2 Thessalonians Ch2
Command against busybodies, heresy.
Instruction for longsuffering care and love. Direction for prayers.
2 Thessalonians 3 -ASV
v1. Finally, brethren, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may run and be glorified, even as also it is with you;
The final matter is a request for prayer.
The apostles are not so superior as to set themselves aloof from the aid of all other christians.
Do popes needed to be prayed for by other catholics? Christains do.
The final request is about the preaching and spreading of the gospel of Christ, the Word of God; that others may also hear and believe in the Lord, just as the Thessalonians had.
v2. and that we may be delivered from unreasonable and evil men; for all have not faith.
Apostles also need to be prayed for so as to be delivered from unreasonable and evil men.
Apostles are not those who think they are so good with the word that they should unilaterally overcome unreasonable men no matter how unreasonable they are, and evil men no matter how evil they are.
3. But the Lord is faithful, who shall establish you, and guard you from the evil one.
The reason that all can trust the lord is because He is faithful.
Faithfullness is the sole reason and qualification for trustworthiness. Be asured that the Lord our Master will establish you and guard you from the evil one. Christians are not truly vulnerable to Satan.
The Lord has power to guard all of His from the evil one (Satan).
4. And we have confidence in the Lord touching you, that ye both do and will do the things which we command.
We have confidence because the Lord is faithful.
No confidence can be established without faith.
Faith is the tool / weapon against lack of confidence, strife, worry, sway, fear.
Love as expressed in agapee is well related to faith.
5. And the Lord direct your hearts into the love of God, and into the patience of Christ.
The Master is active, taking initiatives. He is not sluggish. He never miss the train.
He is quick, yet is able to wait with patience.
We are to learn from Him and share with His patience. There is no real hurry. Evarything is in His good timing. Accomplishment comes at the right time. He is not without timetable. He even has purpose for His timing.
For the time being, obedience is better than sacrifice.
never rush the Lord. Have faith! Take heart! Have courage.
6. 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 they received of us.
Command and order is given only by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ for His work, as He also works for the Father.
No denominational authority, papal authority, institutional authority, council authority, bishop authority should scare us, or sway our obedience from living out His will in His name.
We are to withdraw, by this order, from anyone whose walk of life does not follow this rule/principle.
Fear God; rather than men. True Power is in His hand.
Tradition, such as personal lifestyles of the apostles, historical decision and proclamation outside divine revelation in the Bible, are not to be attend to even those from the original apostles.
7. For yourselves know how ye ought to imitate us: for we behaved not ourselves disorderly among you;
Imitate only that which is of Christ. Imitate Christ. Imitate obedience.
Do not imitate faction, disorder, confusion, alien spirits.
8. neither did we eat bread for nought at any man's hand, but in labor and travail, working night and day, that we might not burden any of you:
Imitate utmost love of the brethren. Not just sincerity. Not just doing justice. Learn giving for the welfare of the brethren. Carry the burden of others, and not to create burden.
Imitate selfless care for the brethren.
9. not because we have not the right, but to make ourselves and ensample unto you, that ye should imitate us.
We do this beyond our rights to share and to take. We choose to give.
10. For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, If any will not work, neither let him eat.
It is of good order to receive wages from work.
Those who desire good things without working are not setting their mind and lifestyle in good order.
The apostles, not just Paul alone, commanded the christians to do what is right. They do not just talk softly. They do not muddle up principles and lifestyles.
11. For we hear of some that walk among you disorderly, that work not at all, but are busybodies.
Rumour and news get passed around even in early days.
There were those who did not acknowledge local authority. The scripture writers, again, admonish and command them to leave what is wrong and to do what is right. Chance is given after chance.
Scripture does not claim that all different practices could be right. There is simply judgment, distinction of right and wrong. Christians are not cabbages, not able to speak and define good and evil deeds and intentions.
12. Now them that are such we command and exhort in the Lord Jesus Christ, that with quietness they work, and eat their own bread.
The letter has command/instruction written in it. It is meant to be followed; not to be judged and discarded.
The letter has authority to restrain the assemblies for good and against evil.
13. But ye, brethren, be not weary in well-doing.
Christians are to be longsuffering, having patience and perseverance in doing good; following the examples set forth to us by our Christ Jesus.
No one should be tired do good. We are resting in our overflowing joy and gladness.
14. And if any man obeyeth not our word by this epistle, note that man, that ye have no company with him, to the end that he may be ashamed.
Many who profess to be followers do not obey the words in the epistles of Paul and the epistles in the Bible. Liberals, Roman Catholics, Conservatives, and some other pseudo-christians.
Such teachings expose them not as partakers of the truth.
Scriptures does teach/instruct separation from heretics, falsehood, bad influence, stumbling stones.
What has light with darkness? What has Christ with Anti-christ in common?
Do not bond yourselves with wickedness and other kinds of evil.
Avoiding the practices of evil men also forms as testimonies/witnesses in our part, to show them what the truth is; that at the end, these side-trackers, evil-doers could draw comparison between their unbiblical, evil deeds and that which is according to the Word of God, and is practical, good, fruitful, truthful, pure and holy; and be shown as sinful, unGodly, being sheep of another fold.
Our aim is still upon witness, correction, reproof and edification of the brethren.
We are not out there to destroy dissimilar ones and fill the opening with grief, sadness, wickedness, and hatred.
15. And yet count him not as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother.
Christians are to practice love and care wheresoever they happen to be.
There are obvious pseudo-christians and anti-christs everywhere, even in assemblies. But there are young and immature, backslidden christian brethren amongst us.
We should admonish them with the truth, nourishment of the word of Christ/God, and care for them in patience; knowing that patience and sufferings build up character and spiritual appetite.
Love our enemies, and do good to those who hate us.
Afterall, speaking the truth to anybody, and acting according to the truth is preaching of the gospel and revealing the truth. Something we are to do according to the Great Commission, love and truth.
We are children of the Light. And the Light cannot be hidden. Not under our beds.
Let us shine forth. Let us glorify the Lord in all our longsuffering, patience, kindness, goodness and deeds.
16. Now the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times in all ways. The Lord be with you all.
God is the Master / Lord of Peace. No one has more peace than He has. He controls whatever is peaceful.
There is no wholeness apart from God.
( ho Kurios* tees eireenees) - the |2962| Lord |3588| - |1515| of peace (eirene) refers to wholeness, completeness; not just void of war and strife.
A blessing even before the end of the epistle. The grace of the Almighty is not without the Almighty Himself.
17. The salutation of me Paul with mine own hand, which is the token in every epistle: so I write.
His salutation is in his writing, not the rest of the epistle. He could well be dictating.
There only need a sign of authority and authorship to establish the source of the epistle.
This sign strengthens christians in reading the letter from Paul. The origin is reinforced.
Paul also confirms that this signing of epistle is the token he imparts in every epistle. so the epistle to the Romans has clear Pauline origin although some christian expressed that he penned the words.
18. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all.
Christians need the grace of God in all walks of life, under all circumstances, from moment to moment.
Paul imparted onto christians what is most apparent and precious to him; what came to his mind first to be written down.
His grace is all sufficient for us.
His providence sustains us all.
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