(Tap footnote to read it. Old Testament quotations are underlined. "Love" with a caret ("^love") is agapé.1"agapé" The Greek words ἀγάπη (agapé, noun), and ἀγαπάω (agapaó; verb) are typically translated "love". However, unlike our English word "love" – which primarily speaks of affection and feelings – agapé centers on choice and behavior. It’s the "love" based on will, choice, behavior, and action; not feelings. (Feelings-based love is the Greek word φιλέω (phileó), which properly means "brotherly love/affection".) Thus, you could hate someone passionately and still treat him with "agapé". Agapé "love" is best understood as the pursuit of what is most beneficial to someone or something, regardless of the cost to yourself or the type of response received from the person or thing. It can also indicate a preference for someone or something over other things. )
A Prayer Request
- Finally brothers, pray for us; that the word of the Lord might spread quickly and be glorified, just as it also was with you,
- and that we may be delivered from perverse and wicked men, for not all are of the faith.
- But the Lord is faithful, who will strengthen you and keep you from the evil one.
- And we are *confident in the Lord concerning you, that you both are doing and will do the things we command.
- And may the Lord direct your hearts into the ^love of God and into the patient endurance of the Anointed.
Those who walk improperly
- Now brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus the Anointed, we command you to withdraw yourself from every brother walking improperly1“improperly” This Greek word refers to living one’s life in a manner that’s disorderly or unruly in the sense of being insubordinate or rebellious. i.e. living life outside of God’s appointed order and guidelines. It comes from a military term which means to step out of rank. and not according to the tradition that you received from us.
- For you yourselves *know how it’s necessary to imitate us, because we weren’t behaving improperly2“behaving improperly” see note on previous verse. among you.
- Nor did we eat bread from anyone without payment, but in laborious toil and wearisome labor we were working day and night in order not to burden any of you.
- Not that we don’t have a right, but so we might offer ourselves as an example to you, for you to imitate us.
- For even when we were with you, we were commanding this to you: that if anyone isn’t willing to work, let him not eat either.
- For we hear that some among you are walking improperly; working at nothing, but being busybodies.3“being busybodies” is one word in Greek. It refers to those who don’t “waste their labor” by attending to other’s business, or by working at trifling, useless matters instead of to what’s important.
- Now, we command and admonish such men by the Anointed Lord Jesus, so that working in a tranquil life,4“a tranquil life” is one word in Greek. It refers to those who aren’t “running hither and thither” (Thayer’s) but instead are restful and mind their own business. they may eat their own bread.
- And brothers, you shouldn’t grow weary of doing good.
- But if anyone doesn’t obey our word by letter, take note of this man and don’t socialize with him so he might turn from his ways in shame.5“he might turn from his ways in shame” is one word in Greek. It means to turn from something in shame, with the idea of rethinking what they have been doing because of the shame.
- Yet don’t think of him as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother.
Closing
- Now, may the Lord of peace Himself give you peace in every way through everything. The Lord be with you all.
- This greeting is in my hand – Paul, which is my mark of authenticity in every letter. I write in this manner.
- The grace of our Lord Jesus the Anointed be with all of you. [Amen]
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