2 Thessalonians 3

           Paul wants to conclude the letter and begin to focus on the church of Thessalonians.

The rest (loipon), you pray concerning us, brethren, so that the Word of the Lord spread rapidly (trechei = run. In Early Greek of Homer's books, it was used for moving quickly) and may be glorified (doksazetai) just as also towards you (2 Thessalonians 3:1). Paul is asking that they pray that the Word of the Lord spread rapidly and the Word may be glorified both with Paul and his team as well as with the Thessalonians.

           How do you glorify the Word of God? With hermeneutics of suspicion? With jokes about Peter at the Pearly Gates? By not preaching from it but rather from anecdotes and personal experiences? By allocating Paul's admonitions at the door of Paul's day as opposed to our day and age? By elevating some niceties from the Word in the same manner as one would do of a modern poem? By switching from intellect and the Word of God emphasis to gospel hymns and emotionalism focus to reach the youth?

           Paul needs also prayer, so that (ina) they may be delivered (hrusthomen) from the perverse (atopoon = not of the original kind) and evil (poneroon) men. "For the faith is not of all" (2 Thessalonians 3:2). Genuine faith is not found in all. Not all people coming to church are saved or sharing in saving faith. People come to church sometimes for club-member reasons.

           Humans may not be reliable but "faithful is the Lord, who will strengthen (sterixei) you and will protect (phulaxei)  you from the Evil one (ponerou) (2 Thessalonians 3:3).

           "But, we have confidence (pepoithamen) in the Lord upon you, that what we commanded (paraggellomen) you to do also you will do (poiesete)" (2 Thessalonians 3:4). Why will do? Because they did not do it. Why command? Because it is the Word of God inspired by the Holy Spirit not only expounded and explained but on becoming. Paul knew that his letters, as opposed to other letters floating around, will be part of the Word of God canon and that they should read his letters to each other as much as they could (1 Thessalonians 5:27). Some letters to the Thessalonians were fake messages "as if from us" (2 Thessalonians 2:2). Paul can command, not because he is the first pope, but because the Holy Spirit, his miraculous interaction and encounter with Christ at Damascus and after, his study leave of four years mentioned in Galatians, his close walk with the Spirit of God, his dedication totally until death, his continuation of the Old Testament truths, made his letter qualify to be included in the canon of the Word of God. Therefore, it is the Word of the Lord in the letter that is commanding. The content commands. It appeals and speaks to the mind.

           "But may the Lord navigate (kateuthunai = optative of wishing = may keep straight, guide aright, to set right) your heart unto the godly love of God and unto the obedience of Christ" (2 Thessalonians 3:5). It is the obedience of Christ 100% without any blemish or stain, with no propensity to evil, no desire to it, that qualifies His obedience to be ours. It is the example that is to be imitated, as indicated in Paul's theology. When the sinner lays hold of this Righteousness of Christ, the sinner is saved by the Righteousness of Christ on his/her behalf. It is a sovereign act of God but a very willing and anxious act of God to save sinners. There is no delay. It is so quickly that it happens almost before the words are uttered by the sinner, namely, while the thoughts are forming in the brain, salvation and regeneration are nearly completed. By the time the sinner pleads forgiveness, sometimes before the tears drop from the eye, God is already well-pleased and smiling happily in heaven, for the act of salvation is completed. Another salvation application victory on earth. Salvation accomplished was on the Cross only by Christ in 31 CE. Salvation applied is daily in the lives of sinners.  

           Paul then remembers another topic and that is idleness. There were certain kind of people that were problem-makers to the church. Paul wants to say something about them.

           Paul says that he commands them in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ to distance (stellesthai = to shrink from) themselves from "those who walk (peripatountos) unruly (ataktoos) and not according to the handed-over (paradosin = tradition) which you received from us" (2 Thessalonians 3:6). What Paul wrote in letters to the Thessalonians were not just letters. They were enlarging the canon of the Word of God, continuing in the same line as the Old Testament, with no conflict or out of harmony point, and this was to be received and followed. If not, it was like not following the Word of God. They are to distance from these rebels.

           Because they themselves (autoi) knew how they must follow the example of them (Paul and his team), because Paul and his team was not unruly among them (2 Thessalonians 3:7). The shepherds were well disciplined according to the New Testament and Old Tesament church Manual of those days and they kept to the principles of the Manual. Paul wants the Thessalonians to do the same. They have to follow the example. To follow the example of Paul and his team is to follow in words and actions. In lifestyle, in cultural view, in world view, in economic outlook and approach, in ethics, in interpersonal relationships, in emotional feelings for the sufferers and other human beings. In doctrines, in spirituality, in worship, in manner of eating, drinking and daily talking.

           There is no doubt that the original language indicates that Paul meant that there were a considerable number of persons in this church that were negligent in their business and disorderly. Paul demands withdrawal from them. Paul is not first. Psalm 1 admonishes us not to sit in the circle of the mockers. Jesus said that we should not throw pearls to the pigs.

           Paul did not eat a gift of bread from anyone, "but in labor and hardship night and day working towards not being a burden to anyone of you" (2 Thessalonians 3:8). 

           It is not that they did not have the authority (exousian). Paul had authority by Christ who appeared and commissioned him at the start of his ministry. It is Christ's authority that Paul had but Paul did not want to misuse that authority for self-gain. What about the conference president that is eager to show a higher number at the end of the year in newly baptized members, so the evangelist suggests that he is willing to rent himself out to the president of the conference to hold a campaign for him and baptized as many as he can, but then the president must give him a property lot that was handed to the church after the death of a grandmother or church-member who donated the land to the Trust Services Department of the Church?

           Paul continues: "but so that we give ourselves to you, a model to copy (mimeisthai) us" (2 Thessalonians 3:9). Paul, as a legitimate and authoritative worker for God [a Word of God mirror and revelation of God vehicle], did not want to create misunderstandings. He wants his and his team's image to be clean, clear, simple, open, noteworthy, and of a high quality. So much so, that it can be imitated.

           "For also when we were towards you, this we commanded you, that if anyone does not want to work he should not eat" (2 Thessalonians 3:10).

           Paul said that they heard (akouomen) that some were walking among them unruly (ataktoos), not working but working around (periergazomenous = probably literally meaning work avoiding or around the work) (2 Thessalonians 3:11).