1The apostle desireth the Thessalonians to pray for him, 3testifying his confidence in them, 5and praying God to direct them. 6He condemneth the idle and disorderly, and requireth others to abstain from their company: 16concluding with prayer and salutation.
1FINALLY, brethren, praya for us, that the 1word of the Lord 2may have free course, and 3be glorified, even as it is with you:
a Mat. 9:38; Eph. 6:19; Col. 4:3.
1 That is, the preaching of the Gospel.
2 Gr. may run, that is, may speedily and happily be spread abroad and promoted.
3 That is, may be held in honor and esteem, and bring forth worthy fruits.
2Andb that we may be 4delivered from unreasonable and wicked men: forc all men 5have not faith.
b Rom. 15:31.
4 That is, discharged, or kept free from such men who seek to hinder the course of the Gospel, as the stubborn Jews and their adherents had been amongst them. Acts 17; 18.
c John 6:44.
5 That is, it is not given to all to believe in Christ. See Mat. 13:11: John 6:44, etc.
3Butd the Lord is faithful, who shall 6stablish you, ande keep you 7from evil.
d 1 Thes. 5:24.
6 Namely, in the faith.
e John 17:15.
7 Namely, whereof he had treated in the previous verse; or, from wickedness, namely, that you do not fall into it; or, from the devil, that you be not tempted by him, Mat. 6:13.
4And we have confidence in the Lord touching you, that ye both do and will do the things which we 8command you.
8 Namely, in the Name of the Lord, as is expressed hereafter in verse 6, and previously in 1 Thes. 4:2.
5And the Lord 9direct your hearts into 10the love of God, and into 11the patient waiting for Christ.
9 That is, guide your hearts aright, without wavering on the one or the other side.
10 This may be understood either of the love wherewith we love God, or of the love wherewith God loves us; namely, in order that we are more and more strengthened in the feeling of the same. See Rom. 5:5; 8:39.
11 That is, forbearance in the cross and the tribulation for Christ’s sake; or, unto the patient expectation of Christ unto judgment.
6Nowf we command you, brethren, 12in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, 13that ye withdraw yourselves from every 14brother 15that walketh disorderly, and not after 16theg tradition which he received of us.
f verse 14; 1 Cor. 5:11; Titus 3:10.
12 That is, as being commanded, or, having authority thereunto from Christ. See 2 Cor. 5:19, 20.
13 That is, shun, hold no ordinary association with such an one; namely, after that due notice is taken in the congregation, and he, being admonished, continues to be disobedient. See verse 14; Mat. 18:15, etc.; 1 Cor. 5:11.
14 That is, who makes profession of faith in Christ, though he does not rightly live according to it, as Paul declares 1 Cor. 5:11.
15 This may be taken here in general for all irregularity whereby offense is given in the congregation of God; or, of that particular irregularity whereof he makes further exposition in verse 11, namely, of those who went about idle, and practiced vain things, without performing duly their calling, as the sequence seems to require.
16 That is, the commands and exhortations, as previous in 2 Thes. 2:15.
g 2 Thes. 2:15.
7For yourselves know howh ye ought to follow 17us: fori we behaved not ourselves 18disorderly among you;
h 1 Cor. 11:1; 1 Thes. 1:6, 7.
17 Namely, not me only, but also Timothy and Silvanus, in whose name this epistle was also written.
i 1 Thes. 2:10.
18 Namely, as these idle bodies or doers of vain things do outside their calling.
8Neitherj did we eat any man’s 19bread for nought; but 20wrought with labour and travail night and day, that we might not be chargeable to any of you:
j Acts 18:3; 20:34; 1 Cor. 4:12; 2 Cor. 11:9; 12:13; 1 Thes. 2:9.
19 Gr. no bread of any man, that is, enjoyed no meat and drink, as Gen. 3:19.
20 That is, besides the careful performance of our apostolic office, working also with our hands to maintain ourselves. See Acts 20:34; 1 Thes. 2:9.
9Notk because we have not 21power, but to make ourselves anl ensamplem unto you to follow 22us.
k 1 Cor. 9:3, 6; 1 Thes. 2:9.
21 Namely, of being burdensome to you, or taking maintenance of you, as other apostles did, and he teaches elsewhere that the ministers of the Word have also power to do. See hereof in detail, 1 Cor. 9:3, etc.
l 1 Cor. 4:16; 11:1; Philip. 3:17; 1 Thes. 1:6.
m example, model from within a defined group or type.
22 Namely, in the performance of your labor, each one in his calling, and not under a pretense, either that you will promote the Gospel, or, that Christ would speedily come to judgment, to excuse your idleness and practice of vain things.
10For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if 23any would not work, neither should he eat.
23 Namely, having health, strength and opportunity for it; for, otherwise the congregation is also bound, as much as is possible, to take care for everyone who has need. See 2 Corinthians 8; 9.
11For 24we hear that there are some which walk among you disorderly, working not at all, but are 25busybodies.
24 This the apostle adds to show that he does not propound these foregoing exhortations and examples unto them in vain; and this depends properly on what he said in verse 6.
25 That is, doing things without a vocation, outside of their vocation, and against their vocation; as this word is also used of some idle widows, 1 Tim. 5:13.
12Nown them that are such we command and exhort by our Lord Jesus Christ, that with quietness they work,o and eat 26their own bread.
n 1 Thes. 4:11.
o Eph. 4:28.
26 That is, which they have obtained by their own labor. See 1 Thes. 4:11.
13But ye, brethren, 27be not wearyp in well doing.
27 The Greek word properly signifies to become worse, that is, more remiss or slack. The apostle adds to this to admonish them, that, because of the neglect of these idle persons, they must not be the more remiss or slack in doing well to the true poor.
p Gal. 6:9.
14And if any man obey not 28our word by this epistle, 29note that man, andq30have no company with him, that he may 31be ashamed.
28 That is, this our exhortation of working quietly, performing their own business, and leading an orderly life. See further verse 6.
29 Some join this word note here to the previous word epistle, as if the apostle would say: Mark him, or give me notice of him by an epistle; but this conjunction does not agree well with the Greek word semeiousthai, nor with that which follows. For, this Greek word properly means not to point to anyone, but indeed to note or mark anyone whom one puts to any shame, or excludes out of any honorable assemblies, and to note or put out his name as unworthy of such honor. So that by others this word is here very fittingly understood of the Christian excommunication, and exclusion out of the communion of the church, according to the order instituted by Christ, Mat. 18:15, as the following words also clearly indicate.
q verse 6; Mat. 18:17; 1 Cor. 5:9.
30 See of this same word and the thing signified thereby, in detail at 1 Cor. 5:9, 11.
31 And by this shame return to his responsible duty, as the Greek word indicates. See Mat. 21:37.
15Yet count him not 32as an enemy, but admonish him 33as a brother.
32 Namely, which you must totally avoid or forsake, as men commonly do the enemies.
33 Namely, who is gone astray, and whom therefore they must bring again into the right way, 2 Cor. 2:7.
16Nowr34the Lord of peace himself give you peace always 35by all means. The Lord be with you all.
r Rom. 15:33; 16:20; 1 Cor. 14:33; 2 Cor. 13:11; Philip. 4:9; 1 Thes. 5:23.
34 That is, Who is the Author of all peace and blessedness.
35 That is, with God as well as among one another.
17Thes salutation of Paul with mine own hand, which is 36the token in every epistle: so I write.
s 1 Cor. 16:21; Col. 4:18.
36 Namely, whereby mine own epistles may be distinguished by the congregations from others which might be feigned in my name. See Col. 4:18.
18The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.