By Sam Nobles
As
this letter draws to a close, the Apostle Paul felt the need to ask the believers in the Thessalonian church to
pray for him in three distinct areas: (1) for the spreading of the gospel
message; (2) for the success of the gospel message; (3) for the protection of
those delivering that message (v.1-5).
It seems clear from the writing, that some of the believers in Thessalonica had stopped working because they were so wrapped up in waiting for the Lord's return. Paul does not encourage this as a spiritual attitude, but proceeds to give definite instructions as to how to deal with such brethren.[1] (v.6-15).
It seems clear from the writing, that some of the believers in Thessalonica had stopped working because they were so wrapped up in waiting for the Lord's return. Paul does not encourage this as a spiritual attitude, but proceeds to give definite instructions as to how to deal with such brethren.[1] (v.6-15).
· First, Paul told them to stay away from
those who refuse to work, and sponges off others (v.6). The believers in Thessalonica were to show their
discontentment of such a believer
by not having anything to do with them socially.
· Secondly, Paul instructs the Thessalonian
believers to imitate them – the apostles (v.7-10).
No one could accuse them of using someone's home and eating the food which
someone bought. In fact, the Apostle Paul earned his own living while he was
preaching the gospel as a tent-maker (Acts
18:3).
· Third, using a play on words, the Apostle
Paul tells the Thessalonian believers that there are “some
who don't attend to business but are busybodies.” There are also “some that are
not busy people but are busybodies.” Still, there are “some that are not busy
in their own business, but are over-busy in other people's business; minding
everybody else's business but their own”[1] (v.11-12).
As
Paul closes his instruction to the church in Thessalonica, he does so with
encouragement and warning for the believers. For those who had been working faithfully, they were
admonished to keep on doing so, and not to become disappointed (v.13). For those who would refuse the
instruction, a final warning is given for the rest of the church to have
nothing to do with those people until they were ashamed of their behavior (v.14-15).
The final words of Paul to the believers of Thessalonica was that he genuinely loved them as brothers and sisters in Christ (v.16). Even through his apparent disability, he wrote this letter in his own handwriting, which was not always the case (v.17-18).
The final words of Paul to the believers of Thessalonica was that he genuinely loved them as brothers and sisters in Christ (v.16). Even through his apparent disability, he wrote this letter in his own handwriting, which was not always the case (v.17-18).
Scripture
to Claim:
“But the Lord is faithful. He
will establish you and guard you against the evil one.” (2 Thessalonians 3:3
ESV)
