By Dale Weckbacher
2 Thessalonians 3:1
Finally, brothers,[a] pray for us,
that the word of the Lord may speed ahead and be honored,[b] as happened among you,
(ESV)
As the Apostle Paul concludes his second letter to the Church
in Thessalonica, he urges them to pray for him (2 Thessalonians 3:1-5). The members of the church in Thessalonica
were eye witnesses to how extreme persecution against church leaders could
result in them being separated and run out of town (Acts 17:1-9). He urges them to pray for the deliverance of
their church leaders from wicked and evil men, reminding them that not all have
faith (2 Thessalonians 3:2). He then
reminds them that the Lord is faithful and will establish them and guard them
from the evil one. He goes on to remind
them that their confidence is to be in the Lord and to allow the Lord to direct
their hearts toward the love of God and to be steadfast in their faith in
Christ (2 Thessalonians 3:3-5).
Paul then goes on by warning them against being idle in
their faith (2 Thessalonians 3:6-15).
Paul’s warning is stern for it comes with instructions to keep away with
any brother or sister walking in idleness and not in accordance with the
tradition they had received from Paul (2 Thessalonians 3:6). We must now ask, what does Paul mean by
idleness in our walk and what is the tradition he imparted to the church in
Thessalonica.
1)
Idleness – When most of us think of someone
being idle, we tend to think of someone being lazy. However, the Greek word translated Idle in 2Thessalonians 3:6 means behaving immorally and disorderly. (1) While Christianity is an active religion
where God encourages believers to actively be about the work of the Gospel,
Paul is not telling believers to shun those who attend church but are not
active in service to the church.
Instead, he is urging us to shun anyone who behaves immorally or
disorderly for failure to do this results in the condoning of sinful and
disorderly behavior which acts as a cancer that eventually leads to destruction
of the church body just as cancer causes death to our physical bodies.
2)
Tradition – Even though Paul’s time with the
Thessalonians was short, it did demonstrate Paul’s steadfastness of faith in
extreme persecution. His constant desire
to see them again which resulted in the two letters he wrote demonstrates a
heart of love towards those he brought to the faith. His desire was that the church in
Thessalonica imitate this steadfastness of faith and heart of love. He also urges them to imitate his hard labor
for the Gospel and not resort to becoming busybodies spreading gossip. For those that resort to gossip, Paul urges
them to work quietly earning their livings because when we remain busy we do
not have time for idle gossip (2 Thessalonians 3:7-12).
Paul’s final warning to the church in Thessalonica is not to
grow weary in our good labors and not to regard those living in disobedience as
enemies but to warn them as brothers. As
believers, our hearts desire must be the restoration of those living in
disobedience back to the faith. If we
regard them as enemies, we sever any relationship with them and any hope of
their restoration to the faith. Paul is
telling us to shun their behavior but not to shun them as a person for no
matter how abhorrent their behavior might be, they are still a sinner Jesus
came to die for as are we all.
Jesus new commandment to his church was that they love one
another for it is this love for one another is what tells the world we follow
Christ (John 13:34-35). However, when
one of our members lives in idle disobedience or in immorality we must shun
this behavior while preserving brotherly love for them so they know we will
welcome them back into our fellowship once they abstain from their disobedient
or immoral behavior. Forgiveness of this
level is uncommon in our world and is what sets the Church apart from others in
our world.
Paul concludes by praying that the church in Thessalonica
would experience the peace of God, that the Lord be with them all, and that the
grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with them all. I also want to conclude this study in 2
Thessalonians by praying my readers will also experience the peace and grace of
God knowing that God will be with you.
1. Strongs Concordance. KJV W/ STRONGS BIBLE -
2 THESSALONIANS 3. www.godrules.net. [Online] Bibleexplore.com. [Cited:
November 26, 2016.] http://www.godrules.net/library/strongs2b/gre814.htm
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