1 Lastly, brothers and sisters, please pray for us, so that the Lord's message may spread and be truly appreciated, just as it is by you— 2 and that we may be kept safe from immoral and evil men, because not everyone trusts in God. 3 But the Lord is trustworthy and will strengthen you, and protect you from the evil one. 4 We have great confidence in the Lord that you are doing and will continue to do what we told you. 5 May the Lord lead you into a deeper understanding of God's love for you and the endurance of Christ. 6 Now we want to tell you, brothers and sisters, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, not to associate with any believer who can't be bothered to work for their living—those who don't follow the teachings they learned from us. 7 You certainly know that you should follow our example, because while we were with you we weren't lazy, 8 —we didn't eat anyone's food without paying for it. Instead we worked hard day and night so we wouldn't be a burden to any of you. 9 Not that we don't have the right to do so—but we wanted to be an example to you, so that you could copy what we did. 10 Even while we were with you we gave strict instructions that anybody who didn't want to work shouldn't eat. 11 But now we hear that there are some lazy busybodies among you who don't work at all. 12 We're ordering such people, urging them in the Lord Jesus, to settle down and work to pay for their own food. 13 Brothers and sisters, don't give up doing good. 14 Take note of anyone who doesn't do what we're telling you in this letter, and make sure you don't associate with them, so that they may become embarrassed. 15 Don't consider them enemies, but warn them as a brother or sister. 16 May the Lord of peace himself grant you peace in every situation in every way. May the Lord be with all of you. 17 Notice the greeting to you from me, Paul, in my own handwriting. This is my signature on every letter I write. 18 May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with all of you.
2 Thessalonians · Free Bible Version
2 Thessalonians 3 Free Bible Version
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)