2Th 3 | ISV | STEP | An Example to Follow Finally, brothers, pray for us—that the word of the Lord may spread rapidly, and that it may be honored the way it is among you.

2 Thessalonians 3

1 An Example to Follow

Finally, brothers, pray for us—that the word of the Lord may spread rapidly, and that it may be honored the way it is among you.Eph 6:19; Col 4:3; 1Thes 5:25 2 Also pray ^{▼▼The Gk. lacks pray} that we may be rescued from worthless and evil people, since not everyone holds to the faith. ^{▼▼Or has faith}Acts 28:24; Rom 10:16; 15:31 3 But the Lord is faithful and will strengthen you and protect you from the evil one.John 17:15; 1Cor 1:9; 1Thes 5:24; 2Pet 2:9 4 We have confidence in the Lord ^{▼▼Lit. in the Lord concerning you} that you are doing and will continue to do what we command.2Cor 7:16; Gal 5:10 5 May the Lord direct your hearts to the love of God and to the endurance of Christ.1Chr 29:18

6 In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ we command you, brothers, to keep away from every brother who is living in idleness ^{▼▼Or is leading a disorderly life} and not living ^{▼▼The Gk. lacks living} according to the tradition that they received ^{▼▼Other mss. read you received} from us.Rom 16:17; 1Cor 5:11, 13; 1Thes 4:11; 5:14; 2Thes 2:15; 16:14; 1Tim 6:5; 2John 1:10 7 For you yourselves know what you must do to imitate us. We did not live in idleness ^{▼▼Or We did not lead a disorderly life} among you.1Cor 4:16; 11:1; 1Thes 1:6-7; 2:10 8 We did not eat anyone's food without paying for it. Instead, with toil and labor we worked night and day in order not to be a burden to any of you.Acts 18:3; 20:34; 2Cor 11:9; 1Thes 2:9 9 It is not as though we did not have that right, but, we wanted ^{▼▼The Gk. lacks we wanted} to give you an example to follow.1Cor 9:6; 1Thes 2:6; 2Thes 2:7 10 While we were with you, we gave this order: “If anyone doesn't want to work, he shouldn't eat.”Gen 3:19; 1Thes 4:11

11 We hear that some of you are living in idleness. ^{▼▼Or living disorderly lives} You are not busy working ^{▼▼Gk. ergazomenous (working)}—you are busy interfering ^{▼▼Gk. periergazomenous (uselessly working)} in other people's lives!1Thes 4:11; 2Thes 3:6; 1Tim 5:13; 1Pet 4:15 12 We order and encourage such people by the Lord Jesus Christ to do their work quietly and to earn their own living.Eph 4:28; 1Thes 4:11 13 Brothers, do not get tired of doing what is right.Gal 6:9

14 If anyone does not obey what we say ^{▼▼Lit. our word} in this letter, take note of him. Have nothing to do with him so that he will feel ashamed.Matt 18:17; 1Cor 5:9, 11; 2Thes 3:6 15 Yet, don't treat him like an enemy, but warn ^{▼▼Or instruct} him like a brother.Lev 19:17; 1Thes 5:14; Titus 3:10 16 Now may the Lord of peace give you his peace at all times and in every way. May the Lord be with all of you.Rom 15:33; 16:20; 1Cor 14:33; 2Cor 13:11; 1Thes 5:23

17 Final GreetingI, Paul, am writing this greeting with my own hand. This is the mark in every letter of mine. It is the way I write.1Cor 16:21; Col 4:18 18 May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with all of you. Amen. ^{▼▼Other mss. lack Amen}Rom 16:24