Text (2 Thessalonians 3:2)

2 and that we may be delivered from unreasonable and evil men; for all have not faith.

Translation and Paraphrase

2.

And (please pray also) that we may be delivered from perverse (men, such as are out of their divinely appointed place and manner of life) and (from) evil men. For (it goes without saying that) the faith is NOT (held) by all (people. And these unbelieving men would hinder us if they could).

Notes (2 Thessalonians 3:2)

1.

Paul did not ask for prayer merely to escape hardship and persecution. Compare 2 Thessalonians 3:1. He wanted to be delivered from the restraint that wicked men would impose on his preaching.

2.

Everywhere Paul went he faced unreasonable and wicked men, such as he described here. In fact he was facing such men in Corinth at the time this letter was written. See Acts 18:6; Acts 18:12.

3.

The word translated unreasonable (Gr., atopos) means out of place, not befitting, unbecoming, improper, wicked unrighteous. (Thayer). The Amplified New Testament renders it perverse and the New English Bible as wrong-headed. (We like that rendering.)

4.

It has always been true that all men have not faith. Those without faith are not to be relied on without caution. They often plot and persecute in an attempt to hinder the preaching of the gospel. Even Jesus would not commit himself to men, because he knew all men, and knew what was in man. John 2:24-25.

5.

Some people will never believe, no matter how clearly and tenderly the gospel is preached to them. We can only pray that we may be delivered from such men.

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