2 Thessalonians 3:13 Komentář

In the close of the foregoing chapter, the apostle had prayed earnestly for the Thessalonians, and now he desires their prayers, encouraging them to trust in God, to which he subjoins another petition for them (Th2 3:1-5). He then proceeds to give them commands and directions for correcting some things he was informed were amiss among them (Th2 3:6-15) and concludes with benedictions and prayers (Th2 3:16-18).

INTRODUCTION TO 2 THESSALONIANS 3 In this chapter the apostle requests of the Thessalonians, that they would pray for him, and other Gospel ministers; and he puts up prayers for them, gives them rules about dealing with disorderly persons, and concludes the epistle with his usual salutation. The request to pray for ministers is in Th2 3:1 the petitions to be made for them are, that their ministry might be succeeded, and their persons preserved and delivered from evil minded men, destitute of faith in Christ, Th2 3:1 and, for the consolation of the saints, observes the faithfulness of God engaged in their behalf to establish them in the faith they had, and to preserve them from everything and person that is evil, Th2 3:3 and expresses his confidence in them with respect to their walk and conversation, Th2 3:4 and then prays for them that their hearts might be directed into the love of God, and patience of Christ, Th2 3:5. And next follows an order to withdraw from every disorderly walker, particularly idle and slothful persons, Th2 3:6 and from such a lazy idle life the apostle dissuades by his own example, who behaved not disorderly, nor ate the bread of others, but wrought with his own hands, though he had a right to a maintenance without it, but did this to set an example to them, Th2 3:7. He puts them in mind of a precept of his when among them, that such who would not work should not eat, Th2 3:10 and the order he now gave, and the precept he reminds them of, were not without reason; seeing there were disorderly idle persons, and busy bodies, among them, whom the apostle exhorts and beseeches, in the name of Christ, to be industrious, and eat their own bread, as the fruit of their labours, Th2 3:11 and as for the other members of the church, he exhorts them to diligence and constancy in well doing, and to mark those that were incorrigible, and have no conversation with them, yet dealing with them not as enemies, but admonishing them as brethren, Th2 3:13. And closes all with prayers, that the Lord would give them peace, and grant his presence to them, and with his usual salutation, written with his own hand, as a token of this being a genuine epistle of his, and by which every epistle of his might be known, Th2 3:16.

But ye, brethren,.... The rest of the members of the church, who were diligent and industrious in their callings, minded their own business, and did not trouble themselves with other men's matters, took care of themselves, and their families, and were beneficent to others: be not weary in well doing; which may be understood generally of all well doing, or of doing of every good work; which is well done when done according to the will of God, in faith, and from a principle of love, and in the name and strength of Christ, and with a view to the glory of God: or particularly of acts of beneficence to the poor; for though the idle and lazy should not be relieved, yet the helpless poor should not be neglected. This the apostle observes, lest covetous persons should make an handle of this, and withhold their hands from distributing to any, under a notion of their being idle and disorderly; or lest the saints should be tired, and become weary of doing acts of charity through the ingratitude, moroseness, and ill manners of poor people; see Gal 6:9.

"But ye, brethren, be not weary in well doing." See how immediately the fatherly heart was overcome. He was not able to carry out his reproof farther, but again pitied them. And see with what discretion! He has not said, But pardon them, until they are amended; but what? "But ye, be not weary in well doing." Withdraw yourselves, he says, from them, and reprove them; do not, however, suffer them to perish. In that case, he says, I have spoken of a mild remedy, that you withdraw yourselves from him, that is, do not partake with him in free conversation; show that you are angry. This is no little matter. For such is the reproof that is given to a brother, if we wish really to amend him. We are not ignorant of the methods of reproof.

See how quickly the fatherly heart was softened — he immediately took pity on them. Withdraw from them, he says, and separate yourselves, but nevertheless do not allow them to starve to death. So then, what will come of this? Surely no one, being confident that I will feed him, will remain idle? It is enough for you to withdraw from him and not embolden him, acting as though you are angry with him. Even if someone after all this does not reform, still do not grow weary of doing good.

Then when he says "but you, brethren," he applies two remedies on the side of the others who are not sinning. First, that they should not cease doing good; second, that they correct them, at "and if any man." He says, therefore, "but you, brethren, do not be weary in doing good," as though to say: do not grow weary in doing good, even though the idle are abusing it. "Doing good, we do not grow weary" (Gal 6:9). And this is necessary even if they are already working with their hands and do not lack anything, because it is necessary to bring aid to others.

and uphold yourselves.

The apostle recommends himself and his brethren to the prayers of the Church, that their preaching might be successful, and that they might be delivered from wicked men, Th2 3:1, Th2 3:2. Expresses his confidence in God and them, and prays that they may patiently wait for the coming of Christ, Th2 3:3-5. Gives them directions concerning strict discipline in the Church; and shows how he and his fellow laborers had behaved among them, not availing themselves of their own power and authority, Th2 3:6-9. Shows them how to treat disorderly and idle people, and not to get weary in well doing, Th2 3:10-13. Directs them not to associate with those who obey not the orders contained in this epistle, Th2 3:14, Th2 3:15, Prays that they may have increasing peace, 16, And concludes with his salutation and benediction, Th2 3:17, Th2 3:18.

Be not weary in well-doing - While ye stretch out no hand of relief to the indolent and lazy, do not forget the real poor - the genuine representatives of an impoverished Christ; and rather relieve a hundred undeserving objects, than pass by one who is a real object of charity.

HE ASKS THEIR PRAYERS: HIS CONFIDENCE IN THEM: PRAYER FOR THEM: CHARGES AGAINST DISORDERLY IDLE CONDUCT; HIS OWN EXAMPLE: CONCLUDING PRAYER AND SALUTATION. (2Th. 3:1-18) Finally--literally, "As to what remains." may have free course--literally, "may run"; spread rapidly without a drag on the wheels of its course. That the new-creating word may "run," as "swiftly" as the creative word at the first (Psa 147:15). The opposite is the word of God being "bound" (Ti2 2:9). glorified--by sinners accepting it (Act 13:48; Gal 1:23-24). Contrast "evil spoken of" (Pe1 4:14). as it is with you-- (Th1 1:6; Th1 4:10; Th1 5:11).

be not weary--The oldest manuscripts read, "Be not cowardly in"; do not be wanting in strenuousness in doing well. EDMUNDS explains it: Do not culpably neglect to do well, namely, with patient industry do your duty in your several callings. In contrast to the "disorderly, not-working busybodies" (Th2 3:11; compare Gal 6:9).