2 Thessalonians 3 - A Study Guide by Mark A. Copeland

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                "THE SECOND EPISTLE TO THE THESSALONIANS"

                             Chapter Three

OBJECTIVES IN STUDYING THIS CHAPTER

1) To notice the importance of prayer in spreading the Word and in
   assisting the spiritual development of brethren

2) To examine the purpose and methodology of discipline in a local
   congregation

SUMMARY

In this last chapter we first find Paul soliciting prayer in his
behalf, that the word of the Lord might have free course and be 
glorified, and that he might be delivered from unreasonable and wicked
men (1-2).  Confident in the Lord to establish and guard them from the
evil one, he is also confident that they will do the things he commands
them (3-4).  He follows with a prayer that the Lord direct their hearts
into the love of God and into the patience of Christ (5).

One last item needs to be discussed, and that is the need for
disciplinary action towards those who are walking disorderly and not
according to the tradition received from Paul.  Reminding them of his
own example of laboring night and day while with him, he charges that 
if anyone will not work, neither should he eat (6-10).  Paul had heard
there were members who had stopped working, and had become busybodies.
He exhorts such members to work in quietness and eat their own bread.  
If they do not, the others are to note such persons and not keep 
company with them, that they may be ashamed.  Such disciplinary action
was to be administered in a brotherly way, not as toward an enemy 
(11-15).

Paul closes his second epistle to the Thessalonians by first asking 
that the Lord of peace give them peace always in every way (16).  He 
then offers a salutation in his own handwriting as a sign of
authorship, followed with a prayer that the grace of the Lord be with
them all (17-18).

OUTLINE

I. A REQUEST FOR PRAYER, AND A PRAYER FOR THEM (1-5)

   A. PAUL REQUESTS THEIR PRAYERS (1-2)
      1. That the word of the Lord may have free course and be 
         glorified, as it was in their case (1)
      2. That Paul and his companions be delivered from unreasonable
         and wicked men, for not all are believers (2)
   
   B. AN EXPRESSION OF CONFIDENCE (3-4)
      1. In the faithfulness of the Lord (3)
         a. Who would establish them (3a)
         b. Who would guard them from the evil one (3b)
      2. In them (4)
         a. That they do the things he commands them (4a)
         b. That they will do the things he commands them (4b)

   C. A PRAYER FOR THEM (5)
      1. That the Lord direct their hearts (5a)
      2. Into the love of God and the patience of Christ (5b)

II. A CHARGE TO DISCIPLINE THE DISORDERLY (3:6-15)

   A. WITHDRAW FROM THOSE WHO ARE DISORDERLY (6-9)
      1. Commanded in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ (6a)
      2. To be administered toward those...
         a. Who do not walk according to apostolic tradition (6b)
         b. Who do not follow apostolic example (7a)
            1) For Paul was not disorderly among them (7b)
            2) For Paul was not a burden to them, but gave them an
               example (8-9)

   B. ESPECIALLY THOSE WHO WILL NOT WORK (10-12)
      1. They had been commanded:  If anyone will not work, neither
         shall he eat (10)
      2. Yet there were some not working at all, but were busybodies
         (11)
      3. Such are commanded and exhorted to work in quietness and eat
         their own bread (12)

   C. SUMMATION CONCERNING CHURCH DISCIPLINE (13-15)
      1. Do not grow weary in doing good (13)
      2. For those who do not obey the apostolic teaching in this 
         epistle... (14a)
         a. Note that person (14b)
         b. Do not keep company with him (14c)
         -- That he may be ashamed (14d)
      3. Count him not as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother (15)

III. CONCLUDING REMARKS (16-18)

   A. ANOTHER PRAYER IN THEIR BEHALF (16)
      1. May the Lord of peace give them peace always in every way
         (16a)
      2. May the Lord be with them all (16b)

   B. A CONFIRMATION OF HIS AUTHORSHIP (17)
      1. His own salutation with his own hand (17a)
      2. As he writes in every epistle (17b)

   C. FINAL BENEDICTION (18)
      1. The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with them all
      2. Amen (so be it)

REVIEW QUESTIONS FOR THE CHAPTER

1) What are the main points of this chapter?
   - A request for prayer, and a prayer for them (1-5)
   - A charge to discipline the disorderly (6-15)
   - Concluding remarks (16-18)

2) For what two things does Paul ask them to pray in his behalf? (1-2)
   - That the word of the Lord may have free course and be glorified
   - That he might be delivered from unreasonable and wicked men

3) In what way is the Lord faithful, or trustworthy? (3)
   - He will establish them and guard them from the evil one

4) What confidence did Paul have in the Thessalonians? (4)
   - That they both do and will do the things he commands them

5) What did Paul ask the Lord to do for the Thessalonians? (5)
   - To direct their hearts into the love of God and into the patience
     of Christ

6) What did Paul command them to do?  In whose name? (6)
   - To withdraw from every brother who walks disorderly and not 
     according to the tradition received from Paul
   - In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ

7) What example did Paul himself set while he was with them? (7-9)
   - Worked with labor and toil night and day, so as not to be a burden
     to any of them

8) What had Paul commanded them, even when he was with them? (10)
   - If anyone will not work, neither shall he eat

9) What had Paul heard was going on among the brethren at Thessalonica?
   (11)
   - That some were walking disorderly, not working at all, but were
     busybodies

10) What did Paul command and exhort such busybodies to do? (12)
   - To work in quietness and eat their own bread

11) What did Paul exhort the rest of the brethren to do? (13)
   - To not grow weary in doing good

12) What did Paul charge them to do if anyone did not obey his word in
    this epistle? (14)
   - To note that person
   - To not keep company with him

13) What is the reason for such disciplinary action? (14)
   - That he may be ashamed

14) What final instructions does Paul give in regards to such 
    disciplinary action? (15)
   - Do not count him as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother

15) For what does Paul pray in behalf of the Thessalonians? (16)
   - May the Lord of peace Himself give them peace always in every way
   - May the Lord be with them all

16) What served as a sign of Paul's authorship of this epistle? (17)
   - His salutation with his own handwriting

17) What is Paul's final benediction to his beloved Thessalonians? (18)
   - The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all.  Amen.
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