2Th 3:1-5 | TNotes | STEP | Summary for 2Thess 3:1-5: 3:1-5 Before taking up the final topic of the letter (3:6-15 ), Paul requests prayer (3:1-2 ) and assures the Thessalonians of God’s providence in troubles (3:3-5 ). 3:1 pray: The prayer that the gospel would spread rapidly recalls Ps 147:15 . Paul merges the image with reference to the games (see 1 Cor 9:24-26 ; Gal 2:2 ) in which a victor was honored .

Summary for 2Thess 3:1-5: 3:1-5 ^a Before taking up the final topic of the letter (3:6-15 ^b), Paul requests prayer (3:1-2 ^c) and assures the Thessalonians of God’s providence in troubles (3:3-5 ^d). 3:1 ^e pray: The prayer that the gospel would spread rapidly recalls Ps 147:15 ^f. Paul merges the image with reference to the games (see 1 Cor 9:24-26 ^g; Gal 2:2 ^h) in which a victor was honored.
3:2 ⁱ Paul, too, suffered for the Good News (2 Cor 6:5 ^j; 11:23-26 ^k; 1 Thes 2:2 ^l). His prayer to be rescued echoes Isa 25:4 ^m.
3:3 ⁿ The sufferings the Thessalonians faced were caused by the evil one (or by evil; see 2:9 ^o; cp. 1:4-6 ^p; 1 Thes 1:6 ^q; 2:14 ^r).
3:5 ^s The prayer that God would lead (literally make straight) their hearts reflects an Old Testament expression (1 Chr 29:18 ^t; Prov 23:19 ^u). Christians are expected to love as God loves and practice patient endurance as Christ endured.