2 Thessalonians 3 Study Notes

3:1-3 Paul reminded the Thessalonians that the Lord is faithful even if wicked and evil people were troubling them.

3:4-5 Because the Lord is faithful to strengthen and guard them (v. 3), Paul could have confidence that the Thessalonians would obey his commands. He then prays that they would have the love God has and the endurance Christ exhibited.

3:6 It is irresponsible behavior for capable people not to work and expect the church to feed them. The view by some people in the Thessalonian church that they were in the day of the Lord and thus Jesus was coming very soon (2:2) may have led them to stop their normal work activities. Or this may have just been ordinary lazy behavior (1Th 5:14).

3:7-8 Paul had the right to receive financial support while working in evangelism and teaching, but he set an example for the Thessalonians by working to provide for his own needs so he did not burden them.

3:9 Paul worked when he was with them to show them the importance of work. But more than this, “his actions might illustrate generosity, humility, self-sacrifice, a willingness to work hard for the kingdom, acceptance of personal responsibility, and/or numerous other virtues” (Michael Martin).

3:10 Whatever the reason for this behavior, Paul commanded, If anyone isn’t willing to work, he should not eat (see Gn 3:18-19). Christian charity is to be directed at true need, not artificial need created by irresponsibility.

3:11 To compound the problem, some Thessalonians were not busy but busybodies. This English play on words conveys a play on words in the Greek text. They were meddling in the lives of others, perhaps encouraging them not to work in order to focus on the day of the Lord (see note at v. 6).

3:12-13 Paul’s solution to this problem was to command and exhort such people to work quietly and thereby to provide for themselves.

3:14-15 Paul wanted the Thessalonian church to not associate with this type of person and to warn him as a brother, with a view toward correcting the problem.

3:16 Paul referred to the Lord as the Lord of peace and prayed for God’s granting of peace to them in every way. This was particularly important for a church under persecution.

3:17-18 The final greeting was written in Paul’s own hand (see also 1Co 16:21; Gl 6:11; Col 4:18; 2Th 3:17; Phm 19). This indicates a common ancient practice. The rest of the letter was written with the help of a skilled scribe, called an amanuensis, who was writing as Paul directed him.