2 Thessalonians 3

Pray for Us

1 Finally, brothers, 1 j pray for us, that k the word of the Lord may speed ahead and be honored, 2 as happened among you, 2 and l that we may be delivered from wicked and evil men. For m not all have faith. 3 But n the Lord is faithful. He will establish you and o guard you against p the evil one. 3 4 And q we have confidence in the Lord about you, that you are doing and will do the things that we command. 5 May the Lord r direct your hearts to the love of God and to the steadfastness of Christ.

Warning Against Idleness

6 Now we command you, brothers, s in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, t that you keep away from any u brother v who is walking in idleness and not in accord with the tradition that you received from us. 7 For you yourselves know w how you ought to imitate us, because x we were not idle when we were with you, 8 nor did we eat anyone's bread without paying for it, but y with toil and labor we worked night and day, that we might not be a burden to any of you. 9 It was z not because we do not have that right, but to give you in ourselves a an example to imitate. 10 For even when we were with you, we would give you this command: b If anyone is not willing to work, let him not eat. 11 For we hear that some among you c walk in idleness, not busy at work, but d busybodies. 12 Now such persons we command and encourage in the Lord Jesus Christ to do their work quietly and to earn their own living. 4

13 As for you, brothers, e do not grow weary in doing good. 14 If anyone does not obey what we say in this letter, take note of that person, and f have nothing to do with him, that he may be ashamed. 15 g Do not regard him as an enemy, but h warn him as a brother.

Benediction

16 Now may i the Lord of peace himself j give you peace at all times in every way. k The Lord be with you all.

17 I, Paul, write l this greeting with my own hand. This is the sign of genuineness in every letter of mine; it is the way I write. 18 m The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all.

  1. Cross References
    1 Thessalonians 5:25
    Brothers, pray for us.
  2. Cross References
    Psalms 147:15
    He sends out his command to the earth; his word runs swiftly.
    1 Thessalonians 1:8
    For not only has the word of the Lord sounded forth from you in Macedonia and Achaia, but your faith in God has gone forth everywhere, so that we need not say anything.
  3. Cross References
    Romans 15:31
    That I may be delivered from the unbelievers in Judea, and that my service for Jerusalem may be acceptable to the saints.
  4. Cross References
    Deuteronomy 32:20
    And he said, 'I will hide my face from them; I will see what their end will be, For they are a perverse generation, children in whom is no faithfulness.
  5. Cross References
    1 Corinthians 1:9
    God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.
  6. Cross References
    Matthew 6:13
    And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
    John 17:15
    I do not ask that you take them out of the world, but that you keep them from the evil one.
  7. Cross References
    Matthew 13:19
    When anyone hears the word of the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what has been sown in his heart. This is what was sown along the path.
  8. Cross References
    2 Corinthians 2:3
    And I wrote as I did, so that when I came I might not suffer pain from those who should have made me rejoice, for I felt sure of all of you, that my joy would be the joy of you all.
  9. Cross References
    1 Thessalonians 3:11
    Now may our God and Father himself, and our Lord Jesus, direct our way to you.
  10. Cross References
    1 Corinthians 5:4
    When you are assembled in the name of the Lord Jesus and my spirit is present, with the power of our Lord Jesus.
  11. Cross References
    2 Thessalonians 3:14
    If anyone does not obey what we say in this letter, take note of that person, and have nothing to do with him, that he may be ashamed.
    Matthew 18:17
    If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church. And if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector.
    2 Timothy 3:5
    Having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people.
    1 Corinthians 5:9
    I wrote to you in my letter not to associate with sexually immoral people -
    2 John 1:10
    If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not receive him into your house or give him any greeting.
  12. Cross References
    1 Corinthians 5:11
    But now I am writing to you not to associate with anyone who bears the name of brother if he is guilty of sexual immorality or greed, or is an idolater, reviler, drunkard, or swindler - not even to eat with such a one.
  13. Cross References
    2 Thessalonians 3:11
    For we hear that some among you walk in idleness, not busy at work, but busybodies.
    1 Thessalonians 5:14
    And we urge you, brothers, admonish the idle, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with them all.
  14. Cross References
    Acts 20:35
    In all things I have shown you that by working hard in this way we must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he himself said, 'It is more blessed to give than to receive.'
    1 Thessalonians 1:6
    And you became imitators of us and of the Lord, for you received the word in much affliction, with the joy of the Holy Spirit.
  15. Cross References
    1 Thessalonians 1:5
    Because our gospel came to you not only in word, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with full conviction. You know what kind of men we proved to be among you for your sake.
  16. Cross References
    1 Thessalonians 2:9
    For you remember, brothers, our labor and toil: we worked night and day, that we might not be a burden to any of you, while we proclaimed to you the gospel of God.
  17. Cross References
    1 Corinthians 9:4
    Do we not have the right to eat and drink?
    1 Thessalonians 2:6
    Nor did we seek glory from people, whether from you or from others, though we could have made demands as apostles of Christ.
  18. Cross References
    2 Thessalonians 3:7
    For you yourselves know how you ought to imitate us, because we were not idle when we were with you.
    1 Peter 5:3
    Not domineering over those in your charge, but being examples to the flock.
  19. Cross References
    Genesis 3:19
    By the sweat of your face you shall eat bread, till you return to the ground, for out of it you were taken; for you are dust, and to dust you shall return.
    1 Thessalonians 4:11
    And to aspire to live quietly, and to mind your own affairs, and to work with your hands, as we instructed you.
  20. Cross References
    2 Thessalonians 3:6
    Now we command you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you keep away from any brother who is walking in idleness and not in accord with the tradition that you received from us.
  21. Cross References
    1 Timothy 5:13
    Besides that, they learn to be idlers, going about from house to house, and not only idlers, but also gossips and busybodies, saying what they should not.
    1 Peter 4:15
    But let none of you suffer as a murderer or a thief or an evildoer or as a meddler.
  22. Cross References
    Galatians 6:9
    And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.
    1 Corinthians 15:58
    Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.
  23. Cross References
    2 Thessalonians 3:6
    Now we command you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you keep away from any brother who is walking in idleness and not in accord with the tradition that you received from us.
  24. Cross References
    Leviticus 19:17
    You shall not hate your brother in your heart, but you shall reason frankly with your neighbor, lest you incur sin because of him.
    Matthew 18:15
    If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained your brother.
  25. Cross References
    1 Thessalonians 5:12
    We ask you, brothers, to respect those who labor among you and are over you in the Lord and admonish you.
    1 Thessalonians 5:14
    And we urge you, brothers, admonish the idle, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with them all.
    Titus 3:10
    As for a person who stirs up division, after warning him once and then twice, have nothing more to do with him.
  26. Cross References
    Romans 15:33
    May the God of peace be with you all. Amen.
    Ephesians 6:23
    Peace be to the brothers, and love with faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
  27. Cross References
    Numbers 6:26
    The Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace.
  28. Cross References
    Ruth 2:4
    And behold, Boaz came from Bethlehem. And he said to the reapers, "The Lord be with you!" And they answered, "The Lord bless you.
  29. Cross References
    1 Corinthians 16:21
    I, Paul, write this greeting with my own hand.
  30. Cross References
    Romans 16:20
    The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.
English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers.
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