2 Thessalonians 3
3
Paul’s Request for Prayer
1Finally, dear brothers and sisters,#3:1 Greek brothers; also in 3:6, 13. 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. 2Pray, too, that we will be rescued from wicked and evil people, for not everyone is a believer. 3But the Lord is faithful; he will strengthen you and guard you from the evil one.#3:3 Or from evil. 4And we are confident in the Lord that you are doing and will continue to do the things we commanded you. 5May the Lord lead your hearts into a full understanding and expression of the love of God and the patient endurance that comes from Christ.
An Exhortation to Proper Living
6And now, dear brothers and sisters, we give you this command in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ: Stay away from all believers#3:6a Greek from every brother. who live idle lives and don’t follow the tradition they received#3:6b Some manuscripts read you received. from us. 7For you know that you ought to imitate us. We were not idle when we were with you. 8We 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. 9We certainly had the right to ask you to feed us, but we wanted to give you an example to follow. 10Even while we were with you, we gave you this command: “Those unwilling to work will not get to eat.”
11Yet we hear that some of you are living idle lives, refusing to work and meddling in other people’s business. 12We command such people and urge them in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ to settle down and work to earn their own living. 13As for the rest of you, dear brothers and sisters, never get tired of doing good.
14Take note of those who refuse to obey what we say in this letter. Stay away from them so they will be ashamed. 15Don’t think of them as enemies, but warn them as you would a brother or sister.#3:15 Greek as a brother.
Paul’s Final Greetings
16Now 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.
18May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all.
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Holy Bible, New Living Translation copyright 1996, 2004, 2007, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation.
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2 Thessalonians 3
3
Pray for Us
1Finally, brothers,#3:1 Or brothers and sisters; also verses 6, 13 #See 1 Thess. 5:25pray for us, that #Ps. 147:15; [1 Thess. 1:8]the word of the Lord may speed ahead and be honored,#3:1 Or glorified as happened among you, 2and #Rom. 15:31that we may be delivered from wicked and evil men. For #[Deut. 32:20]not all have faith. 3But #See 1 Cor. 1:9the Lord is faithful. He will establish you and #Matt. 6:13; John 17:15guard you against #See Matt. 13:19the evil one.#3:3 Or evil 4And #See 2 Cor. 2:3we have confidence in the Lord about you, that you are doing and will do the things that we command. 5May the Lord #1 Thess. 3:11direct your hearts to the love of God and to the steadfastness of Christ.
Warning Against Idleness
6Now we command you, brothers, #1 Cor. 5:4in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, #ver. 14; [Matt. 18:17; 2 Tim. 3:5]; See 1 Cor. 5:9; 2 John 10that you keep away from any #1 Cor. 5:11brother #ver. 11; 1 Thess. 5:14who is walking in idleness and not in accord with the tradition that you received from us. 7For you yourselves know #[Acts 20:35]; See 1 Thess. 1:6how you ought to imitate us, because #1 Thess. 1:5we were not idle when we were with you, 8nor did we eat anyone’s bread without paying for it, but #See 1 Thess. 2:9with toil and labor we worked night and day, that we might not be a burden to any of you. 9It was #1 Cor. 9:4; 1 Thess. 2:6not because we do not have that right, but to give you in ourselves #ver. 7; 1 Pet. 5:3an example to imitate. 10For even when we were with you, we would give you this command: #[Gen. 3:19]; See 1 Thess. 4:11If anyone is not willing to work, let him not eat. 11For we hear that some among you #ver. 6walk in idleness, not busy at work, but #1 Tim. 5:13; 1 Pet. 4:15busybodies. 12Now such persons we command and encourage in the Lord Jesus Christ to do their work quietly and to earn their own living.#3:12 Greek to eat their own bread
13As for you, brothers, #Gal. 6:9; [1 Cor. 15:58]do not grow weary in doing good. 14If anyone does not obey what we say in this letter, take note of that person, and #See ver. 6have nothing to do with him, that he may be ashamed. 15#See Lev. 19:17; Matt. 18:15Do not regard him as an enemy, but #1 Thess. 5:12, 14; [Titus 3:10]warn him as a brother.
Benediction
16Now may #See Rom. 15:33; Eph. 6:23the Lord of peace himself #Num. 6:26give you peace at all times in every way. #Ruth 2:4The Lord be with you all.
17I, Paul, write #See 1 Cor. 16:21this greeting with my own hand. This is the sign of genuineness in every letter of mine; it is the way I write. 18#See Rom. 16:20The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all.
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