2 Thessalonians 3
Holman Christian Standard Bible
Pray for Us
3 Finally, brothers, pray for us that the Lord’s message may spread rapidly and be honored, just as it was with you,(A) 2 and that we may be delivered(B) from wicked and evil men, for not all have faith.[a] 3 But the Lord is faithful; He will strengthen and guard you from the evil one.(C) 4 We have confidence in the Lord about you, that you are doing and will do what we command. 5 May the Lord direct your hearts to God’s love and Christ’s endurance.(D)
Warning against Irresponsible Behavior
6 Now we command you, brothers, in the name(E) of our Lord Jesus Christ, to keep away from every brother(F) who walks irresponsibly and not according to the tradition(G) received(H) from us. 7 For you yourselves know how you must imitate(I) us: We were not irresponsible among you; 8 we did not eat(J) anyone’s food[b] free of charge;(K) instead, we labored(L) and struggled,(M) working(N) night and day, so that we would not be a burden(O) to any of you. 9 It is not that we don’t have the right(P) to support, but we did it to make ourselves an example to you so that you would imitate(Q) us. 10 In fact, when we were with you, this is what we commanded you: “If anyone isn’t willing to work, he should not eat.”(R) 11 For we hear that there are some among you who walk irresponsibly, not working at all, but interfering with the work of others.(S) 12 Now we command and exhort such people by the Lord Jesus Christ that quietly working, they may eat their own food.[c] 13 Brothers, do not grow weary(T) in doing good.
14 And if anyone does not obey our instruction in this letter, take note of that person; don’t associate with him, so that he may be ashamed. 15 Yet don’t treat him as an enemy, but warn him as a brother.
Final Greetings
16 May the Lord of peace(U) Himself give you peace always in every way.(V) The Lord be with all of you.(W) 17 This greeting is in my own hand(X)—Paul. This is a sign in every letter; this is how I write. 18 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with all of you.
Footnotes
- 2 Thessalonians 3:2 Or for the faith is not in everyone
- 2 Thessalonians 3:8 Or bread
- 2 Thessalonians 3:12 Or bread
2 Thessalonians 3
Modern English Version
Pray for Us
3 Finally, brothers, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may quickly spread and be glorified, even as it did with you. 2 And pray that we may be delivered from unreasonable and wicked men, for not all men have faith. 3 But the Lord is faithful, who will establish you and guard you from the evil one. 4 We have confidence in the Lord concerning you, that you are doing and will do the things which we command you. 5 May the Lord direct your hearts to the love of God and to the steadfastness of Christ.
Warning Against Idleness
6 Now we command you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you withdraw yourselves from every brother who walks in idleness and not according to the tradition that he received from us. 7 For you know how you should follow us. For we were not idle among you, 8 neither did we eat anyone’s bread without paying for it, but we worked tirelessly and toiled night and day that we might not be a burden to any of you. 9 We did this, not because we did not have that right, but to make ourselves an example for you to follow. 10 For when we were with you, we commanded you that if any will not work, neither shall he eat.
11 For we hear that there are some among you who live in idleness, mere busybodies, not working at all. 12 Now, concerning those who are such, we command and exhort by our Lord Jesus Christ that they quietly work and eat their own bread. 13 But you, brothers, do not be weary in doing good.
14 If anyone does not obey our word in this letter, note that man, and do not socialize with him, so that he may be ashamed. 15 Still, do not count him as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother.
Benediction
16 Now may the Lord of peace Himself give you peace always in every way. The Lord be with you all.
17 I, Paul, write this greeting with my own hand, and this is the distinguishing mark in every letter: So I write.
18 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.
2 Thessalonians 3
The Message
Those Who Are Lazy
3 1-3 One more thing, friends: Pray for us. Pray that the Master’s Word will simply take off and race through the country to a groundswell of response, just as it did among you. And pray that we’ll be rescued from these troublemakers who are trying to do us in. I’m finding that not all “believers” are believers. But the Master never lets us down. He’ll stick by you and protect you from evil.
4-5 Because of the Master, we have great confidence in you. We know you’re doing everything we told you and will continue doing it. May the Master take you by the hand and lead you along the path of God’s love and Christ’s endurance.
6-9 Our orders—backed up by the Master, Jesus—are to refuse to have anything to do with those among you who are lazy and refuse to work the way we taught you. Don’t permit them to freeload on the rest. We showed you how to pull your weight when we were with you, so get on with it. We didn’t sit around on our hands expecting others to take care of us. In fact, we worked our fingers to the bone, up half the night moonlighting so you wouldn’t be burdened with taking care of us. And it wasn’t because we didn’t have a right to your support; we did. We simply wanted to provide an example of diligence, hoping it would prove contagious.
10-13 Don’t you remember the rule we had when we lived with you? “If you don’t work, you don’t eat.” And now we’re getting reports that a bunch of lazy good-for-nothings are taking advantage of you. This must not be tolerated. We command them to get to work immediately—no excuses, no arguments—and earn their own keep. Friends, don’t slack off in doing your duty.
14-15 If anyone refuses to obey our clear command written in this letter, don’t let him get by with it. Point out such a person and refuse to subsidize his freeloading. Maybe then he’ll think twice. But don’t treat him as an enemy. Sit him down and talk about the problem as someone who cares.
16 May the Master of Peace himself give you the gift of getting along with each other at all times, in all ways. May the Master be truly among you!
17 I, Paul, bid you good-bye in my own handwriting. I do this in all my letters, so examine my signature as proof that the letter is genuine.
18 The incredible grace of our Master, Jesus Christ, be with all of you!
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The Holy Bible, Modern English Version. Copyright © 2014 by Military Bible Association. Published and distributed by Charisma House.
Copyright © 1993, 2002, 2018 by Eugene H. Peterson