INTRODUCTION TO 2 THESSALONIANS 3 In this chapter the apostle requests of the Thessalonians, that they would pray for him, and other Gospel ministers; and he puts up prayers for them, gives them rules about dealing with disorderly persons, and concludes the epistle with his usual salutation. The re... [ Continue Reading ]
FINALLY, BRETHREN, PRAY FOR US,.... The apostle now proceeds to the last and closing part of the epistle, which respects church discipline, and the removing of disorderly persons from their communion; and introduces it with a request to pray for him, and the rest of his fellow ministers, particularl... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THAT WE MAY BE DELIVERED FROM UNREASONABLE AND WICKED MEN,.... Either from the unbelieving Jews, see Romans 15:30 who were the avowed enemies of the Gospel, and did all they could to hinder the spread of it; and who were the implacable and constant adversaries of the apostle; who often lay in wa... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT THE LORD IS FAITHFUL,.... Or "God" as the Vulgate Latin and Ethiopic versions read, as do also the Alexandrian and Claromontane copies. This is said for the comfort of the saints, lest they should be discouraged upon hearing that all professors of faith in Christ had it not, who might be ready t... [ Continue Reading ]
AND WE HAVE CONFIDENCE IN THE LORD TOUCHING YOU,.... The ground of confidence concerning them was not in themselves, in their grace, and strength, and wisdom, and conduct, and good behaviour; but in the Lord, in his grace and strength, and in the power of his might, without whom they could do nothin... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THE LORD DIRECT YOUR HEARTS INTO THE LOVE OF GOD,.... By which may be meant either the love with which God is loved. This is the sum and substance of the first and chief commandment in the law, and is what every man in a state of nature is destitute of; it is implanted in the heart in regenerati... [ Continue Reading ]
NOW WE COMMAND YOU, BRETHREN,.... The apostle is now come to the main thing itself he has in view in this part of the epistle, which is to encourage a regard to the discipline of God's house; and to exhort this church to excommunicate, or remove from communion, all disorderly persons; and those who... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR YOURSELVES KNOW HOW YE OUGHT TO FOLLOW US,.... The apostle goes on to dissuade from that which denominates persons disorderly walkers, and exposes them to the censure of the church, and that partly by the example of the apostles, and partly by their command. He appeals to them, to their knowledg... [ Continue Reading ]
NEITHER DID WE EAT ANY MAN'S BREAD FOR NOUGHT.... Or freely, at free cost, without paying for it; he signifies, that what they ate, they bought with their own money, and lived on no man, without giving him a valuable consideration for what they had; though if they had not paid in money for their foo... [ Continue Reading ]
NOT BECAUSE WE HAVE NOT POWER,.... To forbear working, or require a maintenance from the churches to whom we minister, since Christ has ordained, that they that preach the Gospel should live of the Gospel; see 1 Corinthians 9:4. This the apostle says to preserve their right of claim, when and where... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR EVEN WHEN WE WERE WITH YOU,.... At Thessalonica in person, and first preached the Gospel to them, WE COMMANDED YOU, THAT IF ANY WOULD NOT WORK, NEITHER SHOULD HE EAT; the Ethiopic version reads in the singular number, "when I was with you, I commanded you"; using the above words, which were a s... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR WE HEAR THAT THERE ARE SOME,.... This is the reason of the order or command given in 2 Thessalonians 3:6 for withdrawing from disorderly persons. When the apostle was with them, he observed that there were idle persons among them, and therefore gave orders then, that if they would not work, they... [ Continue Reading ]
NOW THEM THAT ARE SUCH,.... For this was not the case and character of them all. Did such practices generally obtain, no community, civil or religious, could subsist. And the apostle wisely distinguishes them from others, that the innocent might not be involved in the charge. WE COMMAND AND EXHORT... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT YE, BRETHREN,.... The rest of the members of the church, who were diligent and industrious in their callings, minded their own business, and did not trouble themselves with other men's matters, took care of themselves, and their families, and were beneficent to others: BE NOT WEARY IN WELL DOIN... [ Continue Reading ]
AND IF ANY MAN OBEY NOT OUR WORD,.... Of command, to work quietly, and eat his own bread, now signified "by this epistle", particularly in 2 Thessalonians 3:12, NOTE THAT MAN; some read this clause in connection with the preceding phrase, "by this epistle", or by an epistle; and so the Ethiopic ver... [ Continue Reading ]
YET COUNT HIM NOT AS AN ENEMY,.... As an enemy of Christ, and the Christian religion, as the Jews and Pagans were; or as an enemy of all righteousness, as Elymas the sorcerer was; as one that has an implacable hatred to good men, and a persecutor of them, and has an utter aversion to them and their... [ Continue Reading ]
NOW THE LORD OF PEACE HIMSELF,.... The Prince of peace, who is peaceable himself, and the author of peace in all his churches, and who requires peace, calls for it, and encourages it: GIVE YOU PEACE ALWAYS BY ALL MEANS; both a conscience peace, through the blood, righteousness, and sacrifice of Chr... [ Continue Reading ]
THE SALUTATION OF PAUL WITH MINE OWN HAND,.... In writing his epistles, the body and substance of them he used an amanuensis, but the salutation he wrote with his own hand: WHICH IS THE TOKEN IN EVERY EPISTLE; by which they might be known to be true and genuine, and be distinguished from counterfei... [ Continue Reading ]
THE GRACE OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST BE WITH YOU ALL. AMEN. This was the sign or token; Romans 16:20 The subscription to this epistle is, "The Second Epistle to the Thessalonians was written from Athens"; though it seems rather to be written from Corinth. In the Syriac version it is said, "the Second... [ Continue Reading ]