2 Thessalonians 3

The Apostle exhorts the Thessalonians to pray for him, 3. and testifies his confidence that the Lord will strengthen them; 5. prays also to God for them, 6. and commands them to withdraw themselves from every brother that walks disorderly. 7. Proves by his own example that every one must labour to maintain himself, 10. or otherwise that he ought not to eat. 13. Exhorts them not to grow weary in doing good, 14. and that they mark and punish them who are not obedient command herein. 16. Concludes with the usual salutation, 17. which he adjoins with his own hand in all his Epistles.

1. Furthermore brethren pray for us, that the word of the Lord [That is, the preaching of the Gospel] may have [its] course [Gr. May run, i.e. may speedily and happily be spread abroad and promoted] and be glorified [that is, may be held in honour and esteem, and bring forth worthy fruits] even as also with you.

2. And that we may be delivered [That is, discharged or kept free from such men who seek to hinder the course of the Gospel, as is the stiff-necked Jews and their adherents had been amongst them. Acts 17:18.] from absurd and wicked men: for all men have not faith, [that is, it is not given to all to believe in Christ. See Matthew 13:11. John 6:44, & c.]

3. But the Lord is faithful, who shall strengthen you, [namely, in faith] and keep you from the wicked, [namely, whereof he had treated in the former verse; or from evil, namely, that ye fall not there into; or from the devil, that ye be not tempted by him, Matthew 6:13.]

4. And we are confident of you in the Lord, that ye also do and will do that which we command you , [Namely, in the name of the Lord, as is expressed hereafter verse 6. and before 1 Thes. 4. 2.]

5. But the Lord direct your hearts [That is, guide your hearts aright, without wavering on the one or the other side] unto the Love of God, [this may be understood either of the love wherewith we love God, or of the love wherewith God loves us; namely, that we be more and more strengthened in the feeling of the same. See Romans 5:5. and 8. 39. and unto the patience of Christ, [that is, sufferance in the Cross, and tribulation for Christ’s sake: or unto the patient expectation of Christ to Judgement.]

6. And we command you brethren in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, [That is, as being commanded, or having authority thereunto from the Christ. See 2 Cor. 5. 19, 20.] that ye withdraw yourselves [that is, shun, hold no ordinary converse with such an one; namely, after that due notice is taken thereof in the Church, and he being admonished continues disobedient. See Matthew 18:15, & c. 1 Cor. 5. 11. and afterward vers. 14.] from every brother [that is, who makes profession of faith in Christ, although he do not rightly live according to it, as Paul declares 1 Cor. 5. 11.] that walketh irregularly, [this may be taken here in general for all irregularity, whereby offence is given in the Church of God; or of that particular irregularity, whereof he makes further exposition ver. 11. namely of those that went about idle, and practiced vain things, without following their calling duly, as that which followeth seems to require] and not according to the institution which he received from us, [that is, commands and exhortations, as before chapter 2. 15.]

7. For ye yourselves know how ye ought instate us, [Namely, not me onely, but also Timotheus and Silvanus, in whose name also this Epistle was written] for we carried out not ourselves disorderly among you: [namely, as these idle bodies or doers of vain things without their calling.]

8. Neither have we eaten any bread with any man [Gr. No bread of any man, i.e. enjoyed no meat and drink as Genesis 3:19.] for naught, but in labour and painfulness, working night and day: [that is, besides the careful following of our Apostolical office, working also with our hands to maintain ourselves. See Acts 20:34. and before 1 Thes. 2. 9.] that we might not be burdensome to any one of you:

9. Not that we have not the power [Namely, of being burdensome to you, or taking maintenance of you as other Apostles did, and he teacheth elsewhere that the Ministers of the word have also power to do. See hereof more at large 1 Cor. 9. 3, & c.] but that we might give ourselves to you [for] a pattern to imitate us. [namely, in following your labour each one in his calling, and not under a pretext either that you will promote the Gospel, or that Christ should speedily come to judgement, to excuse your idleness and practicing of vain things.]

10. For even when we were with you this we commanded you, that if any man will not work, [Namely, having health, strength, and opportunity for it : for otherwise the Church also is bound, as much as is possible, to take care for every one that hath need. See 2 Cor. chapter 8. 9. neither should he eat.

11. For we hear that some among you walk disorderly [This the Apostle adds to show that he doth not propound these foregoing exhortations and examples unto them in vain: and this properly depends on that which he said ver. 6.] not working, but doing vain things, [that is, doing things without a call out of their calling, and beyond or against their calling: as this word is also used of some idle widows, 1 Tim. 5. 13.]

12. But them that are such we command and exhort by our Lord Jesus Christ, that they working with quietness eat their own bread, [That is, which they have gotten by their own labour. See 1 Thes. 4. 11.]

13. And ye brethren grow not ye slack in well doing, [The Greek word properly signifies to become worse, that is, more remiss or slack: and the Apostle adds this, to admonish them that because of the abuse of there idle persons, they must not be the more remiss or slack in doing good to the true poor.]

14. But if any one be not obedient to our word [written] by this epistle, [That is, this our exhortation of working in quiet, following their own business, and leading an orderly life. See further ver. 6] mark him: [Some join this word mark here to the former word Epistle; as if the Apostle should say, mark him, or give me notice of him by an Epistle: but this conjunction agrees not well with the Greek word Semeiousthai, nor with that which follows. For this Greek word properly signifies not to give notice of any one, but indeed to note or mark any one whom one puts to any shame, or excludes out of any honourable assembles, and to note or put out his name as unworthy of such honour. So that this word is here by others very fitly understood of the Christian excommunication, and excluding out of the communion of the Church, according to the order instituted by Christ, Matthew 18:15. as the following words also clearly import.] and mingle not [See of this same word ,and the thing signified thereby ,more at large 1Cor.5.9,11.]yourself with him, that he may be ashamed: [namely, and by this shame return to his duty, as the Greek word imports. See Matth. 21. 37.]

15. And hold [him] not as an enemy, [Namely, which ye must wholly avoid or forsake as men use to do enemies] but admonish [him] as a brother, [namely, who is gone astray, and whom therefore they should bring again into the right way, 2 Cor. 2. 7.]

16. Now the Lord of peace himself, [That is, who is the author of all peace and happiness] give you peace always, in every manner of way, [that is, as well with God as among one another] the Lord be with you all.

17. The salutation with mine own Paul’s hand which is a token in every Epistle: [Namely, whereby mine own Epistles may be distinguished by the Churches from others which might be feigned in my name. See 1 Cor. 6. 11. col. 4. 18.] so I write.

18. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen