. (3:11) [1 Thes 5:14]. h. (3:15) ([[2-corinthians-02|2 Cor 2]]:7]; [Gal 6:1]. i. (3:16) [Jn 14:27]; [Rom 15:33]. j. (3:17) [1 Cor 16:21]; [Gal 6:11]. --- _New American Bible, revised edition_ (2010, 1991, 1986, 1970) Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, Washington, D.C. > [[2-thessalonians-02|← Previous]] | [[2-thessalonians-00|TOC]]