1 Finally, brothers, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may spread quickly and be held in honor, just as it was with you. 2 And pray that we may be delivered from wicked and evil men; for not everyone holds to the faith. 3 But the Lord is faithful, and He will strengthen you and guard you from the evil one. 4 And we have confidence in the Lord that you are doing and will continue to do what we command. 5 May the Lord direct your hearts into God’s love and Christ’s perseverance. 6 Now we command you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, to keep away from any brother who leads an undisciplined life that is not in keeping with the tradition you received from us. 7 For you yourselves know how you ought to imitate us, because we were not undisciplined among you, 8 nor did we eat anyone’s food without paying for it. Instead, in labor and toil, we worked night and day so that we would not be a burden to any of you. 9 Not that we lack this right, but we wanted to offer ourselves as an example for you to imitate. 10 For even while we were with you, we gave you this command: “If anyone is unwilling to work, he shall not eat.” 11 Yet we hear that some of you are leading undisciplined lives and accomplishing nothing but being busybodies. 12 We command and urge such people by our Lord Jesus Christ to begin working quietly to earn their own living. 13 But as for you, brothers, do not grow weary in well-doing. 14 Take note of anyone who does not obey the instructions we have given in this letter. Do not associate with him, so that he may be ashamed. 15 Yet do not regard him as an enemy, but warn him as a brother. 16 Now may the Lord of peace Himself give you peace at all times and in every way. The Lord be with all of you. 17 This greeting is in my own hand—Paul. This is my mark in every letter; it is the way I write. 18 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with all of you.
2 Thessalonians · Berean Standard Bible
2 Thessalonians 3 Berean Standard Bible
Audio: World English Bible (WEB), read by Winfred W. Henson · About the recordings
Cross references (18)
Related passages for each verse, from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge as collected and ranked by readers at OpenBible.info.
- 1 1 Thessalonians 5:25; Colossians 4:3; 1 Corinthians 16:9; Ephesians 6:19–20; Acts 19:20
- 2 2 Corinthians 4:3–4; Romans 15:31; Deuteronomy 32:20; Romans 10:16; Luke 18:8
- 3 2 Timothy 4:18; 1 Thessalonians 5:24; 1 Corinthians 10:13; Psalm 121:7; 1 Corinthians 1:9
- 4 Philippians 1:6; Philemon 21; 1 Thessalonians 4:10; 2 Corinthians 2:3; Philippians 2:12
- 5 Psalm 119:36; 1 Chronicles 29:18; Deuteronomy 30:6; 1 John 4:19; Hebrews 12:2–3
- 6 2 Thessalonians 3:10–11; 2 Thessalonians 3:7; Colossians 3:17; Romans 16:17; 1 Thessalonians 5:14
- 7 2 Thessalonians 3:6; 2 Thessalonians 3:9; 1 Corinthians 4:16; 1 Corinthians 11:1; Titus 2:7
- 8 Matthew 6:11; 1 Thessalonians 2:9; Ephesians 4:28; Acts 18:3; 1 Corinthians 4:12
- 9 2 Thessalonians 3:7; 1 Corinthians 9:4–14; 1 Thessalonians 2:6; Galatians 6:6; John 13:15
- 10 Genesis 3:19; 1 Thessalonians 4:11; Proverbs 13:4; Proverbs 20:4; Proverbs 21:25
- 11 1 Timothy 5:13; 1 Thessalonians 4:11; 2 Thessalonians 3:6; 1 Peter 4:15
- 12 Ephesians 4:28; 1 Thessalonians 4:11; 2 Thessalonians 3:8; Luke 11:3; Proverbs 17:1
- 13 Galatians 6:9–10; Hebrews 12:3; 2 Corinthians 4:1; 2 Corinthians 4:16; Isaiah 40:29–31
- 14 Titus 3:10; 2 Thessalonians 3:6; 1 Corinthians 5:11; Psalm 83:16; 1 Thessalonians 4:8
- 15 Titus 3:10; 1 Thessalonians 5:14; 1 Corinthians 5:5; 1 Corinthians 4:14; Galatians 6:1
- 16 Psalm 29:11; John 16:33; Matthew 1:23; John 14:27; Romans 15:33
- 17 1 Corinthians 16:21; Colossians 4:18; 2 Thessalonians 1:5; Joshua 2:12; 1 Samuel 17:18
- 18 Romans 16:20; Romans 16:23
Cross references: OpenBible.info (CC BY), drawn mainly from the public-domain Treasury of Scripture Knowledge. · Sources & licences
What the Fathers said
Passages from the Church Fathers that expound or quote this chapter, verbatim from the public-domain Schaff edition (19th-century English translations).
How these were chosen
“Commentary” is the opening of a homily or exposition on this chapter (John Chrysostom’s homilies, Augustine’s tractates, sermons and expositions of the Psalms). “Quotes” are sentences where the edition’s own footnotes identify a quotation of a verse here, kept only when the wording matches the verse. Only works whose authorship is not in doubt are used. Psalms follow the Hebrew/English numbering (Augustine numbers them as the Septuagint does: his Psalm 50 is Psalm 51 here).
Neither ought we, having committed everything to the prayers of the Saints, to be idle ourselves, and run into wickedness, and to lay hold of nothing; nor again when working good to despise that succor. For great indeed are the things which prayer for us can effect, but it is when we ourselves also work.
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 1, vol. 13 (1889)
Since Paul also, having made infinite complaints, and said, "If any will not work, neither let him eat," stopped not at this, but added, "But ye, be not weary in well doing." "Nay, but these things are contradictory.
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 1, vol. 10 (1888)
We have learnt from the Apostle, "the Lord direct your hearts into the love of God and into the patient waiting for Christ" for our tribulations.
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 2, vol. 8 (1895)
But although Paul saith, "If any will not work, neither let him eat," to them he saith it; but to us he saith not this, but, on the contrary, "Be not weary in well doing." Even thus do we at home; when any two are striving with each other, we take each apart, and give them the opposite advice.
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 1, vol. 10 (1888)
if where they are strangers they shine so bright, how great will they become when they shall have won their native land!" Thus they too will be reformed, and the word of godliness "will have free course," not less than in the apostles' times.
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 1, vol. 10 (1888)