2 Thessalonians 3

As a quick recap from 2 Thessalonians 2. Paul had to diffuse a situation of confusion. Those in Thessalonica had started to believe that the second coming of Christ had already happened. They thought they were in the great tribulation because of all the persecution going on and there were potentially people writing fake letters to them, pretending to be Paul and saying that Christ’s return had come.

So in chapter 2 the second coming is a lot of what Paul talked about. Confirming it had not happened and that they should be on the lookout for the lawless one as a way of knowing the times and that God is in the control of when that time comes.

As we dive into chapter 3, he is wrapping up the letter and his main focus in this passage is on disorderly behavior and he gives an exhortation on how to behave among each other as believers.

2 Thessalonians 3:1–5 NLT

1 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. 2 Pray, too, that we will be rescued from wicked and evil people, for not everyone is a believer. 3 But the Lord is faithful; he will strengthen you and guard you from the evil one. 4 And we are confident in the Lord that you are doing and will continue to do the things we commanded you. 5 May the Lord lead your hearts into a full understanding and expression of the love of God and the patient endurance that comes from Christ.

So as we begin chapter 3, Paul starts with asking for prayer. This is one of those verses that when you really think about it, points to the power and importance of prayer. As Paul, an Apostle of God, is writing to these fairly new Christian believers, and discipling them, in the very same letter he asks them to pray for him. Prayer should flow from all believers, no matter where they are at in their spiritual life. So even these young believers could help an Apostle in a spiritual way. And that’s because the power behind prayer is from God. It’s an important thing to remember as it’s easy to think am I really making that big of a difference in prayer, does it really matter. I’m not as strong of a Christian as this person or that person. That’s focusing too much on us. When we pray we’re asking for God’s power to intervene. And he may use us in the answer of prayer, but it’s about trusting in His power.

Paul asks for a couple things in prayer. That the Lord’s message will spread rapidly and that they would be rescued from the wicked.

Which when you think about it, does that mean when we neglect prayer about God’s word spreading, are there more hinderances out there in the spreading of the Gospel? We know there is a spiritual battle going on. We even dove into that in the book of Daniel where angels and demons were fighting. Once again prayer is important.

And when Paul asks to be rescued from wicked people, what did he say after that. Because not everyone is nice? No, because not everyone is a believer. At the root of everything, we as humans are born into sin, our flesh is evil and wicked. In romans it says the mind governed by the flesh is hostile to God. There is only one thing that sets us apart as Holy. And that’s believing in Christ.

Verses 4 and 5 Paul expresses his confidence in them following their teachings because of the power of God. He knows they do believe and because of that God will transform them.

He also says a little prayer for them in verse 5. I want to read it again because some of the wording at the end I want to clear up.

2 Thessalonians 3:5 NLT

5 May the Lord lead your hearts into a full understanding and expression of the love of God and the patient endurance that comes from Christ.

Your translation might just say “patience that comes from Christ”. My translation reads patient endurance. The reasoning is the Greek word used there for Patience is not referring to the kind of patience we often think of. It’s not about patiently waiting. Sitting there not doing anything, staying calm. It is about enduring. So fighting through the challenges and trials of life while holding onto your faith. And as believers God does help us endure by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Okay so now we’re going to get into the bigger issue that Paul wants to address around disorderly behavior. So we’ll go through verese 6-15.

2 Thessalonians 3:6–15 NLT

6 And now, dear brothers and sisters, we give you this command in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ: Stay away from all believers who live idle lives and don’t follow the tradition they received from us. 7 For you know that you ought to imitate us. We were not idle when we were with you. 8 We never accepted food from anyone without paying for it. We worked hard day and night so we would not be a burden to any of you. 9 We certainly had the right to ask you to feed us, but we wanted to give you an example to follow. 10 Even while we were with you, we gave you this command: “Those unwilling to work will not get to eat.” 11 Yet we hear that some of you are living idle lives, refusing to work and meddling in other people’s business. 12 We command such people and urge them in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ to settle down and work to earn their own living. 13 As for the rest of you, dear brothers and sisters, never get tired of doing good. 14 Take note of those who refuse to obey what we say in this letter. Stay away from them so they will be ashamed. 15 Don’t think of them as enemies, but warn them as you would a brother or sister.

Verse 6 probably sounds a little cruel and confusing. Because 1, we all struggle with sin and probably feel a little disorderly at times. And 2, if someone is struggling shouldn’t we try and help them?

You have to remember a few things with this.

This is not about someone who is trying to follow God and is struggling to follow the teachings of the Bible. It’s not about a weak Christian or going through what feels like a rollercoaster of a season where you feel all over.

It’s about someone who is deliberately deciding not to follow the teachings. Not even try. There is no sadness over sin. It is living a completely opposite life of Christ while knowing they aren’t following God. But yet still wanting to be a part of the church.

Now secondly, with that, In other writings Paul clearly states about the importance of helping and correcting others in sin. What’s being brought out here is the last step of the process, not the first. It may feel like it as we’re reading it now. But the specific issue Paul addresses here was also pointed to a bit in his first letter. So this has been a challenge for awhile.

And thirdly, the whole goal of not hanging around these people or kicking them out of the congregation is in hopes that they realize how much they miss being a part of the body. And they repent and come back.

Paul isn’t saying you tried to help these people, they still deliberately sin, they don’t care about God, they’re bound for Hell just leave them. No, it’s a brother or sister that desperately needs help. There is grace here. And it’s the last step, a much more drastic one, but done in love.

That’s what he gets at in verses 14-15

2 Thessalonians 3:14–15 NLT

14 Take note of those who refuse to obey what we say in this letter. Stay away from them so they will be ashamed. 15 Don’t think of them as enemies, but warn them as you would a brother or sister.

When people are struggling in a big way spiritually, we warn them as we would a brother or sister. No matter how frustrated we are with someone’s decisions, remember the real enemy is Satan.

The disorderly behavior

Now what is the behavior in this situation Paul is specifically addressing? It’s ultimately laziness or idleness. Remember in this setting the church was caring for each other in a lot of ways by giving to one another and looking after each other. They watched after everyone like a family.

And we know the importance of work. When people don’t want to do it, the burden falls on someone. And here it would have been the church body that was covering for the idleness of whoever these people were.

Paul says you don’t work you don’t eat.

Work has always been important to God. From the very beginning before sin had infected mankind, God put Adam and Eve to work.

And other scriptures say in whatever you do focus on it as if you’re working for God.

Colossians 3:23 NLT

23 Work willingly at whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people.

We’re called to work hard at whatever we do. And the situation Paul is addressing is not about someone that isn’t capable of working. Obviously helping someone in a situation where they can’t work would be the right thing to do. But this comes down to capable people who are just being lazy.

And if you remember what we mentioned in the summary of chapter 2, some people did believe that they were in the great tribulation. So perhaps these people were thinking who cares the world is going to end soon anyways, what’s the point of work.

Remember 2012? Some people thought the world was going to end and they acted like nothing really mattered anymore.

Regardless of the situation though, Paul is getting across that you need to be working to provide.

And Paul did that while he was among them, not because he had to. He had every right to ask for them to provide for him while he stayed with them. And sometimes Paul did receive help, if you remember those in Philippi gave resources to Paul. But Paul often dealt with accusations that he preached for his own gain. So many times, such as this with those in Thessalonica, he would work to provide for himself so he could prove he only wanted to serve them and wasn’t doing anything for his own gain.

Closing

Let’s go through verses 16-18 as this letter comes to a closing.

2 Thessalonians 3:16–18 NLT

16 Now may the Lord of peace himself give you his peace at all times and in every situation. The Lord be with you all. 17 Here is my greeting in my own handwriting—Paul. I do this in all my letters to prove they are from me. 18 May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all.

Many times Paul would have someone else write the letter. It was Paul’s words, inspired by God, but someone else would do the writing. As said before, there were fake letters going around claiming to be from Paul.

So Paul would add some sort of writing of his own at the end just so people would recognize it was from him.

And as he often closes, he prays and reminds of us of our foundation of grace received through Christ alone.