2 Thessalonians 3

One more thing, brothers and sisters: pray for us. Pray that the Lord's message will spread quickly and be honored, just as it was among you.

1Finally, brethren, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may have free course, and be glorified, even as it is with you:

Note"Brethren" translates a Greek word for fellow members of the community that covers both men and women, which is why the rendering says "brothers and sisters." "Have free course" is 1611 English for running freely or unhindered, the image of a runner on a clear track or water in an open channel. "Be glorified" here means be held in honor, spoken well of, rather than made to shine.

2And pray that we will be rescued from wicked and evil people, because not everyone believes.

2And that we may be delivered from unreasonable and wicked men: for all men have not faith.

NoteThe KJV's "all men have not faith" is older word order for "not all men have faith." It does not mean that no one has faith. "Unreasonable" translates a Greek word meaning literally "out of place," so improper or perverse in behavior, not illogical in argument.

3But the Lord keeps his word. He will make you strong and will guard you from the evil one.

3But the Lord is faithful, who shall stablish you, and keep you from evil.

Note"Stablish" is simply an older form of "establish," here in its sense of making firm or strengthening. "Keep you from evil" is genuinely ambiguous in Greek: the phrase can mean "from the evil one," that is, a personal adversary, or "from what is evil" in general. Both readings have been defended since antiquity.

4And because of the Lord, we are confident about you. We trust that you are doing what we told you to do, and that you will keep doing it.

4And we have confidence in the Lord touching you, that ye both do and will do the things which we command you.

Note"Touching you" is 1611 English for "concerning you" or "about you." It has nothing to do with physical touch.

5May the Lord guide your hearts into God's love and into the patient endurance of Christ.

5And the Lord direct your hearts into the love of God, and into the patient waiting for Christ.

NoteThe Greek phrase translated "the patient waiting for Christ" is open to more than one reading. It can mean the steady endurance that Christ himself showed, or the endurance that belongs to those who follow him, or waiting patiently for his return. The KJV chose the last; most modern translations choose one of the first two.

6Now we give you this order, brothers and sisters, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ: stay away from any believer who lives an undisciplined, idle life instead of following the teaching we handed on to you.

6Now we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye withdraw yourselves from every brother that walketh disorderly, and not after the tradition which he received of us.

Note"Walketh disorderly" translates a Greek word drawn from military life, describing a soldier out of rank or a unit that will not keep formation. Applied to a person it means undisciplined and out of step, and in this letter it points specifically at people who have stopped working. "Withdraw yourselves" means keep your distance socially, not expel from the community; verse 15 makes the limit explicit. "Tradition" translates a word meaning something handed on from one person to the next, here the teaching Paul delivered in person, not custom in the modern sense of old habit.

7You yourselves know how you ought to follow our example. We were not lazy or undisciplined when we were with you.

7For yourselves know how ye ought to follow us: for we behaved not ourselves disorderly among you;

8We did not eat anyone's food without paying for it. Instead we worked hard, day and night, so that we would not be a burden to any of you.

8Neither did we eat any man’s bread for nought; but wrought with labour and travail night and day, that we might not be chargeable to any of you:

Note"Any man's bread" means anyone's food or meals generally. "For nought" means without paying for it, free of charge. "Travail" here is hard toil, not childbirth. "Chargeable to any of you" means a financial burden on you, someone you had to support. Paul worked a trade while teaching rather than accept the maintenance a traveling teacher could normally expect.

9It was not that we had no right to be supported. We did it to give you an example to copy.

9Not because we have not power, but to make ourselves an ensample unto you to follow us.

Note"Power" translates a Greek word meaning right or entitlement rather than strength. The claim is that Paul was entitled to be supported by the congregation and chose not to use that entitlement. "Ensample" is an older form of "example," a pattern to be copied.

10Even while we were with you, we gave you this rule: anyone who refuses to work should not eat.

10For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat.

NoteThe rule turns on being unwilling rather than unable: the Greek says "if anyone is not willing to work." It is aimed at people who refuse available work, not at those who cannot work.

11We hear that some among you are living this undisciplined way. They do no work at all, but meddle in other people's business.

11For we hear that there are some which walk among you disorderly, working not at all, but are busybodies.

NoteThere is a pun in the Greek that English cannot easily carry. The words for "working" and for "being busybodies" come from the same root, so the line runs roughly "not busy, just busybodies." A "busybody" in 1611 English means someone who meddles in other people's affairs.

12To people like that we give this order and this urging, by our Lord Jesus Christ: settle down, do your own work, and earn the food you eat.

12Now them that are such we command and exhort by our Lord Jesus Christ, that with quietness they work, and eat their own bread.

Note"With quietness" means calmly and without commotion, settling down to ordinary life. "Eat their own bread" means earn the food they eat rather than live off others.

13As for you, brothers and sisters, do not get tired of doing what is good.

13But ye, brethren, be not weary in well doing.

14If anyone refuses to obey what we say in this letter, take note of that person. Do not spend time with him, so that he will feel ashamed.

14And if any man obey not our word by this epistle, note that man, and have no company with him, that he may be ashamed.

Note"Note that man" means mark him out, take formal notice of him, not write something down about him. "Have no company with him" means do not mix socially with him. The stated purpose is shame that leads to a change, and verse 15 rules out treating him as an enemy.

15Even so, do not treat him as an enemy. Warn him as you would warn a brother.

15Yet count him not as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother.

16Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times and in every way. May the Lord be with all of you.

16Now the Lord of peace himself give you peace always by all means. The Lord be with you all.

Note"By all means" here carries its older sense of "in every way" or "in every circumstance." It is not the modern phrase meaning "certainly, go ahead."

17I, Paul, write this greeting with my own hand. This is the mark I put on every letter. It is how I write.

17The salutation of Paul with mine own hand, which is the token in every epistle: so I write.

NoteLetters in this period were usually dictated to a trained scribe, with the sender adding a closing greeting in his own handwriting. That handwriting served as the signature and proof of authenticity. The point matters here because the same letter warns earlier about a letter circulating as if it came from Paul when it did not.

18May the undeserved kindness of our Lord Jesus Christ be with all of you. Amen.

18The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.