2 Thessalonians 3:1 - Printer Friendly

ESV: Finally, brothers, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may speed ahead and be honored, as happened among you,

NIV: As for other matters, brothers and sisters, pray for us that the message of the Lord may spread rapidly and be honored, just as it was with you.

NASB: Finally, brothers and sisters, pray for us that the word of the Lord will spread rapidly and be glorified, just as it was also with you;

CSB: In addition, brothers and sisters, pray for us that the word of the Lord may spread rapidly and be honored, just as it was with you,

NLT: Finally, dear brothers and sisters, we ask you to pray for us. Pray that the Lord’s message will spread rapidly and be honored wherever it goes, just as when it came to you.

KJV: Finally, brethren, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may have free course, and be glorified, even as it is with you:

NKJV: Finally, brethren, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may run swiftly and be glorified, just as it is with you,

"Finally" in this verse introduces the final section of Paul's second letter to the believers at Thessalonica. He asks for prayer for his coworkers and himself. It is an especially selfless prayer request, because Paul doesn't ask for his financial needs to be met or for his health needs. He asks for prayer on behalf of his group's proclamation of God's Word. Specifically, he asks for prayer that the Word may have free course and be acknowledged as God's authoritative, powerful Word. That is how the Thessalonians had received it.

Paul recognized two things. He recognized that his ministry could not succeed without prayer, and he recognized that God's Word was effective. In Romans 1:16 he testifies, "I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek." It was this confidence in the power of God's message that drove him to proclaim it throughout the Roman Empire.

Second Thessalonians 3:1–5 requests prayer that, as Paul spread the gospel, it would bear fruit as it had when the Thessalonians received it. His appeal also includes a hope that he would be delivered from wicked men. He expresses confidence that the Lord would strengthen his readers and protect them from Satan. He is certain the Thessalonian believers would obey his commands, and he prays that they would love God and adhere to Paul's teachings.

Paul expresses confidence that the Thessalonians would do what he commanded. He addresses the sin of idleness in the lives of some of the believers at Thessalonica, commanding the church to avoid an idle brother. Paul also points to his own example of diligence, when he refused to rely on charity. Paul clearly separates charity for the needy from foolishly supporting those who are merely lazy: If anyone is not willing to work, don't feed him. The letter ends with a prayer for peace among the Thessalonian believers. Paul also assures his readers that 2 Thessalonians is authentic because it bears his signature.

The prior chapter explained the events which would precede the ''day of the Lord:'' a time of severe judgment. Among these were a time of deep spiritual rebellion and the rise of a figure referred to as the ''man of lawlessness.'' Chapter 2 ended with a reference to the Thessalonians being established in good works. This chapter continues that theme, focusing on the need for Christians to exhibit a strong work ethic. This extends to the way the church applies charity, not wasting it on those who are capable of work, but simply choose not to. These thoughts complete Paul's second letter to the Thessalonians.

Second Thessalonians follows Paul's earlier letter to the same group of Christian believers. In 1 Thessalonians, Paul had praised them for their faithfulness and given them reassurances about the day of the Lord. This included teachings on the rapture and a description of death as ''sleep'' from a Christian viewpoint. In this second letter, Paul corrects possible misunderstandings about those ideas. Among his teachings here are the importance of a good work ethic and God's impending judgment on sin, including judgment on those who persecute the Christian church. Paul also provides the Thessalonians with reassurances that they have not somehow missed out on Christ's return.

Accessed 5/10/2024 5:52:48 PM