mh_parser/vol_split/53 - 2Thessalonians/Chapter 3.xml

<div2 id="iiTh.iv" n="iv" next="iTim" prev="iiTh.iii" progress="67.72%" title="Chapter III">
<h2 id="iiTh.iv-p0.1">S E C O N D<br/>
 T H E S S A L O N I A N S.</h2>
<h3 id="iiTh.iv-p0.3">CHAP. III.</h3>
<p class="intro" id="iiTh.iv-p1">In the close of the foregoing chapter, the apostle
had prayed earnestly for the Thessalonians, and now he desires
their prayers, encouraging them to trust in God, to which he
subjoins another petition for them, <scripRef id="iiTh.iv-p1.1" osisRef="Bible:2Thess.3.1-2Thess.3.5" parsed="|2Thess|3|1|3|5" passage="2Th 3:1-5">ver. 1-5</scripRef>. He then proceeds to give them
commands and directions for correcting some things he was informed
were amiss among them (<scripRef id="iiTh.iv-p1.2" osisRef="Bible:2Thess.3.6-2Thess.3.15" parsed="|2Thess|3|6|3|15" passage="2Th 3:6-15">ver.
6-15</scripRef>) and concludes with benedictions and prayers,
<scripRef id="iiTh.iv-p1.3" osisRef="Bible:2Thess.3.16-2Thess.3.18" parsed="|2Thess|3|16|3|18" passage="2Th 3:16-18">ver. 16-18</scripRef>.</p>
<scripCom id="iiTh.iv-p1.4" osisRef="Bible:2Thess.3" parsed="|2Thess|3|0|0|0" passage="2Th 3" type="Commentary"/>
<scripCom id="iiTh.iv-p1.5" osisRef="Bible:2Thess.3.1-2Thess.3.5" parsed="|2Thess|3|1|3|5" passage="2Th 3:1-5" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Bible:2Thess.3.1-2Thess.3.5">
<h4 id="iiTh.iv-p1.6">The Apostle's Pious Request. (<span class="smallcaps" id="iiTh.iv-p1.7">a.
d.</span> 52.)</h4>
<p class="passage" id="iiTh.iv-p2">1 Finally, brethren, pray for us, that the word
of the Lord may have <i>free</i> course, and be glorified, even as
<i>it is</i> with you:   2 And that we may be delivered from
unreasonable and wicked men: for all <i>men</i> have not faith.
  3 But the Lord is faithful, who shall stablish you, and keep
<i>you</i> from evil.   4 And we have confidence in the Lord
touching you, that ye both do and will do the things which we
command you.   5 And the Lord direct your hearts into the love
of God, and into the patient waiting for Christ.</p>
<p class="indent" id="iiTh.iv-p3">In these words observe,</p>
<p class="indent" id="iiTh.iv-p4">I. The apostle desires the prayers of his
friends: <i>Finally, brethren, pray for us,</i> <scripRef id="iiTh.iv-p4.1" osisRef="Bible:2Thess.3.1" parsed="|2Thess|3|1|0|0" passage="2Th 3:1"><i>v.</i> 1</scripRef>. He always remembered them in his
prayers, and would not have them forget him and his
fellow-labourers, but bear them on their hearts at the throne of
grace. Note, 1. This is one way by which the communion of saints is
kept us, not only by their praying together, or with one another,
but by their praying for one another when they are absent one from
another. And thus those who are at great distance may meet together
at the throne of grace; and thus those who are not capable of doing
or receiving any other kindness may yet this way do and receive
real and very great kindness. 2. It is the duty of people to pray
for their ministers; and not only for their own pastors, but also
for all good and faithful ministers. And, 3. Ministers need, and
therefore should desire, the prayers of their people. How
remarkable is the humility, and how engaging the example, of this
great apostle, who was so mighty in prayer himself, and yet
despised not the prayers of the meanest Christian, but desired an
interest in them. Observe, further, what they are desired and
directed to pray for; namely, (1.) For the success of the gospel
ministry: <i>That the word of the Lord may have free course, and be
glorified,</i> <scripRef id="iiTh.iv-p4.2" osisRef="Bible:2Thess.3.1" parsed="|2Thess|3|1|0|0" passage="2Th 3:1"><i>v.</i> 1</scripRef>.
This was the great thing that Paul was most solicitous about. He
was more solicitous that God's name might be sanctified, his
kingdom advanced, and his will done, than he was about his own
daily bread. He desired that the word of the Lord might run (so it
is in the original), that it might get ground, that the interest of
religion in the world might go forward and not backward, and not
only go forward, but go apace. All the forces of hell were then,
and still are, more or less, raised and mustered to oppose the word
of the Lord, to hinder its publication and success. We should pray,
therefore, that oppositions may be removed, that so the gospel, may
have free course to the ears, the hearts, and the consciences of
men, that it may be glorified in the conviction and conversion of
sinners, the confutation, of gainsayers, and the holy conversation
of the saints. God, who magnified the law, and made it honourable,
will glorify the gospel, and make that honourable, and so will
glorify his own name; and good ministers and good Christians may
very well be contented to be little, to be any thing, to be
nothing, if Christ be magnified and his gospel be glorified. Paul
was now at Athens, or, as some think, at Corinth, and would have
the Thessalonians pray that he might have as good success there as
he had at Thessalonica, that it might be as well with others even
as it was with them. Note, If ministers have been successful in one
place, they should desire to be successful in every place where
they may preach the gospel. (2.) For the safety of gospel
ministers. He asks their prayers, nor for preferment, but for
preservation: <i>That we may be delivered from unreasonable and
wicked men,</i> <scripRef id="iiTh.iv-p4.3" osisRef="Bible:2Thess.3.2" parsed="|2Thess|3|2|0|0" passage="2Th 3:2"><i>v.</i> 2</scripRef>.
Note, Those who are enemies to the preaching of the gospel, and
persecutors of the faithful preachers of it, are unreasonable and
wicked men. They act against all the rules and laws of reason and
religion, and are guilty of the greatest absurdity and impiety. Not
only in the principles of atheism and infidelity, but also in the
practice of the vice and immorality, and especially in persecution,
there is the greatest absurdity in the world, as well as impiety.
There is need of the spiritual protection, as well as the
assistance, of godly and faithful ministers, for these are as the
standard-bearers, who are most struck at; and therefore all who
wish well to the interest of Christ in the world should pray for
them. <i>For all men have not faith;</i> that is, many do not
believe the gospel; they will not embrace it themselves, and no
wonder if such are restless and malicious in their endeavours to
oppose the gospel, decry the ministry, and disgrace the ministers
of the word; and too many have not common faith or honesty; there
is no confidence that we can safely put in them, and we should pray
to be delivered from those who have no conscience nor honour, who
never regard what they say or do. We may sometimes be in as much or
more danger from false and pretended friends as from open and
avowed enemies.</p>
<p class="indent" id="iiTh.iv-p5">II. He encourages them to trust in God. We
should not only pray to God for his grace, but also place our trust
and confidence in his grace, and humbly expect what we pray for.
Observe,</p>
<p class="indent" id="iiTh.iv-p6">1. What the good is which we may expect
from the grace of God-establishment, and preservation from evil;
and the best Christians stand in need of these benefits. (1.) That
God would establish them. This the apostle had prayed for on their
behalf ( <scripRef id="iiTh.iv-p6.1" osisRef="Bible:2Thess.2.17" parsed="|2Thess|2|17|0|0" passage="2Th 2:17"><i>ch.</i> 2:17</scripRef>),
and now he encourages them to expect this favour. We stand no
longer than God holds us up; unless he <i>hold up our goings in his
paths, our feet will slide,</i> and we shall fall. (2.) That God
will keep them from evil. We have as much need of the grace of God
for our perseverance to the end as for the beginning of the good
work. The evil of sin is the greatest evil, but there are other
evils which God will also preserve his saints from—the evil that
is in the world, yea, from all evil, to his heavenly kingdom.</p>
<p class="indent" id="iiTh.iv-p7">2. What encouragement we have to depend
upon the grace of God: <i>The Lord is faithful.</i> He is faithful
to his promises, and is the Lord who cannot lie, who will not alter
the thing that has gone out of his mouth. When once the promise
therefore is made, performance is sure and certain. He is faithful
to his relation, a faithful God and a faithful friend; we may
depend upon his filling up all the relations he stands in to his
people. Let it be our care to be true and faithful in our promises,
and to the relations we stand in to this faithful God. He adds,</p>
<p class="indent" id="iiTh.iv-p8">3. A further ground of hope that God would
do this for them, seeing they did and would do the things they were
commanded, <scripRef id="iiTh.iv-p8.1" osisRef="Bible:2Thess.3.4" parsed="|2Thess|3|4|0|0" passage="2Th 3:4"><i>v.</i> 4</scripRef>. The
apostle had this confidence in them, and this was founded upon his
confidence in God; for there is otherwise no confidence in man.
Their obedience is described by doing what he and his
fellow-labourers had commanded them, which was no other thing than
the commandments of the Lord; for the apostles themselves had no
further commission than to teach men <i>to observe and to do what
the Lord had commanded,</i> <scripRef id="iiTh.iv-p8.2" osisRef="Bible:Matt.28.20" parsed="|Matt|28|20|0|0" passage="Mt 28:20">Matt.
xxviii. 20</scripRef>. And as the experience the apostle had of
their obedience for the time past was one ground of his confidence
that they would do the things commanded them for the time to come,
so this is one ground to hope that <i>whatsoever we ask of God we
shall receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do
those things that are pleasing in his sight,</i> 1 <scripRef id="iiTh.iv-p8.3" osisRef="Bible:John.3.22" parsed="|John|3|22|0|0" passage="Joh 3:22">John iii. 22</scripRef>.</p>
<p class="indent" id="iiTh.iv-p9">III. He makes a short prayer for them,
<scripRef id="iiTh.iv-p9.1" osisRef="Bible:2Thess.3.5" parsed="|2Thess|3|5|0|0" passage="2Th 3:5"><i>v.</i> 5</scripRef>. It is a prayer
for spiritual blessings. Two things of the greatest importance the
apostle prays for:—1. That their hearts may be brought into the
love of God, to be in love with God as the most excellent and
amiable Being, the best of all beings; and this is not only most
reasonable and necessary in order to our happiness, but is our
happiness itself; it is a great part of the happiness of heaven
itself, where this love shall be made perfect. We can never attain
to this unless God by his grace direct our hearts aright, for our
love is apt to go astray after other things. Note, We sustain a
great deal of damage by misplacing our affections; it is our sin
and our misery that we place our affections upon wrong objects. If
God directs our love aright upon himself, the rest of the
affections will thereby be rectified. 2. That a <i>patient waiting
for Christ</i> may be joined with this love of God. There is no
true love of God without faith in Jesus Christ. We must wait for
Christ, which supposes our faith in him, that we believe he came
once in flesh and will come again in glory: and we must expect this
second coming of Christ, and be careful to get ready for it; there
must be a patient waiting, enduring with courage and constancy all
that we may meet with in the mean time: and we <i>have need of
patience,</i> and need of divine grace to exercise Christian
patience, the <i>patience of Christ</i> (as some read the word),
patience for Christ's sake and after Christ's example.</p>
</div><scripCom id="iiTh.iv-p9.2" osisRef="Bible:2Thess.3.6-2Thess.3.15" parsed="|2Thess|3|6|3|15" passage="2Th 3:6-15" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Bible:2Thess.3.6-2Thess.3.15">
<h4 id="iiTh.iv-p9.3">Cautions to the Disorderly. (<span class="smallcaps" id="iiTh.iv-p9.4">a.
d.</span> 52.)</h4>
<p class="passage" id="iiTh.iv-p10">6 Now we command you, brethren, in the name of
our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye withdraw yourselves from every
brother that walketh disorderly, and not after the tradition which
he received of us.   7 For yourselves know how ye ought to
follow us: for we behaved not ourselves disorderly among you;
  8 Neither did we eat any man's bread for nought; but wrought
with labour and travail night and day, that we might not be
chargeable to any of you:   9 Not because we have not power,
but to make ourselves an ensample unto you to follow us.   10
For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any
would not work, neither should he eat.   11 For we hear that
there are some which walk among you disorderly, working not at all,
but are busybodies.   12 Now them that are such we command and
exhort by our Lord Jesus Christ, that with quietness they work, and
eat their own bread.   13 But ye, brethren, be not weary in
well doing.   14 And if any man obey not our word by this
epistle, note that man, and have no company with him, that he may
be ashamed.   15 Yet count <i>him</i> not as an enemy, but
admonish <i>him</i> as a brother.</p>
<p class="indent" id="iiTh.iv-p11">The apostle having commended their
obedience for the time past, and mentioned his confidence in their
obedience for the time to come, proceeds to give them commands and
directions to some who were faulty, correcting some things that
were amiss among them. Observe, The best society of Christians may
have some faulty persons among them, and some things that ought to
be reformed. Perfection is not to be found on this side heaven: but
evil manners beget good laws; the disorders that Paul heard of as
existing among the Thessalonians occasioned the good laws we find
in these verses, which are of constant use to us, and all others
whom they may concern. Observe,</p>
<p class="indent" id="iiTh.iv-p12">I. That which was amiss among the
Thessalonians, which is expressed,</p>
<p class="indent" id="iiTh.iv-p13">1. More generally. There were some who
<i>walked disorderly, not after the tradition they received</i>
from the apostle, <scripRef id="iiTh.iv-p13.1" osisRef="Bible:2Thess.3.6" parsed="|2Thess|3|6|0|0" passage="2Th 3:6"><i>v.</i>
6</scripRef>. Some of the brethren were guilty of this disorderly
walking; they did not live regularly, nor govern themselves
according to the rules of Christianity, nor agreeably to their
profession of religion; not according to the precepts delivered by
the apostle, which they had received, and pretended to pay a regard
to. Note, It is required of those who have received the gospel, and
who profess a subjection to it, that they live according to the
gospel. If they do not, they are to be counted disorderly
persons.</p>
<p class="indent" id="iiTh.iv-p14">2. In particular, there were among them
some <i>idle persons and busy-bodies,</i> <scripRef id="iiTh.iv-p14.1" osisRef="Bible:2Thess.3.11" parsed="|2Thess|3|11|0|0" passage="2Th 3:11"><i>v.</i> 11</scripRef>. This the apostle was so
credibly informed of that he had sufficient reason to give commands
and directions with relation to such persons, how they ought to
behave, and how the church should act towards them. (1.) There were
some among them who were idle, <i>not working at all,</i> or doing
nothing. It does not appear that they were gluttons or drunkards,
but idle, and therefore disorderly people. It is not enough for any
to say they do no hurt; for it is required of all persons that they
do good in the places and relations in which Providence has placed
them. It is probable that these persons had a notion (by
misunderstanding some passages in the former epistle) concerning
the near approach of the coming of Christ, which served them for a
pretence to leave off the work of their callings, and live in
idleness. Note, It is a great error, or abuse of religion, to make
it a cloak for idleness or any other sin. If we were sure that the
day of judgment were ever so near, we must, notwithstanding, do the
work of the day in its day, that when our Lord comes he may find us
doing. The servant who waits for the coming of his Lord aright must
be working as his Lord has commanded, that all may be ready when he
comes. Or, it may be, these disorderly persons pretended that the
liberty wherewith Christ had made them free discharged them from
the services and business of their particular callings and
employments in the world: where as they were <i>to abide in the
same calling wherein they were called of God, and therein abide
with God,</i> <scripRef id="iiTh.iv-p14.2" osisRef="Bible:1Cor.7.20 Bible:1Cor.7.24" parsed="|1Cor|7|20|0|0;|1Cor|7|24|0|0" passage="1Co 7:20,24">1 Cor. vii. 20,
24</scripRef>. Industry in our particular callings as men is a duty
required of us by our general calling as Christians. Or perhaps the
general charity there was then among Christians to their poor
brethren encouraged some to live in idleness, as knowing the church
would maintain them: whatever was the cause, they were much to
blame. (2.) There were busy-bodies among them: and it should seem,
by the connection, that the same persons who were idle were
busy-bodies also. This may seem to be a contradiction; but so it
is, that most commonly those persons who have no business of their
own to do, or who neglect it, busy themselves in other men's
matters. If we are idle, the devil and a corrupt heart will soon
find us something to do. The mind of man is a busy thing; if it be
not employed in doing good, it will be doing evil. Note,
Busy-bodies are disorderly walkers, such as are guilty of vain
curiosity, and impertinent meddling with things that do not concern
them, and troubling themselves and others with other men's matters.
The apostle warns Timothy (<scripRef id="iiTh.iv-p14.3" osisRef="Bible:1Tim.5.13" parsed="|1Tim|5|13|0|0" passage="1Ti 5:13">1 Tim. v.
13</scripRef>) to beware of such <i>as learn to be idle, wandering
about from house to house, and are not only idle, but tatlers also,
and busy-bodies, speaking things which they ought not.</i></p>
<p class="indent" id="iiTh.iv-p15">II. The good laws which were occasioned by
these evil manners, concerning which we may take notice,</p>
<p class="indent" id="iiTh.iv-p16">1. Whose laws they are: they are commands
of the apostles of our Lord, given in the name of their Lord and
ours, that is, the commands of our Lord himself. <i>We command you,
brethren, in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ,</i> <scripRef id="iiTh.iv-p16.1" osisRef="Bible:2Thess.3.6" parsed="|2Thess|3|6|0|0" passage="2Th 3:6"><i>v.</i> 6</scripRef>. Again, <i>We command and
exhort you by our Lord Jesus Christ,</i> <scripRef id="iiTh.iv-p16.2" osisRef="Bible:2Thess.3.12" parsed="|2Thess|3|12|0|0" passage="2Th 3:12"><i>v.</i> 12</scripRef>. The apostle uses words of
authority and entreaty: and, where disorders are to be rectified or
prevented, there is need of both. The authority of Christ should
awe our minds to obedience, and his grace and goodness should
allure us.</p>
<p class="indent" id="iiTh.iv-p17">2. What the good laws and rules are. The
apostle gives directions to the whole church, commands to those
disorderly persons, and an exhortation to those in particular who
did well among them.</p>
<p class="indent" id="iiTh.iv-p18">(1.) His commands and directions to the
whole church regard, [1.] Their behaviour towards the disorderly
persons who were among them, which is thus expressed (<scripRef id="iiTh.iv-p18.1" osisRef="Bible:2Thess.3.6" parsed="|2Thess|3|6|0|0" passage="2Th 3:6"><i>v.</i> 6</scripRef>), to <i>withdraw
themselves from such,</i> and afterwards to <i>mark that man, and
have no company with him, that he may be ashamed; yet not to count
him as an enemy, but to admonish him as a brother.</i> The
directions of the apostle are carefully to be observed in our
conduct towards disorderly persons. We must be very cautious in
church-censures and church-discipline. We must, <i>First,</i> Note
that man who is suspected or charged with not obeying the word of
God, or walking contrary thereto, that is, we must have sufficient
proof of his fault before we proceed further. We must,
<i>Secondly,</i> Admonish him in a friendly manner; we must put him
in mind of his sin, and of his duty; and this should be done
privately (<scripRef id="iiTh.iv-p18.2" osisRef="Bible:Matt.18.15" parsed="|Matt|18|15|0|0" passage="Mt 18:15">Matt. xviii.
15</scripRef>); then, if he will not hear, we must, <i>Thirdly,</i>
Withdraw from him, and not keep company with him, that is, we must
avoid familiar converse and society with such, for two reasons,
namely, that we may not learn his evil ways; for he who follows
vain and idle persons, and keeps company with such, is in danger of
becoming like them. Another reason is for the shaming, and so the
reforming, of those that offend, that when idle and disorderly
persons see how their loose practices are disliked by all wise and
good people they may be ashamed of them, and walk more orderly.
Love therefore to the persons of our offending brethren, even when
we hate their vices, should be the motive of our withdrawing from
them; and even those who are under the censures of the church must
not be accounted as enemies (<scripRef id="iiTh.iv-p18.3" osisRef="Bible:2Thess.3.15" parsed="|2Thess|3|15|0|0" passage="2Th 3:15"><i>v.</i>
15</scripRef>); for, if they be reclaimed and reformed by these
censures, they will recover their credit and comfort, and right to
church-privileges as brethren. [2.] Their general conduct and
behaviour ought to be according to the good example the apostle and
those who were with him had given them: <i>Yourselves know how you
ought to follow us,</i> <scripRef id="iiTh.iv-p18.4" osisRef="Bible:2Thess.3.7" parsed="|2Thess|3|7|0|0" passage="2Th 3:7"><i>v.</i>
7</scripRef>. Those who planted religion among them had set a good
example before them; and the ministers of the gospel should be
ensamples to the flock. It is the duty of Christians not only to
walk according to the traditions of the apostles, and the doctrines
they preached, but also according to the good example they set
before them, <i>to be followers of them so far as they were
followers of Christ.</i> The particular good example the apostle
mentions was their diligence, which was so different from what was
found in the disorderly walkers he takes notice of: "<i>We behaved
not ourselves disorderly among you</i> (<scripRef id="iiTh.iv-p18.5" osisRef="Bible:2Thess.3.7" parsed="|2Thess|3|7|0|0" passage="2Th 3:7"><i>v.</i> 7</scripRef>), we did not spend our time idly,
in idle visits, idle talk, idle sports." They took pains in their
ministry, in preaching the gospel, and in getting their own living.
<i>Neither did we eat any man's bread for nought,</i> <scripRef id="iiTh.iv-p18.6" osisRef="Bible:2Thess.3.8" parsed="|2Thess|3|8|0|0" passage="2Th 3:8"><i>v.</i> 8</scripRef>. Though he might justly
have demanded a maintenance, because those who preach the gospel
may of right expect to live by the gospel. This is a just debt that
people owe to their ministers, and the apostle had power or
authority to have demanded this (<scripRef id="iiTh.iv-p18.7" osisRef="Bible:2Thess.3.9" parsed="|2Thess|3|9|0|0" passage="2Th 3:9"><i>v.</i> 9</scripRef>); but he waived his right from
affection to them, and for the sake of the gospel, and that he
might be an example for them to follow (<scripRef id="iiTh.iv-p18.8" osisRef="Bible:2Thess.3.9" parsed="|2Thess|3|9|0|0" passage="2Th 3:9"><i>v.</i> 9</scripRef>), that they might learn how to
fill up time, and always be employed in something that would turn
to good account.</p>
<p class="indent" id="iiTh.iv-p19">(2.) He commands and directs those that
live idle lives to reform, and set themselves to their business. He
had given commandments to this purport, as well as a good example
of this, when he was among them: <i>Even when we were with you,
this we commanded you, that if any man would not work neither
should he eat,</i> <scripRef id="iiTh.iv-p19.1" osisRef="Bible:2Thess.3.10" parsed="|2Thess|3|10|0|0" passage="2Th 3:10"><i>v.</i>
10</scripRef>. It was a proverbial speech among the Jews, <i>He who
does not labour does not deserve to eat.</i> The labourer is worthy
of his meat; but what is the loiterer worthy of? It is the will of
God that every man should have a calling, and mind his calling, and
make a business of it, and that none should live like useless
drones in the world. Such persons do what in them lies to defeat
the sentence, <i>In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat thy
bread.</i> It was not the mere humour of the apostle, who was an
active stirring man himself and therefore would have every body
else to be so too, but it was the command of our Lord Jesus Christ,
that <i>with quietness we work, and eat our own bread,</i>
<scripRef id="iiTh.iv-p19.2" osisRef="Bible:2Thess.3.12" parsed="|2Thess|3|12|0|0" passage="2Th 3:12"><i>v.</i> 12</scripRef>. Men ought
some way or other to earn their own living, otherwise they do not
eat their own bread. Observe, There must be work or labour, in
opposition to idleness; and there must be quietness, in opposition
to being busy-bodies in other men's matters. We must study to be
quiet, and do our own business. This is an excellent but rare
composition, to be of an active yet quiet spirit, active in our own
business and yet quiet as to other people's.</p>
<p class="indent" id="iiTh.iv-p20">(3.) He exhorts <i>those that did well not
to</i> be <i>weary in well-doing</i> (<scripRef id="iiTh.iv-p20.1" osisRef="Bible:2Thess.3.13" parsed="|2Thess|3|13|0|0" passage="2Th 3:13"><i>v.</i> 13</scripRef>); as if he had said, "Go on and
prosper. The Lord is with you while you are with him. See that
whatever you do, that is good, you persevere therein. Hold on your
way, and hold out to the end. You must never give over, nor tire in
your work. It will be time enough to rest when you come to heaven,
that <i>everlasting rest which remains for the people of
God.</i>"</p>
</div><scripCom id="iiTh.iv-p20.2" osisRef="Bible:2Thess.3.16-2Thess.3.18" parsed="|2Thess|3|16|3|18" passage="2Th 3:16-18" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Bible:2Thess.3.16-2Thess.3.18">
<h4 id="iiTh.iv-p20.3">Apostolic Benediction. (<span class="smallcaps" id="iiTh.iv-p20.4">a.
d.</span> 52.)</h4>
<p class="passage" id="iiTh.iv-p21">16 Now the Lord of peace himself give you peace
always by all means. The Lord <i>be</i> with you all.   17 The
salutation of Paul with mine own hand, which is the token in every
epistle: so I write.   18 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ
<i>be</i> with you all. Amen.</p>
<p class="indent" id="iiTh.iv-p22">In this conclusion of the epistle we have
the apostle's benediction and prayers for these Thessalonians. Let
us desire them for ourselves and our friend. There are three
blessings pronounced upon them, or desired for them:—</p>
<p class="indent" id="iiTh.iv-p23">I. That God would give them peace. Note, 1.
Peace is the blessing pronounced or desired. By peace we may
understand all manner of prosperity; here it may signify, in
particular, peace with God, peace in their own minds and
consciences, peace among themselves, and peace with all men. 2.
This peace is desired for them always, or in every thing; and he
desired they might have all good things at all times. 3. Peace by
all means: that, as they enjoyed the means of grace, they might
with success use all the means and methods of peace too; for peace
is often difficult, as it is always desirable. 4. That God would
give them peace, who is the Lord of peace. If we have any peace
that is desirable, God must give it, who is the <i>author of peace
and lover of concord.</i> We shall neither have peaceable
dispositions ourselves nor find men disposed to be at peace with
us, unless the God of peace give us both.</p>
<p class="indent" id="iiTh.iv-p24">II. That the presence of God might be with
them: <i>The Lord be with you all.</i> We need nothing more to make
us safe and happy, nor can we desire any thing better for ourselves
and our friends, than to have God's gracious presence with us and
them. This will be a guide and guard in every way that we may go,
and our comfort in every condition we may be in. It is the presence
of God that makes heaven to be heaven, and this will make this
earth to be like heaven. No matter where we are if God be with us,
nor who is absent if God be with us, nor who is absent if God be
present with us.</p>
<p class="indent" id="iiTh.iv-p25">III. That the <i>grace of our Lord Jesus
Christ might be with them.</i> So this apostle concluded his first
epistle to these Thessalonians; and it is through the grace of our
Lord Jesus Christ that we may comfortably hope to have peace with
God and enjoy the presence of God, for he has made those nigh that
were afar off. It is this grace that is all in all to make us
happy. This is what the apostle admired and magnified on all
occasions, what he delighted and trusted in; and by this salutation
or benediction, written with his own hand, as the token of every
epistle (when the rest was written by an amanuensis), he took care
lest the churches he wrote to should be imposed on by counterfeit
epistles, which he knew would be of dangerous consequence.</p>
<p class="indent" id="iiTh.iv-p26">Let us be thankful that we have the canon
of scripture complete, and by the wonderful and special care of
divine Providence preserved pure and uncorrupt through so many
successive ages, and not dare to add to it, nor diminish from it.
Let us believe the divine original of the sacred scriptures, and
conform our faith and practice to this our sufficient and only
rule, <i>which is able to make us wise unto salvation, through
faith which is in Christ Jesus.</i> Amen.</p>
</div></div2>