2 Thessalonians 3:1 Commentary - Dr Peter Masters

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2 Thessalonians 3:1

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The word ‘Finally’ seems to signify a conclusion, a grand objective, for we find here four marks and duties of true believers. The first is that the authentic believer prays for the gospel. Of course, you may be an authentic believer and yet not be praying for it, but if so you are not acting like an authentic believer. You may be saved, you may love the Lord, but things are not right. The apostle makes this exhortation on several occasions through the epistles, and he makes it in such a plaintive way and earnest way. The apostle was dependent upon this. He saw the necessity of prayer for his every visit, for his every proclamation of Christ. He saw the great mountain of resistance to the gospel, the impossibility of it spreading if it is not prayed for so earnestly by people. He saw the miraculous nature of salvation. He felt his inadequacy. He rather hints elsewhere that he regards himself as inadequate as a preacher and a stumbling speaker, not compelling and attractive to the listener. Also he quite clearly believes that the number of people praying counts, and it does, so he appeals for the maximum number of people. ‘Pray … that the word of the Lord may have free course.’ Literally in the original, ‘may run’. That probably comes from Psalm 147, but of course it brings to mind the athletic contest, and Paul frequently uses illustrations taken from the Greek games. In this case, it is the Word of the Lord that is running. What are the Scriptural rules for witness? The Word of God and prayer, not humanly devised gimmicks and drama and all these things. ‘That the word of the Lord may have free course [or run] and be glorified.’ That is a good motive for spreading the gospel. Oh, that people would come to value and marvel at and be amazed at the word of God, and glorify it, see its depths, see the plan of salvation in it, see its infallibility and its promises and it wonders, just as we have seen it. ‘Even as it is with you.’ And I understand the apostle to mean, Oh, that others may be saved just as you have been saved.

Application

Sometimes preachers do not see the miraculous nature of salvation. They get carried away. They think they can persuade sinners to come to Christ. They do not feel that absolute helplessness and necessity and dependence upon the work of the Holy Spirit. We are to do our utmost. Oh yes, we are to preach, every Sunday school teacher is to teach, every witnessing Christian is to witness as though it depended upon us, but all the time we know full well it does not. We depend upon the power of God and the apostle felt this so strongly that everywhere he appeals for prayer.

It is an authoritative word; it is ‘the word of the Lord.’ He is referring to Christ, of course, the Saviour, who came from heaven to earth to purchase souls in his great compassion and mercy. That affects the way it is preached, the way it is put across. Sometimes, preachers are too severe, and of course we have severe things to say, we have got to be faithful to souls and warn them of the justice of God and the punishment of God, but it does not mean we snarl and bark and bite and come across as hostile people. And sometimes you do catch this. A well-meaning brother, perhaps because he has to preach at the top of the voice in the open air, will get carried away and sound very aggressive. But this is the word of the man of love, the word of the one who came and suffered and died. You cannot be aggressive and hostile and antagonistic, or give the impression that you are an enemy of the listener. There has got to be warning, but there has also got to appeal and sorrow and remonstration and earnestness, appealing with people. The love of Christ has to come across from the Sunday school and from the preacher also.

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2 Thessalonians 3:1 Commentary and Bible Study