2 Thessalonians 3:2

and(pray) that we may be delivered from unreasonable and wicked men Better, perverse and evil men. The Apostle is thinking, no doubt, of the fanatical Jews at Corinth (see Acts 18:5-17), who stood in the way of the Gospel; when Gallio's judgement removed this obstacle, Christianity appears to have spread rapidly in this city. Comp. Romans 15:31, "that I may be delivered from the disobedient in Judæa." From Ephesus four years later he writes (1 Corinthians 16:9), "A great and effectual door is opened" to me, notwithstanding "many adversaries." Through this open door the word gloriously ran; at Corinth it was not so as yet.

For "wicked" (or "evil"), see notes on 1 Thessalonians 5:22, and also 2 Thessalonians 3:3 below. For "delivered" (or rescued) comp. 1 Thessalonians 1:10 (note), where the same word is used. It points to enemies who seemed to have the writer in their power. Read 2 Corinthians 11:23-33 for a graphic description of the Apostle's perils.

for allmen have not faith Or, not to all does the faith belong. There are those, alas, with "no part nor lot in the matter" (Acts 8:21). The Apostle puts his meaning in a pathetically veiled and softened way (see note on "not pleasing," 1 Thessalonians 2:15). "It is not all who share our faith: many are its enemies, and bear us on its account a deadly hatred. Will you pray that we may be delivered from their power?" Their unbelief in Christ made the Corinthian opposers "perverse and evil." Not being forHim, they came to be furiously againstHim (Matthew 12:30). This is enough, in the Apostle's view, to explain their conduct; comp. 2 Thessalonians 3:10, "they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved."

With relief he turns from these perverse unbelievers to think of the safety and confidence that abide within the Church of Christ: