2 Thessalonians 3:2

And that we may be delivered from unreasonable and wicked men: for all men have not faith. THAT WE MAY BE DELIVERED FROM UNREASONABLE, [atopoi] - men out of place, inept, out of the way, bad: an undesigned coincidence with Acts 18:5. Paul was now at Corinth, where THE JEWS 'opposed themselves' to his preaching: in answer to his prayers and those of his converts, 'the Lord, in vision,' promised exemption from "hurt," and the conversion of "much people." Paul's desire for "deliverance" was in order that it might enable him to further God's word (). 'The synagogues of the Jews were fountains of persecutions' (Tertullian, 'Gnost. Scorp.' 10). HAVE NOT FAITH - Greek, 'the (Christian) faith:' the only antidote to what is "unreasonable and wicked." The The...

2_That we may be delivered_. The old interpreter has rendered it, not unhappily, in my opinion — _unreasonable _(693) Now, by this term, as also by that which immediately follows, ( τῶν πονηρῶν,) _evil_, Paul means wicked and treacherous men, who lurked in the Church, under the name of Christians, or at least Jews, who with a mad zeal for the law furiously persecuted the gospel. He knew, however, how much danger impended over them from both these classes. Chrysostom, however, thinks that those only are meant who maliciously oppose the gospel by base doctrines, (694) — not by weapons of violence, as for example, Alexander, Hymeneus, and the like; but for my part, I extend it generally to all kinds of dangers and enemies. He was at that time proceeding towards Jerusalem, and wrote in the midst of his journeyings. Now, he had already

1-5 Those who are far apart still may meet together at the throne of grace; and those not able to do or receive any other kindness, may in this way do and receive real and very great kindness. Enemies to the preaching of the gospel, and persecutors of its faithful preachers, are unreasonable and wicked men. Many do not believe the gospel; and no wonder if such are restless and show malice in their endeavours to oppose it. The evil of sin is the greatest evil, but there are other evils we need to be preserved from, and we have encouragement to depend upon the grace of God. When once the promise is made, the performance is sure and certain. The apostle had confidence in them, but that was founded upon his confidence in God; for there is otherwise no confidence in man. He prays for them for spiritual blessings. It is our sin and our misery, that we place our affections upon wrong objects....

Verse 2 Thessalonians 3:2. _UNREASONABLE AND WICKED MEN_] The word ατοπων, which we translate _unreasonable_, signifies rather _disorderly,_ _unmanageable_; persons _out of their place_-under no discipline, regardless of law and restraint, and ever acting agreeably to the disorderly and unreasonable impulse of their own minds. _FOR ALL_ MEN _HAVE NOT FAITH._] The word πιστις is without doubt, to be taken here for _fidelity_ or _trustworthiness_, and not for _faith_; and this is agreeable to the meaning given to it in the very next verse: _But the Lord is faithful_, πιστος δε εστιν ὁ Κυριος. There are many, even of those who have received a measure of the Divine light, in whom we cannot _confide_; they are irregular, disorderly, and cannot be brought under regula

AND THAT WE MAY BE DELIVERED FROM UNREASONABLE AND WICKED MEN - That is, from opposition in their endeavors to spread the gospel. Paul encountered such men everywhere, as all do who labor to diffuse the knowledge of the truth, but it is probable that there is particular reference here to the opposition which he encountered when in Corinth. This opposition arose mainly from the Jews; see Acts 18:5, Acts 18:12. The word “unreasonable” is rendered in the margin as “absurd.” The Greek word (ἀτόπος atopos) means, properly, “out of place;” then “absurd, unusual, strange; then improper, unreasonable, wicked.” It is rendered in Luke 23:41 as “amiss;” in...

EXPOSITION CONTENTS.—The apostle now comes to the conclusion of his Epistle. He beseeches the Thessalonians for an interest in their prayers, that the gospel may be rapidly diffused and glorified by numerous conversions, and that he and his fellow workers may be enabled to preach it unhindered by the opposition of their enemies. He expresses his confidence that the Lord will preserve them from evil and render them obedient to his instructions, it being his earnest prayer for them that they might be directed into the love of God and the patience of Jesus Christ. The apostle then proceeds to admonish them on account of the disorderly conduct which many of them exhibited. He had heard that there were some among them who walked disorderly, and who, either from dread or from excitement on account of their belief in the immediate coming of the Lord, had desisted from their worldly employments....

AND THAT WE MAY BE DELIVERED FROM UNREASONABLE AND WICKED MEN,.... Either from the unbelieving Jews, see Romans 15:30 who were the avowed enemies of the Gospel, and did all they could to hinder the spread of it; and who were the implacable and constant adversaries of the apostle; who often lay in wait for him, and opposed him, and gave him trouble in all places, stirring up the people against him: or from the false teachers, and those of their party, who are the false brethren by whom he often was in perils; who were enemies of the cross of Christ, and great hindrances to the spread of the Gospel; being men of absurd principles, and of wicked lives and conversations, whereby they perverted the Gospel of Christ, brought a reproach upon it, stumbled some, and overthrew the faith of others; and from these the apostle desires to be delivered: FOR ALL MEN HAVE NOT FAITH: no ma

2 Thessalonians 3:1. _Finally, brethren, pray for us,_ «Pray for us,» says the apostle, «pray for myself and the brethren who are with me, pray for all the apostles and preachers of the Word.» «Finally, brethren.» If this were the last word we had to say to you, we would make just this request, «Finally, brethren, pray for us.» You cannot tell how much God's servants are helped by the prayers of his people. The strongest man in Israel will be the better for the prayers of the weakest saint in Zion. If you can do nothing else, you can pray for us; therefore, day and night, be ye at the mercy-seat on our behalf: «Finally, brethren, pray for us.» 2 Thessalonians 3:1. _That the word of the Lord may have free course, and be glorified, even as it is with you:_

III. THANKSGIVING, PRAYER, EXHORTATIONS AND CONCLUSIONS Chapter S 2:13-3:18 _ 1. Thanksgiving and prayer (2 Thessalonians 2:13)_ 2. Prayer for the Word and for deliverance (2 Thessalonians 3:1) 3. Exhortations (2 Thessalonians 3:6) 4. Conclusions (2 Thessalonians 3:16) 2 Thessalonians 2:13 What blessed reasons are stated here to give thanks to God for what He has done for us and for all who believe! Brethren, beloved of

2 THESSALONIANS 3. FINAL COUNSELS AND EXHORTATIONS. The apostle (_a)_ asks for the prayers of the Thessalonian Christians on his own behalf (2 Thessalonians 3:1); (_b_) warns them against dis orderly conduct (2 Thessalonians 3:6); (_c_) concludes with a bene diction (2 Thessalonians 3:16). 2 THESSALONIANS 3:1. The request for prayer contains two points: (_a)_ that the word of the Lord may make rapid progress; (_b_) that the apostle and his followers may be delivered from their opponents. The character of the opposition is not specified, but