| 3 | 2 Thessalonians | ||
| 1 | And now, brothers, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may have everywhere the swift and glorious course that it has had among you, | Pray for Us 2Th.3.1-5 | |
| 2 | and that we may be rescued from wrong-headed and wicked men; for it is not all who have faith. | ||
| 3 | But the Lord is to be trusted, and he will fortify you and guard you from the evil one. | ||
| 4 | We feel perfect confidence about you, in the Lord, that you are doing and will continue to do what we order. | ||
| 5 | May the Lord direct your hearts towards God's love and the steadfastness of Christ! | ||
| 6 | These are our orders to you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ: hold aloof from every Christian brother who falls into idle habits, and does not follow the tradition you received from us. | Warning against Idleness 2Th.3.6-15 | |
| 7 | You know yourselves how you ought to copy our example: we were no idlers among you; | ||
| 8 | we did not accept board and lodging from anyone without paying for it; we toiled and drudged, we worked for a living night and day, rather than be a burden to any of you - | ||
| 9 | not because we have not the right to maintenance, but | ||
| 10 | to set an example for you to imitate. For even during our stay with you we laid down the rule: the man who will not work shall not eat. | ||
| 11 | We mention this because we hear that some of your number are idling their time away, minding everybody's business but their own. | ||
| 12 | To all such we give these orders, and we appeal to them in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ to work quietly for their living. | ||
| 13 | My friends, never tire of doing right. | ||
| 14 | If anyone disobeys our instructions given by letter, mark him well, and have no dealings with him until he is ashamed of himself. | ||
| 15 | I do not mean treat him as an enemy, but give him friendly advice, as one of the family. | ||
| 16 | May the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times and in all ways. The Lord be with you all. | Benediction 2Th.3.16-18 | |
| 17 | The greeting is in my own hand, signed with my name, PAUL; this authenticates all my letters; this is is how I write. | ||
| 18 | The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. | ||
| << | 2Thess:3 | | |||
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