CLARIFICATION REGARDING RESPONSE (2 THESSALONIANS 3:1-18)

Paul affirmed the Thessalonians in their afflictions in the first part of the letter (1:1-12). Then he explained details of prophetic events that had become fuzzy and confused (2:1-17). Now Paul moves on to the “finally” of his second letter to the Thessalonians. In this concluding section Paul gets in-your-face personal, offering a clarification regarding their practical response to the matters addressed in the first two sections.

In this section (3:1-18), Paul urges the new believers to endure the current storms of persecution from those outside the faith and to deal with controversy among those within it. To do this, he prays that the Lord would direct them and help them to be steadfast (3:5); he commands them to follow his example of how to work while waiting (3:7, 9); and he encourages them to persevere in doing what’s right even when others around them are doing what’s wrong (3:13). The main principle of this final chapter, then, is that waiting with discipline cultivates responsibility.

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KEY TERMS IN 2 THESSALONIANS 3:1-18

parangellō (παραγγέλλω) [3853] “give orders,” “command,” “direct” [66]

Paul uses several related verbs to exhort his readers to action, including the mild “request” (erōtaō [2065]; 1 Thes. 5:12), the more direct “urge” (parakaleō [3870]; 1 Thes. 5:14), and the solemn and serious “command” (2 Thes. 3:4). Paul uses this final “command” language four times in 2 Thessalonians 3 (3:4, 6, 10, 12), all related to rebuking those who were living irresponsible lives.

ataktōs (ἀτάκτως) [814] “unruly,” “undisciplined,” “insubordinate”

This word group occurs in the New Testament only in the Thessalonian epistles. It appears in its adjective form (ataktos [813]) in 1 Thessalonians 5:14, in its adverbial form (ataktōs) in 2 Thessalonians 3:6 and 11, and in a verb form (atakteō [812]) in 3:7. One lexicon defines ataktōs as “out of order, out of place” and elaborates that it’s used “of soldiers not keeping the ranks or an army in disarray” or “of truancy on the part of an apprentice.”[67] The picture is one of disorder and failing to fulfill one’s responsibilities, thus causing further disorder in the community.

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