2 Thessalonians 3 commentary

    1: Finally brethren pray for us that the Word of the Lord may have free course and be glorified even as it is with you 2: And that we may be delivered from unreasonable and wicked men for all have not faith[1] 3: But the Lord is faithful who shall establish you and keep you from evil[2] 4: And we have confidence in the Lord touching you that you both do and will do the things declared [to] you[3] 5: And the Lord direct your hearts into the love of God and into the patient waiting for Christ[4] 6: Now we charge you brethren in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ withdraw yourselves from every brother adelphos: fellow-believer whether female or male [who] walks disorderly and not after the precepts which [were] received of us 7: For yourselves know how you ought to imitate us for we behaved not ourselves disorderly among you[5] 8: Neither did we eat the bread [of] any for nothing without paying but worked with labor and travail[6] night and day that we might not be burdensome to any of you 9: Not because we have not authority but to make ourselves examples for you to imitate us 10: For even when we were with you this we declared [to] you that if any would not work neither [should they] eat 11: For we hear that there are some who walk among you disorderly working not at all but are busybodies 12: Now them that are such we declare and exhort by our Lord Jesus Christ that with quietness they work and eat their own food 13: But you adelphos be not weary in well doing 14: And if any heed[7] not our word by this letter note them and have no company with them that they may be ashamed[8] 15: Yet count [them] not as enemies but admonish as adelphos 16: Now the Lord of Peace himself give you peace always by all means The Lord be with you all 17: The salutation of Paul with my own hand which is the evidence [of authenticity] in every letter[9] so I write 18: The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all Amen


[1] When we are born again, everyone is given a measure of faith. It is then up to each individual to nurture that faith by reading, hearing, and doing the Word of God. Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God. Faith works by love, and the love of God is shed abroad by the Holy Ghost. Nothing is said in the Bible about those who do not belong to Christ having any faith at all. 

[2] King David, a man after God’s own heart, questioned the problem of evil, when he penned the question, “Why do the wicked prosper?” The Bible has much to say about evil, and we are given insights into many aspects of evil, but to understand it fully, is beyond the capacity of any human. During a time of unspeakable suffering, when Job’s friends questioned his integrity, and Job questioned why he had even been born, God’s answer to all the multi-faceted reasoning and questioning going on was, “Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth?” Declare it if you have understanding!” The Lord conceals a matter, and it is the glory of kings to search it out, but until Jesus comes, and makes all things complete, there are some things we can never fully understand.

[3] The hierarchical flavor of 2 Thessalonians 3:4, [using the word “command”] in virtually all Bible versions, is completely out of step with the message and tone of the New Testament as a whole. The Greek word, paraggellō, must be translated according to context, and the context in this verse, does not permit the word to be translated as, “command.” The New Testament Church is not a hierarchical organization but rather a living organism. Members are bound by faith and love, first to God and then to one another—but not by law (excepting the Law of Love). The Old Covenant Priesthood was doomed under the reign of the Messiah, and that is why the religious ruling hierarchy plotted to have Jesus put to death. In a manner of speaking, organized religion hi-jacked Christianity early on. Organizing into a religious hierarchy was the only way for men to wrest control of the early Church away from the Holy Spirit, for where the Spirit of the Lord is there is liberty. Most Christian fellowships, today, understand this and **would not dare “command” their members. Paul understood this as well. In this verse (and others), The Greek word, paraggellō, in reference to Christian instruction,should be never be translated as command.

**They often employ more subtle [psychological] methods, employing guilt and fear as methods of control.

[4] Christians of the early Church were taught to wait for Christ. This is in stark contrast to contemporary church teaching that focuses primarily on life in this world. These days, the hope of Heaven is often marginalized in favor of temporal success and prosperity. Regardless of our circumstances, whether they be very good or very bad, the eyes and hearts of believers should always be on God and the promises in his Word, which include many material and physical blessings, and also include promises about the resurrection, the harpazo, his Second Coming, and his Kingdom. 

[5] 2 Thessalonians 3:4-7, are examples of erroneous hierarchical filters through which even modern translators view scripture texts. As we will show, it suits them to do so. This commentary replaces hierarchical language with alternatives more in line with the context. The hierarchical approach to New Testament Greek translation is deceptive and detrimental in a number of ways: 1.) It demands the creation of organized religion and disregards the voluntary nature of the love relationship that exists uniquely between Christ and every individual believer, all of whom, together, compose His Church—which is not an organization but rather a living organism. Does this mean Christians should not form church fellowships? Of course not. But it does mean that extreme care must be taken to not to violate the voluntary, and very personal nature of the, relationship between believers and their Savior. Christian leaders are called to be examples and shepherds—never commanders  2.) Hierarchy benefits organized religion by giving clergy undue control over laity. Depending on where one lives, this can take [and has taken] the form of governmental control, where the law of the land cannot be separated from the law of the church. This has happened under both Roman and Greek Orthodox Catholicism and Protestant reformers. Even without governmental controls to enforce “Christianity,” hierarchical organized religion, wields undo emotional influence over believers, which often translates [through guilt and fear] into physical influence. Jesus, our ultimate example of non-organized, non-hierarchical, religion, had serious words to say about the concept of clergy over laity being put into practice within His Church. He said he hated it Revelation 2:6. 3.) Early on, organized religion [which of necessity must be hierarchical], marginalized the ministries and contributions of emancipated New Covenant women. Joel chapter two foretold the emancipation of God’s daughters, and Peter announced the fulfillment of this prophecy in Acts chapter two. Hierarchical organized religion was an absolute necessity in order to bring emancipated Christian women back under the complete control of men. This latter goal, that of male headship, is still so strong today, that within mainstream Christianity, even the Eternal Godhead has been turned into a hierarchical triad, with the express goal of putting [and keeping] women in eternal subjection to men.  Hierarchical language, used in reference to relationships between the members of the Body of Christ, must be rejected. Compulsion and autonomy are mutually exclusive, and attempts the blend the two—in any manner—are oxymoronic.

[6] They labored in the gospel and travailed in prayer—They worked and prayed!

[7] The Greek word, hypakouō, should not have been translated as “obey” in this verse, but in virtually every English Bible translation, it is. Contextually, the more accurate translation is heed.  It is understandable that during the time of the reformation when Christians were fresh out from under the strong hand of the Vatican and were still under the rule of monarchies that wielded great power, the Greek word, paraggellō, would be translated as “command,” but what reason do modern translators have to translate the word as “command” four times in 2 Thessalonians 3, (and many places elsewhere in scripture), other than that of maintaining hierarchy where there should only be love, example, encouragement, and loving admonition. The spiritual and ministry gifts of God are not intended for ruling and commanding his people, though they are sorely misused as such. The Apostle Paul put away his hierarchical—"I’m in command”—notions when he fell off his donkey on the road o Damascus and began a new life of love and service to the Messiah and His people. He spent the rest of his life making converts, teaching, instructing, exhorting, warning, and watching over the flocks God entrusted to his care. English-translation-theology has certainly given the Apostle Paul a bad rap. He most certainly  did not write a string of letters commanding the Christians under his care, to do this that or another. Can the reader imagine the response from church members today, if they were to receive letters from denominational home offices containing lists of commands?  

[8] This may seem harsh but, if done in love, ultimately works for good in the errant believer’s life and faith. This admonishment and temporary withdrawal of fellowship must be done in unfeigned humility and love, else no one is helped and all parties become guilty of sin.

[9] Paul generally dictated his letters to someone else who did the actual writing, so unfamiliar handwriting [in a letter from the apostle] would have been the norm rather than the exception. This explains how easily it would have been for someone to forge a letter from Paul and it be accepted as authentic by the churches. His personal salutation, in his own handwriting, in each letter was his precaution against this. It was a necessary identification. ..

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