Request for Prayer and Assurance of God's Faithfulness
Study note
Paul asks for prayer that the word of the Lord would spread quickly and be honored, and that he and his companions would be delivered from wicked people, since not everyone has faith. He assures the Thessalonians that the Lord is faithful and will strengthen and protect them from the evil one. He expresses confidence that they will continue following his instructions and prays that the Lord would direct their hearts toward God's love and Christ's patient endurance.
1 One last thing, brothers and sisters: please pray for us. Pray that the Lord's message will keep spreading quickly and that people everywhere will honor it, just the way you have. Finally, brethren, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may have free course, and be glorified, even as it is with you:
2 And pray that God will keep us safe from mean and evil people, because not everyone has faith. And that we may be delivered from unreasonable and wicked men: for all men have not faith.
3 But the Lord keeps his promises. He will make you strong and guard you from the evil one. But the Lord is faithful, who shall stablish you, and keep you from evil.
4 The Lord gives us confidence that you are doing what we asked, and that you will keep on doing it. And we have confidence in the Lord touching you, that ye both do and will do the things which we command you.
5 May the Lord guide your hearts toward God's love and toward the patient endurance that Christ gives. And the Lord direct your hearts into the love of God, and into the patient waiting for Christ.
Warning Against Idleness
Study note
Paul addresses the growing problem of idleness with apostolic authority, commanding believers to withdraw from every brother who lives irresponsibly. He points to his own example of working night and day so as not to be a financial burden, though he had every right to receive support. His memorable principle is clear: whoever is unwilling to work should not eat. Some were living as busybodies rather than being busy with productive work. Paul commands such individuals to settle down and earn their own bread.
6 Brothers and sisters, we order you in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Stay away from any believer who won't work. They ignore what we taught you. Now we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye withdraw yourselves from every brother that walketh disorderly, and not after the tradition which he received of us.
7 You know that you should live the way we did, because when we were with you, we were never lazy. For yourselves know how ye ought to follow us: for we behaved not ourselves disorderly among you;
8 We did not eat anyone's food without paying for it. Instead, we worked day and night, putting in long, hard hours so that we would not be a cost to any of you. Neither did we eat any man's bread for nought; but wrought with labour and travail night and day, that we might not be chargeable to any of you:
9 It was not because we had no right to ask for help. We did it to set an example for you to copy. Not because we have not power, but to make ourselves an ensample unto you to follow us.
10 When we were with you, we gave you this rule: if someone will not work, that person should not eat. For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat.
11 We say this because we hear that some of you are refusing to work. Instead of being busy with real jobs, they are just sticking their noses in other people's business. For we hear that there are some which walk among you disorderly, working not at all, but are busybodies.
12 To those people, we give this direct command from the Lord Jesus Christ: settle down, get to work, and earn your own food. Now them that are such we command and exhort by our Lord Jesus Christ, that with quietness they work, and eat their own bread.
Discipline, Blessing, and Farewell
Study note
Paul encourages the faithful not to grow weary of doing good. For those who disobey his letter, he prescribes social distance as a form of corrective discipline, but cautions against treating the disobedient as enemies rather than as brothers who need warning. Paul closes with a prayer for the Lord of peace to grant peace in every circumstance, adds his personal handwritten greeting as a mark of authenticity to guard against forgeries, and pronounces grace upon all.
13 As for the rest of you, brothers and sisters, never get tired of doing what is right. But ye, brethren, be not weary in well doing.
14 If anyone will not listen to what we say in this letter, watch out for that person. Stop spending time with them so they will feel the weight of their actions. And if any man obey not our word by this epistle, note that man, and have no company with him, that he may be ashamed.
15 But do not treat that person like an enemy. Correct them the way you would correct your own brother or sister. Yet count him not as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother.
16 May the Lord of peace himself fill you with his peace at every moment and in every situation. May the Lord be with all of you. Now the Lord of peace himself give you peace always by all means. The Lord be with you all.
17 I, Paul, am writing this final greeting with my very own hand. This is how I sign all my letters, so you can always tell they are truly from me. The salutation of Paul with mine own hand, which is the token in every epistle: so I write.
18 May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with every one of you. Amen. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.