Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

2 Thessalonians 3:1

Section IV. (continued). Ch. 2 Thessalonians 3:1-5

1. Finally See note, 1 Thessalonians 4:1. The chief topic of the letter is disposed of, and the wishes and hopes immediately arising out of it have been expressed. For what remains:

brethren, pray for us So in 1 Thessalonians 5:25 (see note): a frequent request with St Paul addressed to "brethren," concerned in everything that concerns their Apostle and the Christian cause. Their prayers, desired generally in 1Th, are now to have a more specific object, viz., that the word of the Lord may run and be glorified (R.V.)

On "the word of the Lord," see note to 1 Thessalonians 1:8.

This singular metaphor of the running wordis probably suggested by Psalms 19:5, where the course of the sun is pictured in glowing poetic language "rejoicing as a hero to run a race" (2 Thessalonians 3:5), while the latter part of the Psalm sets "the law of the Lord" in comparison with his glorious career. St Paul applies 2 Thessalonians 3:4 of the Psalm in Romans 10:18, with striking effect, to the progress of the Gospel. See also Psalms 147:15, "His word runneth very swiftly." Through "running" the word is "glorified," and that is true of it which Virgil writes in his splendid lines on Fama(AeneidIV. 173 ff.):

"Mobilitate viget viresque adquirit eundo."

even asit is with you Lit., even as also with you. They are to pray that the work of the missionaries may be as successful in Achaia as it was in Macedonia: comp. 1Th 1:5; 1 Thessalonians 2:1. From Thessalonica "the word of the Lord has sounded forth" over all the neighbouring region, and "in every place your faith is gone forth:" might it only be so in Corinth! Reading Acts 18:5-11, we gather that St Paul's work in the Achaian capital was at first discouraging in its results; and it was during the earlier period of his residence there that he wrote these letters (comp. 1 Thessalonians 3:7-8, and notes).

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2 Thessalonians 3:1

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