A Study (Feast [For Your Soul]) of 2 Thessalonians 3

I read 2 Thessalonians 3 today. Then the Lord directed me to write about it, which turned my reading into a study. I used the ESV Study Bible for background work and did my reading in the NASB.


To best understand this chapter, let me lay down a contextual foundation, beginning with historical considerations and proceeding to literary analysis and a brief look at the preceding two chapters.


History (The Salad [Primes the Appetite])
Thessalonica was the capital city of Macedonia. It was the center of commerce, having a harbor and trade routes. About 100,000 people resided there--a significant population for N.T. times--and the majority of them belonged to the Greco-Roman pantheon and cults. Paul, Timothy, and Silas (Silvanus) visited Thessalonica around A.D. 49-51 during Paul's second missionary journey. They preached there for about three weeks before having to leave because of a mass riot (see Acts 17). Paul sent Timothy back to Thessalonica after some months to evaluate how the young church was doing. Timothy met up with Paul in Corinth and reported both good and bad news. Though enduring persecution, they were continuing in the faith. Ignorance, however, caused worry among the Thessalonians on behalf of those in the church who died; they were unsure whether these martyrs would have part in the Lord's second coming. The Thessalonian church also had some members who were lazy and continually relied upon other members instead of working themselves. Paul wrote 1 and 2 Thessalonians (3:17-18) because of Timothy's report. The second followed the first in short succession probably because it was a reaction to new developments since Paul sent the first letter.


Literary Analysis (The Drink [Cleanses the Palate])
This letter to the Thessalonians includes the normal elements of a first century letter, like most N.T. epistles and letters. Atypical of Paul, the elements are not embellished but concise. The elements are as follows: opening greeting (author, audience, and words of benevolence; almost identical to that of 1 Thessalonians), thanksgiving, body, conclusion/benediction.


Summary of Chs. 1-2 (The Complimentary Roll [To be Eaten with the Main Course])
After Paul's greeting, he explains why he thanks God for them and lifts them up to the other churches, namely for their ever-increasing faith and love in regard to the former and for their perseverance and faith amid persecution in regard to the latter. He then explains how God will justly vindicate those who are remaining steadfast in persecution and punish those who are persecuting. At the close of the chapter, Paul informs the Thessalonians that he, Timothy, and Silas are praying for them. They are praying that God will count them worthy of their calling and make them complete so that they will glorify Jesus Christ and be glorified in Him by God's grace.


In Chapter 2, Paul addresses their worry about the day of the Lord. He reminds them of the truth he spoke to them while he was with them and informs them of what the Antichrist will be like. The overarching point Paul addresses is the timing of Christ's second coming. The Thessalonians were told that the day of the Lord had already come (v. 2). The chapter ends with Paul repeating his thanksgiving and encouraging them to stand firm. He then prays that God would comfort them.


Second Thessalonians 3 (The Meat of This Post [Use All Five Senses])
I see great care from Paul to the Thessalonian Christians. He requests prayer from them in the opening of the chapter, which tells me that he believed in their faith. He affirms this in v. 4 in saying that he and the other missionaries "have confidence in the Lord concerning you, that you are doing and will continue to do what we command."

He expresses love to them also in the next paragraph. He follows up vv. 4-5 with a command in v. 6: to stay away from a Christian who lives an unruly life. He equates "leads an unruly life" (ataktos peripatountos) with "act in an undisciplined manner" (hetaktesamen) in v. 7. We see "undisciplined" again in v. 11: "For we hear that some among you are leading an undisciplined life, doing no work at all, but acting like busybodies." Basically Paul is saying, "Follow our example of working hard and earning our food. Don't associate with your Christian brothers and sisters who are mooching off the wealthier in the church. And you who are the wealthy these lazy Christians are mooching off of, don't grow weary in doing good." Paul commands and encourages the lazy to work quietly and eat the food they earn.


For those who do not listen to Paul, Silas, and Timothy's instructions, Paul orders the Thessalonians in vv. 14-15 not to associate with them. He says to admonish the disobedient as brothers (those of whom he writes are Christians) and not regard them as enemies. The distinction Paul draws between brothers and enemies leads me to think that this disassociation is temporary. By not associating with them, Paul says they will "be put to shame." Shame humbles us and motivates us to clean up our act. Perhaps Paul was behaving like the father in the faith that he was and willing that some people experience pain (the shame of disfellowship), knowing the outcome was well worth it--obedience.


Paul closes the chapter and, thus, the letter by requesting on their behalf peace from God in all circumstances. This had to be comforting for the Thessalonians given the persecution they were enduring. Paul then claims authorship by signing off the letter himself and wishing that the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with them.


Personal Implications (The Potatoes [Always Save Your Starch for Last])
So what does this chapter mean for us? I think we need to examine ourselves to determine to which clan we belong. Are we the lazy or the hard-working? Do we follow the example Paul, Silas, and Timothy set, or do we give in to our comforts, always examining how we feel and what feels good to us? Are we disobedient or obedient? Do we earn our living or mooch off others? Are we busybodies? And if we are the obedient hard-workers, do we grow weary in doing good? Or do we give cheerfully and generously, even after giving over and over again seemingly without appreciation, reward, or result?


I'm writing to myself just as much as to anyone else. I am lazy, and I do grow weary in doing good. I am not always lazy in earning my keep, but I am lazy in other ways. I am not always weary in giving to those in need, but I am sometimes, and I do grow weary in speaking the gospel and showing love to others over and over, who seem to not receive it in faith or appreciate it. I think if Paul looked in on my status, he'd write a letter of disappointment and admonition to me. That admonition would be an impetus for hope. I should "work in quiet fashion" (v. 12)--v. 11 convicts me. I should follow the good example set for me and work diligently, glorifying the Lord through obedience. Am I to do this by bucking up? I am not without the power of Christ (2 Thess. 1:11-12)! It is by the Spirit that we mortify our flesh (Romans 8:13). God is making it more and more plain to me that I cannot be passive in my sanctification. Praise to God that He is with us!


"May the Lord direct your hearts into the love of God and into the steadfastness of Christ" (2 Thess. 3:5).

Taking a Break to Blog on Break

I am a week into Christmas Break. I survived finals week and, with the grace of my Greek professor, the semester. Let me tell you as an aside, my Greek prof and advisor is a special person. He is simply someone you've got to get to know. Anyway, I have plenty of Greek homework to keep me busy over break, but am I doing it?

Nope.

The procrastination habit continues. It is not so much that I am being whole-heartedly lazy as it is wanting to spend time with family, especially my sister. So maybe I am improving. Saturday and Sunday were shopping days. Today, Rachel and I both had dentist appointments. Tomorrow, my mom and I have chiropractor appointments, and Wednesday, Rachel and I are heading to see our cousin at her salon for some much-needed hair trims. Thursday: Christmas Eve... Friday: Christmas... Saturday: Shawn, Megan, and baby Ella might visit!... I've got some time in there when I can do homework, Lord willing.

Maybe "Christmas Break" should be renamed....

Curse You, Procrastination!

Hmm... so since the last time I posted I have made zero progress on my Missions and Mercy assignment. Yeah, I know, it's due Wednesday. I just can't seem to get the laziness out of my system. I think I need a good kick in the seat of the pants. Instead of researching and writing, I've been looking at people's blogs, searching for free textual criticism tools, talking on the phone, and eating chips while my stomach hurts. What is happening to me?? I used to not be like this. I used to be Miss On-Task.

Kasia just came in. Yessss!!!! She helps me bear down on my work. Here it goes...