2 Thessalonians 3:1 kjv
Finally, brethren, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may have free course, and be glorified, even as it is with you:
2 Thessalonians 3:1 nkjv
Finally, brethren, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may run swiftly and be glorified, just as it is with you,
2 Thessalonians 3:1 niv
As for other matters, brothers and sisters, pray for us that the message of the Lord may spread rapidly and be honored, just as it was with you.
2 Thessalonians 3:1 esv
Finally, brothers, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may speed ahead and be honored, as happened among you,
2 Thessalonians 3:1 nlt
Finally, dear brothers and sisters, we ask you to pray for us. Pray that the Lord's message will spread rapidly and be honored wherever it goes, just as when it came to you.
2 Thessalonians 3 1 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| 2 Thessalonians 3:2 | pray for us... | 2 Thes 2:1 (Paul's presence) |
| Acts 13:2-3 | The Holy Spirit called Barnabas and Saul for a special work... They sent them off. | Acts 12:24-25 (Gospel spreading) |
| Romans 15:30 | I urge you, brothers, by our Lord Jesus Christ and by the love of the Spirit, to join me in my struggle by praying to God for me. | Rom 1:9 (Praying for ministry) |
| Ephesians 6:19 | Pray also for me, that whenever I open my mouth, words may be given to me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel. | Eph 3:12 (Boldness in faith) |
| Colossians 4:3 | And pray for us, too, that God may open a door for our message, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ. | Col 1:27 (Mystery of Christ) |
| Philippians 1:7 | It is right for me to feel this way about all of you, because I have you in my heart; for whether I am in chains or defending and confirming the gospel, you all share in God's grace with me. | Phil 1:5 (Partnership in gospel) |
| 1 Thessalonians 5:25 | Brothers, pray for us. | 1 Thes 5:17 (Constant prayer) |
| Hebrews 12:15 | See to it that no one fails to grasp the grace of God and that no bitter root springs up to cause trouble and defile many. | Heb 12:14 (Peace and holiness) |
| 1 Peter 5:8 | Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. | 1 Pet 5:9 (Resisting the devil) |
| Acts 18:9-10 | The Lord said to Paul in a vision that night, "Do not be afraid; keep on speaking, do not be silent, for I am with you." | Acts 19:11 (Divine protection) |
| 2 Timothy 4:17 | But the Lord stood at my side and gave me strength, so that through me the message might be fully proclaimed and all the Gentiles might hear it. | 2 Tim 4:16 (Proclaiming the word) |
| John 15:16 | You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last. | John 14:13 (Bearing fruit) |
| Mark 16:15 | He said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation." | Mark 4:14 (Sowing the seed) |
| Acts 19:20 | So the word of the Lord spread widely and grew in power. | Acts 9:31 (Church growth) |
| 2 Corinthians 11:14 | And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. | 2 Cor 11:13 (Satan's deception) |
| Jude 1:3 | Dear friends, although I was eager to write to you about the salvation and life we all share, now you must continue to write to urge you to contend for the faith that was once for all entrusted to the saints. | Jude 1:4 (Contending for faith) |
| 1 Timothy 6:5 | and constant friction among people of corrupt mind, who have been robbed of the truth and who think that godliness is a means to financial gain. | 1 Tim 6:4 (False teachers) |
| Acts 19:33-34 | Some pushed forward by the crowd pointed out Alexander, for the Jews had put him up to this. Alexander motioned with his hand for silence, wanting to defend himself before the people. | Acts 19:35 (Opposition to gospel) |
| 2 Thessalonians 3:5 | May the Lord direct your hearts into God’s love and Christ’s perseverance. | 2 Thes 3:5 (Prayer for hearts) |
| Philippians 2:12 | continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling. | Phil 2:13 (God's work in us) |
2 Thessalonians 3 verses
2 Thessalonians 3 1 Meaning
The apostle Paul, writing to the believers in Thessalonica, requests their continued prayers. Specifically, he asks for their prayers that the message of the Lord might spread rapidly and be glorified, and that believers might be delivered from wicked and evil people who oppose the gospel.
2 Thessalonians 3 1 Context
This verse comes at the beginning of chapter 3 of 2 Thessalonians, a letter from Paul to the church in Thessalonica. The church was experiencing persecution and had questions about the return of Christ. In chapter 2, Paul addressed misunderstandings about the timing of the Second Coming and the Antichrist. Chapter 3 shifts focus to practical matters for the church, starting with Paul’s request for prayer. The immediate context is to equip the Thessalonian believers for the challenges they face, which include opposition from unbelievers and the need for continued faithfulness in proclaiming the gospel. The overall purpose of the letter is to encourage and strengthen the young church in Macedonia amidst adversity.
2 Thessalonians 3 1 Word Analysis
- Δέ (de): Conjunction, meaning "but" or "and." It signifies a transition or continuation from the previous thoughts.
- περισσεύῃ (perisseuē): Verb, from perisseuō, meaning "to overflow," "to abound," or "to be superior." Here, it refers to the rapid and abundant spread of the Word of God.
- ὁ λόγος (ho logos): Noun phrase, ho (the) + logos (word, message, utterance, reason). This refers to the gospel message itself.
- τοῦ Κυρίου (tou Kuriou): Noun phrase, genitive singular of Kurios (Lord), meaning "of the Lord." It signifies possession or origin, attributing the message to the Lord Jesus Christ.
- καὶ (kai): Conjunction, meaning "and." It links the two parallel requests in the verse.
- δοξάζηται (doxazētai): Verb, passive subjunctive of doxazō, meaning "to glorify," "to honor," or "to magnify." It implies that the message itself would bring glory to God.
- ἀνθρώπων (anthrōpōn): Noun, genitive plural of anthrōpos, meaning "of men."
- πονηρῶν (ponērōn): Adjective, genitive plural of ponēros, meaning "evil," "wicked," "malicious," or "bad." It describes the nature of the people opposing the gospel.
- καὶ (kai): Conjunction, "and."
- ἀνθρώπων (anthrōpōn): Noun, genitive plural of anthrōpos, "of men."
- φαύλων (phaulōn): Adjective, genitive plural of phaulos, meaning "mean," "worthless," "bad," or "base." It describes the character of those who are resistant or obstructive.
Words/Group Analysis:
- "The word of the Lord to spread rapidly" (ὁ λόγος τοῦ Κυρίου περισσεύῃ): This phrase echoes Old Testament prophecies and the Great Commission. It highlights the desire for the gospel’s expansive and victorious advance, not limited by human circumstances.
- "be glorified" (δοξάζηται): This is intrinsically linked to the spreading of the Word. When the gospel is embraced and understood, it brings glory to God because it reveals His character, power, and salvation plan.
- "be delivered from wicked and evil men" (ἀνθρώπων πονηρῶν καὶ φαύλων): This part of the prayer addresses the hostile environment the early church faced. The combination of ponērōn (morally wicked, harmful) and phaulōn (morally bad, trivial, contemptible) suggests both malicious opposition and generally ungodly, obstructive individuals.
2 Thessalonians 3 1 Bonus Section
The use of the imperative subjunctive (perisseuē, doxazētai) conveys a sense of earnest request or entreaty from Paul. It's a prayerful anticipation of God's sovereign action. The choice of the words ponēros and phaulos for "wicked" and "evil" may also highlight both direct, intentional opposition (ponēros) and a more general, pervasive opposition stemming from godlessness or moral corruption (phaulos). This mirrors the spiritual warfare described elsewhere, where believers face not only visible adversaries but also unseen forces of evil. The emphasis on the Word spreading and being glorified connects to the understanding of the Bible as God's active, powerful instrument for salvation and transformation, echoing the prophet Isaiah’s words: "so will my word be that goes out from my mouth: it will not return to me by empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it" (Isaiah 55:11).
2 Thessalonians 3 1 Commentary
Paul’s request for prayer in this verse is twofold. Firstly, he asks for prayers for the successful and pervasive propagation of the gospel message. This is not a selfish request for personal ministry success but for God's Word itself to advance, proclaiming truth and bringing glory to Christ. Secondly, he prays for divine protection for the messengers and the message from malicious and unworthy individuals who actively oppose and seek to undermine the work of God. This reflects the constant struggle the early church faced against spiritual and human opposition. The emphasis is on the efficacy of God's Word and the necessity of God’s intervention to ensure its unhindered spread and His people’s protection.
Practical Application Examples:
- Praying for missionaries: Specifically ask that the message they share would spread rapidly and be honored, and that God would shield them from opposition.
- Praying for the church: Ask that the church would be a place where God's Word is clearly proclaimed and that believers would be protected from those who seek to harm or mislead.
- Praying for oneself: Ask that the message of the gospel would be glorified through one's life and that one would be delivered from harmful influences or people.