Bible Gateway passage: 2 Thessalonians 3 - New American Standard Bible 1995 (2024)

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Exhortation

3^(A)Finally, brethren, ^(B)pray for us that ^(C)the word of the Lord will ^[a]spread rapidly and be glorified, just as it did also with you; ²and that we will be ^(D)rescued from ^[b]perverse and evil men; for not all have ^[c]faith. ³But ^(E)the Lord is faithful, ^[d]and He will strengthen and protect you ^[e]from ^(F)the evil one. ⁴We have ^(G)confidence in the Lord concerning you, that you ^(H)are doing and will continue to do what we command. ⁵May the Lord ^(I)direct your hearts into the love of God and into the steadfastness of Christ.

⁶Now we command you, brethren, ^(J)in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you ^[f]^(K)keep away from every brother who ^[g]leads an ^[h]^(L)unruly life and not according to ^(M)the tradition which ^[i]you received from us. ⁷For you yourselves know how you ought to ^[j]^(N)follow our example, because we did not act in an undisciplined manner among you, ⁸nor did we ^(O)eat ^[k]anyone’s bread ^[l]without paying for it, but with ^(P)labor and hardship we kept ^(Q)working night and day so that we would not be a burden to any of you; ⁹not because we do not have ^(R)the right to this, but in order to offer ourselves ^(S)as a model for you, so that you would ^[m]follow our example. ¹⁰For even ^(T)when we were with you, we used to give you this order: ^(U)if anyone is not willing to work, then he is not to eat, either. ¹¹For we hear that some among you are ^(V)leading an undisciplined life, doing no work at all, but acting like ^(W)busybodies. ¹²Now such persons we command and ^(X)exhort in the Lord Jesus Christ to ^(Y)work in quiet fashion and eat their own bread. ¹³But as for you, ^(Z)brethren, ^(AA)do not grow weary of doing good.

¹⁴If anyone does not obey our ^[n]instruction ^[o]^(AB)in this letter, take special note of that person ^[p]^(AC)and do not associate with him, so that he will be ^(AD)put to shame. ¹⁵Yet ^(AE)do not regard him as an enemy, but ^[q]^(AF)admonish him as a ^(AG)brother.

¹⁶Now ^(AH)may the Lord of peace ^(AI)Himself continually grant you peace in every ^[r]circ*mstance. ^(AJ)The Lord be with you all!

¹⁷^[s]I, Paul, write this greeting ^(AK)with my own hand, and this is a distinguishing mark in every letter; this is the way I write. ¹⁸^(AL)The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all.

Footnotes

2 Thessalonians 3:1 Lit run
2 Thessalonians 3:2 Lit improper
2 Thessalonians 3:2 Or the faith
2 Thessalonians 3:3 Lit who will
2 Thessalonians 3:3 Or from evil
2 Thessalonians 3:6 Or avoid
2 Thessalonians 3:6 Lit walks disorderly
2 Thessalonians 3:6 Or undisciplined
2 Thessalonians 3:6 One early ms reads they
2 Thessalonians 3:7 Lit imitate us
2 Thessalonians 3:8 Lit from anyone
2 Thessalonians 3:8 Lit freely
2 Thessalonians 3:9 Lit imitate us
2 Thessalonians 3:14 Lit word
2 Thessalonians 3:14 Lit through
2 Thessalonians 3:14 Lit not to associate
2 Thessalonians 3:15 Or keep admonishing
2 Thessalonians 3:16 Lit way
2 Thessalonians 3:17 Lit The greeting by my hand of Paul

Cross references

2 Thessalonians 3:1 : 1 Thess 4:1
2 Thessalonians 3:1 : 1 Thess 5:25
2 Thessalonians 3:1 : 1 Thess 1:8
2 Thessalonians 3:2 : Rom 15:31
2 Thessalonians 3:3 : 1 Cor 1:9; 1 Thess 5:24
2 Thessalonians 3:3 : Matt 5:37
2 Thessalonians 3:4 : 2 Cor 2:3
2 Thessalonians 3:4 : 1 Thess 4:10
2 Thessalonians 3:5 : 1 Thess 3:11
2 Thessalonians 3:6 : 1 Cor 5:4
2 Thessalonians 3:6 : Rom 16:17; 1 Cor 5:11; 2 Thess 3:14
2 Thessalonians 3:6 : 1 Thess 5:14; 2 Thess 3:7, 11
2 Thessalonians 3:6 : 1 Cor 11:2; 2 Thess 2:15
2 Thessalonians 3:7 : 1 Thess 1:6; 2 Thess 3:9
2 Thessalonians 3:8 : 1 Cor 9:4
2 Thessalonians 3:8 : 1 Thess 2:9
2 Thessalonians 3:8 : Acts 18:3; Eph 4:28
2 Thessalonians 3:9 : 1 Cor 9:4ff
2 Thessalonians 3:9 : 2 Thess 3:7
2 Thessalonians 3:10 : 1 Thess 3:4
2 Thessalonians 3:10 : 1 Thess 4:11
2 Thessalonians 3:11 : 2 Thess 3:6
2 Thessalonians 3:11 : 1 Tim 5:13; 1 Pet 4:15
2 Thessalonians 3:12 : 1 Thess 4:1
2 Thessalonians 3:12 : 1 Thess 4:11
2 Thessalonians 3:13 : 1 Thess 4:1
2 Thessalonians 3:13 : 2 Cor 4:1; Gal 6:9
2 Thessalonians 3:14 : Col 4:16
2 Thessalonians 3:14 : 2 Thess 3:6
2 Thessalonians 3:14 : 1 Cor 4:14
2 Thessalonians 3:15 : Gal 6:1
2 Thessalonians 3:15 : 1 Thess 5:14
2 Thessalonians 3:15 : 2 Thess 3:6, 13
2 Thessalonians 3:16 : Rom 15:33
2 Thessalonians 3:16 : 1 Thess 3:11
2 Thessalonians 3:16 : Ruth 2:4
2 Thessalonians 3:17 : 1 Cor 16:21
2 Thessalonians 3:18 : Rom 16:20; 1 Thess 5:28

FAQs

What is the main message of 2 Thessalonians 3? ›

Among his teachings here are the importance of a good work ethic and God's impending judgment on sin, including judgment on those who persecute the Christian church. Paul also provides the Thessalonians with reassurances that they have not somehow missed out on Christ's return.

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What is the message of 2 Thessalonians 3 3? ›

Because God is faithful, He could be trusted to strengthen the Thessalonians and protect them from Satan. Because God is faithful He will not allow evil men to gain a victory over believers. The Bible assures us that God is completely trustworthy.

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What does 2 Thessalonians teach us? ›

The Second Epistle to the Thessalonians provides significant details about the Second Coming of Jesus Christ. Some examples include the ideas that the Lord will return in “flaming fire” and that the wicked will be “punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord” (2 Thessalonians 1:8–9).

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What does 2 Thessalonians 3 5 mean? ›

This means to "clear away obstacles, or to guide." Paul is asking the Lord to move aside barriers that threatened to impede his readers' spiritual progress. An ever-increasing thankfulness for God's love would keep them on track spiritually.

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What is the warning in 2 Thessalonians 3? ›

Verses 6,7: “But we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you withdraw from every brother who walks disorderly and not according to the tradition which he received from us.

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What are the prayer points from 2 Thessalonians 3? ›

“Pray that we may be delivered from wicked and evil people, for not everyone has faith. But the Lord is faithful, and he will strengthen you and protect you from the evil one…Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times in every way. The Lord be with you all.”

What are the major purposes of 2 Thessalonians? ›

Paul wrote 2 Thessalonians (1) to reassure those terrified that the day of the Lord had already come (2:1–3:5); (2) to strengthen the Thessalonians in the face of continuing persecution (1:3–12); and (3) to deal with the problem of some of the church members refusing to earn their own living (3:6–15).