Coke's Commentary on the Holy Bible · 2 Thessalonians Chapter 3

2 Thessalonians 3:1.— The apostle now proceeds to the close of his epistle; and as he had so often and so ardently prayed for his Thessalonians, he here begs their prayers for him and his fellow-labourers in the gospel; and as having upon his mind a continual sense of their distresses, he again intimates, that under all their discouragements they ought to remember, that though so many of mankind would prove faithless, the Lord Jesus Christ would prove faithful; and they ought to imitate, obey, and depend upon him, as well as patiently wait for his second coming, 2 Thessalonians 3:1-5. Instead of may have free course, some render the word τρεχη, may run: and they think that this and the next words allude to the applause given to those who made a speedy progress in the races, which constituted so important a part of the Grecian games.

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2 Thessalonians 3:2. Unreasonable— 'Ατοποι, absurd, contumacious persons, who are not to be fixed by any principles, and whom no topics can work upon. Some suppose that the unbelieving Jews are here meant. By faith, in this verse, some understand a principle of honesty, which may encourage a confidence to be reposed; but it seems rather here to mean that upright and candid disposition, which would engage men through grace to receive cordially the testimony of the apostles; and not particularly justifying or sanctifying faith.

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2 Thessalonians 3:3. From evil.— 'Απο του πονηρου ; from the evil one. The Hebrews commonly speak of the devil, as the source and author of all evil; and of God, as the author of all good: and when they would describe any great evil in a most emphatical manner, they mention the apostate himself. See 1 Thessalonians 2:18. Matthew 6:13. Joh 17:15. 1 John 5:18-19.

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2 Thessalonians 3:4. And we have confidence, &c.— "We have that opinion of you, as Christians, and our dear children, that you will persevere in duty; and that the things which we have recommended, you both practise already, and will continue to practise." See ch. 2 Thessalonians 2:15. 2 Corinthians 7:16.

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2 Thessalonians 3:5. Into the patient waiting for Christ.— The original, 'Υπομονην του Χριστου, may be rendered the patience of Christ, and may signify either Christian patience, or that patience with which Christ himself suffered the many injuries and afflictions through which he passed.

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2 Thessalonians 3:6.— St. Paul, 1Th 4:11-12 had ordered the idle persons among them to work and maintain themselves in a creditable manner. As his directions had not been complied with, but, instead of reforming, they were rather grown worse, he here repeats what he had there said; rebuking with more severity such idle and officious persons as were a scandal to Christianity, and troublesome in civil society.

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2 Thessalonians 3:7. For we behaved not ourselves disorderly, &c.— Ουκ ητακτησαμεν, we did not go out of our rank; an allusion to soldiers standing or marching in their proper ranks, out of which it is a great irregularity to depart in the least degree. The expression night and day, in the next verse, may possibly mean only continually: however, it seems to intimate that the apostle was sometimes obliged to sit up part of the night at his business as a tent-maker, that he might have the day at leisure, to preach to those who came to him for religious instruction.

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2 Thessalonians 3:9. Not because we have not power;— St. Paul would not here leave room. for any person to insinuate, as we find his enemies did at Corinth, 1 Corinthians 9:1; 1Co 9:27 that he knew himself not to be an apostle of Jesus Christ, and therefore he abstained from takingor demanding any thing from their church, merely for want of such an apostolic power; but, so heartily concerned was he to spread genuine Christianity, and so cautious and prudent, in order to do it in the most effectual manner, that he refused a maintenance, in the rich city of Corinth, and thereby prevented the false apostle's demanding any thing under the pretence of his example; and, by maintaining himself at Thessalonica, he prevented the idle Christian brethren there from pleading the example of their great apostle in defence of their idleness.

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2 Thessalonians 3:10. That if any would not work, &c.— This sentence occurs in many of the Jewish writings, and seems to have been proverbial: and both our Lord and his apostles frequently adopted those proverbs or sayings which were in general u

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2 Thessalonians 3:11. Working not at all, but are busy-bodies.— The original is, Not working, but going about as busy-bodies: not only idle, but officious; vices, which frequently accompany each other.

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2 Thessalonians 3:12. And eat their own bread.— That which they have earned themselves. Therefore Dr. Heylin renders it, and earn their bread by labour.

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2 Thessalonians 3:13. Be not weary in well-doing.— Faint not, nor be discouraged while you are engaged in a course of well-doing: though some may abuse your liberality, be not deterred thereby from works of charity. See Galatians 6:9.

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2 Thessalonians 3:14. And if any man obey not, &c.— Some would render this verse, If any man obey not our word, signify, or take notice of him by your epistle to me,—that he may be reclaimed by shame.

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2 Thessalonians 3:16. By all means.— Dr. Heylin renders the clause, Grant you continual peace in all respects.

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