Context No. 2934 of 4322 · 2 Thessalonians

2 Thessalonians 3:1-5: in context

1Finally, brothers, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may spread rapidly and be glorified, even as also with you, 2and that we may be delivered from unreasonable and evil men; for not all have faith. 3But the Lord is faithful, who will establish you and guard you from the evil one. 4We have confidence in the Lord concerning you, that you both do and will do the things we command. 5May the Lord direct your hearts into God’s love and into the perseverance of Christ.

Paul asks the Thessalonians to pray for him: that the word of the Lord may spread rapidly and be honored, as it was among them, and that he be rescued from wicked and unreasonable men, for not everyone has faith. Then he turns from the threat to a certainty: but the Lord is faithful; he will establish you and guard you from the evil one.

Two anchors sit here. Paul asks prayer for the gospel to run, to spread swiftly and be glorified, showing that the advance of God's word is something to pray for and not simply assume. And against the danger of wicked men he sets, not his own strength or theirs, but the Lord's faithfulness: the Lord is faithful, he will establish and guard you. When people fail us and opposition rises, our real security is not the reliability of others but the faithfulness of the Lord, who directs our hearts to God's love and the steadfastness of Christ.

Do I pray for God's word to run and be honored, and do I anchor my security in the Lord's faithfulness rather than in people who may fail?

Sources

2 Thessalonians 3:1: "Pray for us, that the word of the Lord may spread rapidly and be glorified."
2 Thessalonians 3:3: "But the Lord is faithful, who will establish you and guard you from the evil one."
Psalm 147:15: "He sends out his commandment to the earth. His word runs very swiftly."