Bible Commentaries
2 Thessalonians 3

Verses 1-18

2III:2. ’for not to all does the faith belong’. 3. ’from the evil one’; there seems to be a reminiscence of the Our Father in this and the preceding verse.

III 6-15 A Special Exhortation to work— Cf. 1 Thess 5:14. All are bidden to act in accord with the Apostle’s teaching and to get on quietly with their daily work, and to avoid vain idling in view of the supposed imminence of the Parousia. 11b. The play of words in the Greek is preserved in the well-known rendering ’doing no business but being busybodies’.

13-15. A special word to the main body of loyal followers of the Apostle. The offender is to be subject to a minor excommunication to bring him to a more reasonable frame of mind.

13. ’. . . do not fail in well doing’.

16-18 Conclusion— 16. ’peace at all times and in every way’.

17. As a sign of authenticity (in view of 2 Thess 2:2) St Paul here pointedly directs the attention of his correspondents to his custom of autographing the final salutation in every epistle of his.