The Word Am I

The Second Epistle of Paul the Apostle to the Thessalonians

⭑ Berean Study Bible :: World English Bible Catholic ⭑

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- Chapter 3 -

1
Finally, brothers, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may spread quickly and be held in honor, just as it was with you.
2
And pray that we may be delivered from wicked and evil men; for not everyone holds to the faith.
3
But the Lord is faithful, and He will strengthen you and guard you from the evil one.(a)
4
And we have confidence in the Lord that you are doing and will continue to do what we command.
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May the Lord direct your hearts into God’s love and Christ’s perseverance.

A Warning against Idleness

6
Now we command you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, to keep away from any brother who leads an undisciplined life that is not in keeping with the tradition you received (b) from us.
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For you yourselves know how you ought to imitate us, because we were not undisciplined among you,
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nor did we eat anyone’s food without paying for it. Instead, in labor and toil, we worked night and day so that we would not be a burden to any of you.
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Not that we lack this right, but we wanted to offer ourselves as an example for you to imitate.
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For even while we were with you, we gave you this command: “If anyone is unwilling to work, he shall not eat.”
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Yet we hear that some of you are leading undisciplined lives and accomplishing nothing but being busybodies.
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We command and urge such people by our Lord Jesus Christ to begin working quietly to earn their own living.
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But as for you, brothers, do not grow weary in well-doing.
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Take note of anyone who does not obey the instructions we have given in this letter. Do not associate with him, so that he may be ashamed.
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Yet do not regard him as an enemy, but warn him as a brother.

Signature and Final Greetings

(1 Corinthians 16:19–24; Colossians 4:15–18)
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Now may the Lord of peace Himself give you peace at all times and in every way. The Lord be with all of you.
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This greeting is in my own hand—Paul. This is my mark in every letter; it is the way I write.
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The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with all of you.(c)

Footnotes

(a)3:3 Or from evil
(b)3:6 Or they received
(c)3:18 BYZ and TR include Amen.
1
Finally, brothers, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may spread rapidly and be glorified, even as also with you,
2
and that we may be delivered from unreasonable and evil men; for not all have faith.
3
But the Lord is faithful, who will establish you and guard you from the evil one.
4
We have confidence in the Lord concerning you, that you both do and will do the things we command.
5
May the Lord direct your hearts into God’s love and into the perseverance of Christ.

A Warning against Idleness

6
Now we command you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you withdraw yourselves from every brother who walks in rebellion and not after the tradition which they received from us.
7
For you know how you ought to imitate us. For we didn’t behave ourselves rebelliously among you,
8
neither did we eat bread from anyone’s hand without paying for it, but in labor and travail worked night and day, that we might not burden any of you.
9
This was not because we don’t have the right, but to make ourselves an example to you, that you should imitate us.
10
For even when we were with you, we commanded you this: “If anyone is not willing to work, don’t let him eat.”
11
For we hear of some who walk among you in rebellion, who don’t work at all, but are busybodies.
12
Now those who are that way, we command and exhort in the Lord Jesus Christ, that they work with quietness and eat their own bread.
13
But you, brothers, don’t be weary in doing what is right.
14
If any man doesn’t obey our word in this letter, note that man and have no company with him, to the end that he may be ashamed.
15
Don’t count him as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother.

Signature and Final Greetings

(1 Corinthians 16:19–24; Colossians 4:15–18)
16
Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times in all ways. The Lord be with you all.
17
I, Paul, write this greeting with my own hand, which is the sign in every letter. This is how I write.
18
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.
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