2 Thessalonians 3:1

Contextual Overview

¹ And now, brothers and sisters, pray for us. Pray that the Lord's teaching will continue to spread quickly. And pray that people will give honor to that teaching, the same as happened with you. ¹ Finally, brethren, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may speed on and triumph, as it did among you, ¹ Furthermore brethren praye for vs yt the worde of god maye have fre passage and be gloryfied as it is with you: ¹ Finally, brothers, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may run and be glorified, even as also with you; ¹ Finally, brothers and sisters, pray for us that the word of the Lord will spread rapidly and be glorified, just as it was also with you;¹ And now, brothers and sisters, pray for us that the Lord's teaching will continue to spread quickly and that people will give honor to that teaching, just as happened with you. ¹ Finally, brothers, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may run and be glorified, even as also [it is] with you; ¹ Finally, brethren, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may have [free] course, and be glorified, even as [it is] with you; ¹ Finally, brothers, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may speed ahead and be honored, as happened among you, ¹ Finally, brothers, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may run and be glorified, even as also with you;

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

pray: Matthew 9:38, Luke 10:2, Romans 15:30, 2 Corinthians 1:11, Ephesians 6:19, Ephesians 6:20, Colossians 4:3, 1 Thessalonians 5:17, 1 Thessalonians 5:25, Hebrews 13:18, Hebrews 13:19

the word: Acts 6:7, Acts 12:24, Acts 13:49, Acts 19:20, 1 Corinthians 16:9, 2 Timothy 2:9

have free course: Gr. run

be: Psalms 138:2, Acts 13:48

even: 1 Thessalonians 1:5, 1 Thessalonians 2:1, 1 Thessalonians 2:13

Reciprocal: Psalms 45:4 - prosperously Psalms 90:17 - establish Psalms 147:15 - his word Isaiah 62:1 - Zion's Acts 19:17 - the name 1 Thessalonians 1:8 - from

Cross-References

Genesis 3:13
Then the Lord God said to the woman, "What is this that you have done?" The woman said, "The serpent deceived me, and I ate."

Genesis 3:13
And Yahweh God said to the woman, What is this you have done? And the woman said, The serpent beguiled me, and I ate.

Genesis 3:13
Then the Lord God said to the woman, "How could you have done such a thing?" She answered, "The snake tricked me, so I ate the fruit."

Genesis 3:13
So the Lord God said to the woman, "What is this you have done?" And the woman replied, "The serpent tricked me, and I ate."

Genesis 3:13
And the LORD God said to the woman, What [is] this [that] thou hast done? And the woman said, The serpent beguiled me, and I ate.

Genesis 3:13
Yahweh God said to the woman, "What is this you have done?" The woman said, "The serpent deceived me, and I ate."

Genesis 3:13
Then the LORD God said to the woman, "What is this that you have done?" And the woman said, "The serpent beguiled and deceived me, and I ate [from the forbidden tree]."

Genesis 3:13
And the Lord seide to the womman, Whi didist thou this thing? Which answerde, The serpent disseyued me, and Y eet.

Genesis 3:13
And Jehovah God saith to the woman, `What [is] this thou hast done?' and the woman saith, `The serpent hath caused me to forget -- and I do eat.'

Genesis 3:13
Then the LORD God said to the woman, "What is this you have done?" "The serpent deceived me," she replied, "and I ate."

Gill's Notes on the Bible

Finally, brethren, pray for us,.... The apostle now proceeds to the last and closing part of the epistle, which respects church discipline, and the removing of disorderly persons from their communion; and introduces it with a request to pray for him, and the rest of his fellow ministers, particularly Silvanus and Timothy, who joined with him in this epistle: he signifies that nothing more remained; this was the last he had to say, that they, "the brethren", not the preachers of the word only, but the members of the church, would be solicitous for them at the throne of grace; as it becomes all the churches, and the several members of them, to pray for their ministers: with respect to their private studies, that they might be directed to suitable subjects; that their understandings might be opened to understand the Scriptures; that their gifts might be increased, and they be more and more fitted for public service: and with respect to their public ministrations, that they be brought forth in the fulness of the blessing of the Gospel of Christ; that they have a door of utterance given them to preach the Gospel freely and boldly, as it ought to be spoken; and that their ministry be blessed to saints and sinners: and with respect to the world, and their conduct in it, that they be kept from the evil of it, and so behave as to give none offence, that the ministry be not blamed; and that they be not allured by the flatteries, nor intimidated by the frowns of the world, but endure hardness as good soldiers of Christ: and with respect to their persons and state, that their souls may prosper, and that they may have much of the presence of God, and much spiritual joy, peace, comfort, and strength of faith; and that they may enjoy bodily health, and their lives be spared for further usefulness. This request is frequently urged by the apostle; which shows his sense of the importance of the work of the ministry, the insufficiency of men for it, the necessity of fresh supplies of grace, and the great usefulness of prayer. The particular petitions he would have put up follow,

that the word of the Lord may have free course. By "the word of the Lord", or "of God", as the Vulgate Latin and Ethiopic versions read, is meant the Gospel; which is of God, and not of man, comes by the Lord Jesus Christ, and is concerning him, his person and offices, and concerning peace, pardon, righteousness, life, and salvation by him, as the subject matter of it: and the request is, that this might "have free course": or "might run": be propagated and spread far and near: the ministry of the word is a course or race, and ministers are runners in it, having their feet shod with the preparation of the Gospel of peace; which is the message they are sent with, and the errand they run upon: which comes from heaven, and is to be carried into all the world, and spread: Satan and his emissaries do all they can to hinder the progress of it; God only can remove all obstructions and impediments; when he works none can let; all mountains become a plain before Zerubbabel. Wherefore the apostle directs to pray to him for it, with what follows,

and be glorified, even as it is with you; the Gospel is glorified when it is attended upon by large numbers, and is heard with a becoming reverence; when it is received in the love of it, is greatly prized and highly esteemed; when it is cordially embraced, and cheerfully obeyed. It is glorified when sinners are converted by it, and the lives of the professors of it are agreeably to it; and thus it was glorified in these several instances at Thessalonica; and therefore the apostle puts them upon praying, that it might be so elsewhere, as there; even "everywhere", as the Syriac version adds.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Finally, brethren, pray for us - That is, for Paul, Silas, and Timothy, then engaged in arduous labors at Corinth. This request for the prayers of Christians is one which Paul often makes; see the notes, 1 Thessalonians 5:25.

That the word of the Lord may have free course - That is, the gospel. The margin is “run.” So also the Greek. The idea is, that it might meet with no obstruction, but that it might be carried abroad with the rapidity of a racer out of whose way every hindrance was removed. The gospel would spread rapidly in the earth if all the obstructions which men have put in its way were removed; and that they may be removed should be one of the constant subjects of prayer.

And be glorified - Be honored; or appear to be glorious.

As it is with you - It is evident from this that Paul met with some obstructions in preaching the gospel where he was then laboring. What they were, he mentions in the next verse. He was then at Corinth (see the introduction), and the history in the Acts of the Apostles informs us of the difficulties which he had to encounter there; see Acts 18:0.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

CHAPTER III.

The apostle recommends himself and his brethren to the prayers

of the Church, that their preaching might be successful, and

that they might be delivered from wicked men, 1, 2.

Expresses his confidence in God and them, and prays that they

may patiently wait for the coming of Christ, 3-5.

Gives them directions concerning strict discipline in the

Church; and shows how he and his fellow labourers had behaved

among them, not availing themselves of their own power and

authority, 6-9.

Shows them how to treat disorderly and idle people, and not to

get weary in well doing, 10-13.

Directs them not to associate with those who obey not the orders

contained in this epistle, 14, 15,

Prays that they may have increasing peace, 16,

And concludes with his salutation and benediction, 17, 18.

NOTES ON CHAP. III.

Verse 2 Thessalonians 3:1. Finally, brethren — The words το λοιπον do not mean finally, but, furthermore-to come to a conclusion-what remains is this-I shall only add-any of these phrases expresses the sense of the original.

Pray for us — God, in the order of his grace and providence, has made even the success of his Gospel dependent, in a certain measure, on the prayers of his followers. Why he should do so we cannot tell, but that he has done so we know; and they are not a little criminal who neglect to make fervent supplications for the prosperity of the cause of God.

May have free course — They were to pray that the doctrine of the Lord, ὁ λογος του Κυριου, might run, τρεχη, an allusion to the races in the Olympic games: that, as it had already got into the stadium or race course, and had started fairly, so it might run on, get to the goal, and be glorified; i.e., gain the crown, appointed for him that should get first to the end of the course.