[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, paraggellÅ, 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, paraggellÅ, 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, hypakouÅ, 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, paraggellÅ, 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. ..
