PRAY, AND DON’T BE IDLE

Passage: 2 Thessalonians 3:1-18

Key verse: 1

NIV

Request for Prayer

3 As for other matters, brothers and sisters,(A) pray for us(B) that the message of the Lord(C) may spread rapidly and be honored, just as it was with you.(D) 2 And pray that we may be delivered from wicked and evil people,(E) for not everyone has faith. 3 But the Lord is faithful,(F) and he will strengthen you and protect you from the evil one.(G) 4 We have confidence(H) in the Lord that you are doing and will continue to do the things we command. 5 May the Lord direct your hearts(I) into God’s love and Christ’s perseverance.

Warning Against Idleness

6 In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ,(J) we command you, brothers and sisters, to keep away from(K) every believer who is idle and disruptive(L) and does not live according to the teaching[a] you received from us.(M) 7 For you yourselves know how you ought to follow our example.(N) We were not idle when we were with you, 8 nor did we eat anyone’s food without paying for it. On the contrary, we worked(O) night and day, laboring and toiling so that we would not be a burden to any of you. 9 We did this, not because we do not have the right to such help,(P) but in order to offer ourselves as a model for you to imitate.(Q) 10 For even when we were with you,(R) we gave you this rule: “The one who is unwilling to work(S) shall not eat.”

11 We hear that some among you are idle and disruptive. They are not busy; they are busybodies.(T) 12 Such people we command and urge in the Lord Jesus Christ(U) to settle down and earn the food they eat.(V) 13 And as for you, brothers and sisters, never tire of doing what is good.(W)

14 Take special note of anyone who does not obey our instruction in this letter. Do not associate with them,(X) in order that they may feel ashamed.(Y) 15 Yet do not regard them as an enemy, but warn them as you would a fellow believer.(Z)

Final Greetings

16 Now may the Lord of peace(AA) himself give you peace at all times and in every way. The Lord be with all of you.(AB)

17 I, Paul, write this greeting in my own hand,(AC) which is the distinguishing mark in all my letters. This is how I write.

18 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all.(AD)

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Footnotes
  1. 2 Thessalonians 3:6 Or tradition
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source: BibleGateway

ESV

Pray for Us

3 Finally, brothers,[a] (A)pray for us, that (B)the word of the Lord may speed ahead and be honored,[b] as happened among you, 2 and (C)that we may be delivered from wicked and evil men. For (D)not all have faith. 3 But (E)the Lord is faithful. He will establish you and (F)guard you against (G)the evil one.[c] 4 And (H)we have confidence in the Lord about you, that you are doing and will do the things that we command. 5 May the Lord (I)direct your hearts to the love of God and to the steadfastness of Christ.

Warning Against Idleness

6 Now we command you, brothers, (J)in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, (K)that you keep away from any (L)brother (M)who is walking in idleness and not in accord with the tradition that you received from us. 7 For you yourselves know (N)how you ought to imitate us, because (O)we were not idle when we were with you, 8 nor did we eat anyone's bread without paying for it, but (P)with toil and labor we worked night and day, that we might not be a burden to any of you. 9 It was (Q)not because we do not have that right, but to give you in ourselves (R)an example to imitate. 10 For even when we were with you, we would give you this command: (S)If anyone is not willing to work, let him not eat. 11 For we hear that some among you (T)walk in idleness, not busy at work, but (U)busybodies. 12 Now such persons we command and encourage in the Lord Jesus Christ to do their work quietly and to earn their own living.[d]

13 As for you, brothers, (V)do not grow weary in doing good. 14 If anyone does not obey what we say in this letter, take note of that person, and (W)have nothing to do with him, that he may be ashamed. 15 (X)Do not regard him as an enemy, but (Y)warn him as a brother.

Benediction

16 Now may (Z)the Lord of peace himself (AA)give you peace at all times in every way. (AB)The Lord be with you all.

17 I, Paul, write (AC)this greeting with my own hand. This is the sign of genuineness in every letter of mine; it is the way I write. 18 (AD)The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all.

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Footnotes
  1. 2 Thessalonians 3:1 Or brothers and sisters; also verses 6, 13
  2. 2 Thessalonians 3:1 Or glorified
  3. 2 Thessalonians 3:3 Or evil
  4. 2 Thessalonians 3:12 Greek to eat their own bread
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Source: BibleGateway

In the last chapter of this epistle, Paul does two things. First, he made a request that the Thessalonian Christians pray for them. Paul had two prayer topics. The first was that the gospel message may spread and be honored in others, just as the Thessalonians had heard and honored the gospel themselves. They recognized that the gospel was their only salvation. The second was that they be protected from evil people who were seeking to thwart the gospel work. But Paul had confidence that the Lord is faithful and that the Thessalonians were doing all they had been commanded to do.

Paul urged them to do more than pray. They also needed to make sure they kept away from idle people. Rather, they should follow the example Paul showed them as he lived with them. Paul worked not only in preaching the gospel, but to make his own living as well. He didn’t depend on the charity of others, and he urged the Christians there to do the same. But there were some in the church who were idle. Paul urged them to not even associate with them.

In closing, Paul commended them to the Lord of peace and prayed the Lord be with them all.

Prayer: Father, help us to pray diligently that your gospel may spread and be honored in all the world. And help us to not be idle in our gospel labors.

One Word: Pray and don’t be idle!