(Chapter 3)
In chapter 2, Paul corrected the eschatological (end-time events) error that had arisen among the Thessalonians. Now in chapter 3, he corrects the practical problems that grew out of that faulty teaching. The fact that one thing led to another emphasizes the old adage, “Bad doctrine leads to bad practice.” Let us be warned: what we hold and believe in doctrinally matters.
Hindrances of the Enemy
In this chapter, we see that Satan (“the evil one” – vs. 3) was working in different ways to thwart the work of God. This is not surprising, for he always tries to “resist” the work of the Lord (Zech. 3:11And he showed me Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of the Lord, and Satan standing at his right hand to resist him. (Zechariah 3:1)):
• In verses 1-2—we see him trying to hinder the gospel from going out.
• In verses 3-5—we see him working to hinder believers from getting established in the faith and following on in the things which Paul had taught them.
• In verses 6-16—we see him causing some to walk disorderly, and this, to bring a mark of dishonour against the Christian testimony. In chapter 2, Paul spoke of “the mystery of iniquity [lawlessness]” culminating in the man of sin, which is a future thing. In chapter 3, he speaks of it in its present working while the Church is still on earth—it “doth already work” (chap. 2:7).
Paul’s Three-Fold Prayer Request
Vss. 1-5—With the forces of evil set against the Christian testimony, Paul requests the prayers of the Thessalonians concerning the work in which he and his co-workers were engaged in preaching the gospel. We see from this that there is no shame for older, more experienced brethren soliciting the prayers of younger brethren. Some have the mistaken idea that the Lord will answer the prayer of a mature Christian more readily than a new convert—supposing that older Christians have more weight with God. The truth is, God answers prayers according to the disposition of His own heart, and if new Christians pray according to the will of God, it will be answered (1 John 5:1414And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us: (1 John 5:14)). The most advanced saint ought to be thankful for the prayers of the youngest and humblest believer. Paul’s request was threefold:
• That the Word of the Lord would have “free course [run].” That is, that the gospel message would not be hindered from going out.
• That the Word of the Lord would be “glorified.” That is, that it would work triumphantly in souls for their blessing, and God would get the glory for it.
• That the messengers carrying the Word would be “delivered” from the plots of “unreasonable and wicked men” who “have not faith.” (From the history given in Acts 17, the Thessalonians well knew of the dangers of this service, having seen the persecution firsthand.)
Vss. 3-4—Paul was confident that in spite of the opposition, “the Lord is faithful” and He would “establish” the Thessalonian saints and keep them from the designs of “the evil one.” He believed that the things which he had taught them would bear fruit in their performance of them.
The Patience of The Christ
Vs. 5—Paul desired that the Lord would direct their hearts “into the love of God, and into the patience of the Christ.” This is the correct posture of the Christian as he waits for the coming of the Lord (the Rapture). We should be found enjoying the love of God while we wait for the Lord. The KJV says, “the patient waiting for Christ,” but the verse really should read, “the patience of the Christ.” It’s true that we are to wait for Christ to come (Luke 12:3636And ye yourselves like unto men that wait for their lord, when he will return from the wedding; that when he cometh and knocketh, they may open unto him immediately. (Luke 12:36)), but the thought which Paul is conveying here is that we should have the same character of patient waiting that Christ Himself has as He sits on high at God’s right hand. We are to wait with the same kind of patience that He has. The moment will come when the Father will give the Lord Jesus the word to come and get us, and He will rise up at once and give the “shout” to take us home to the Father’s house (John 14:2-32In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. 3And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also. (John 14:2‑3); 1 Thess. 4:15-1715For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. 16For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: 17Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. (1 Thessalonians 4:15‑17)).
Paul’s comment here is a very much needed thing for us because we can become impatient while we wait for the Lord to come. We can get weary of the path and chafe under the stress of Christian living. We can become like the unfaithful servant who said, “My lord delayeth his coming,” and “begin to smite” our “fellow servants, and to eat and drink with the drunken” (Matt. 24:48-4948But and if that evil servant shall say in his heart, My lord delayeth his coming; 49And shall begin to smite his fellowservants, and to eat and drink with the drunken; (Matthew 24:48‑49)). Thus, we get into conflict with our brethren and our principles of separation from the world break down.
Disorderly Conduct of Some
Vs. 6—The erroneous ideas concerning the Lord’s coming and the day of the Lord had already borne fruit among the Thessalonians. It had caused some to walk “disorderly.” This shows that “evil communications corrupt good manners” (1 Cor. 15:3333Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners. (1 Corinthians 15:33)). Since they believed that that day had come, they thought there would be no point in continuing to work at their regular means of employment, and so they stopped working. Having done so, they expected that the others would support them. It left them with a lot of free time on their hands and in their idleness they became “busybodies” among the saints.
This was certainly not “the instruction” that they had received from Paul. In the first epistle, he had taught them: “Study to be quiet, and to do your own business, and to work with your own hands.” He had also explained that if they didn’t show themselves to be conscientious and industrious people, it would render a negative testimony “toward them that are without” (1 Thess. 4:11-1211And that ye study to be quiet, and to do your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you; 12That ye may walk honestly toward them that are without, and that ye may have lack of nothing. (1 Thessalonians 4:11‑12)). This situation that had developed among the Thessalonian saints was something, therefore, that needed to be corrected.
Paul goes on to tell them how this should be done. All such busybodies were to be made to feel the displeasure of the Lord so that they would judge themselves and correct their ways. This was not to be done by excommunicating them, as was the case with the immoral man in 1 Corinthians 5. These “freeloaders” were not to be denied the partaking of the Lord’s Supper, but were to be withdrawn from in matters of practical fellowship. J. N. Darby said that they were to be treated “coolly,” and thus, made to realize that they were out of step with their brethren and the teaching of the Apostle.
Vss. 7-10—Paul then points to the example that he and his co-workers had given them when they were there in Thessalonica and he encouraged them to “follow” that example. They didn’t “eat any man’s bread for nought.” They laboured to support themselves so that they would not be chargeable to the Thessalonians. He adds, “Not because we have not power [right],” but to make themselves an example for the Thessalonians to follow. Their motto was: “If any man does not like to work, neither let him eat.”
Vss. 11-12—Now in the face of such plain teaching, Paul says, “We hear that there are some which walk among you disorderly, working not at all, but are busybodies [meddling in others affairs].” He then gives a personal word to all such: “Now them that are such we command [enjoin] and exhort by our Lord Jesus Christ, that with quietness they [ought to] work, and eat their own bread.”
Vss. 14-15—Having addressed the busybodies, he goes on to address the assembly as to their conduct toward the busybodies. He says, “If any man obey not our word by this epistle, note that man, and have no company with him, that he may be ashamed [of himself]; yet count him not as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother.” This was to be carried out on an individual basis; it was not a corporate action of the assembly.
The Closing Salutation
Vs. 16—Paul closes the epistle by letting the Thessalonians know that his desire was that “peace,” would reign among them. In stating this, we can see that he was afraid that the disciplinary action toward the busybodies which he enjoined upon the Thessalonians could lead to a fracture in the fellowship. He desired that the Lord would be “with” them in working out this problem among them.
Vss. 17-18—Paul now makes mention of autographing the epistle, which he says was his habit in “every epistle” that he wrote. His normal way of writing was to communicate the message to someone who would write it down, and then he would sign it, thus proving its genuineness. He mentions this because, apparently, there had been a letter as from Paul circulating among them that had been forged with his name on it (chap. 2:2). It would not have his actual signature, and thus, it would prove not to be authentic.
“The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ” was enjoined upon them all.