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| 1 Finally, brethren, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may have free course, and be glorified, even as it is with you:
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| 2 And that we may be delivered from unreasonable and wicked men: for all men have not faith. |
Have not faith – The New Covenant was made necessary as a supplement to the Faith or Abrahamic Covenant because, as the Apostle declares, "All men have not faith." R4515:6
The great majority of Adam's race are so fallen as to be unable to approach God as Abraham did. R4515:6
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| 3 But the Lord is faithful, who shall stablish you, and keep you from evil. |
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| 4 And we have confidence in the Lord touching you, that ye both do and will do the things which we command you. |
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| 5 And the Lord direct your hearts into the love of God, and into the patient waiting for Christ. |
And the Lord – The love of God is a different kind than is common to the natural man, and we need to be directed into it through the divine Word. R2648:2
Direct your hearts – The Lord demands the absolute cleansing of the will, the heart, the spirit. "Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God." (Matt. 5:8) F409
The love of God – The love that is gentle, meek, patient, long-suffering--that thinketh or speaketh no evil, but trusteth and is kind and considerate according to the golden rule. F409
We need to have our hearts directed into this love, for as a new creation we are walking in a new way--not after the flesh but after the Spirit. F409
Waiting – Waiting for the actual salvation. R604:5*
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| 6 Now we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye withdraw yourselves from every brother that walketh disorderly, and not after the tradition which he received of us. |
Brethren – The oneness of thought, mind and action required of the Church of God. R1130:6*
Withdraw yourselves – He warns us against immoral and unjust persons, and those who wrest (twist) the Scriptures, and thus turn the truth of God into a lie. And in the Apostle's estimation, doctrinal disorders are among the chief. R1575:3
From every brother – We have no evidence that the early Church ever regarded the apostles as lords in the Church; or that the apostles ever assumed such authority or dignity. F230; R1523:5
Brother was the common term of salutation. Even the Lord himself was not ashamed to call them all brethren. (Heb. 2:11) F230; R1523:5
Walketh disorderly – Wolves in sheep's clothing, selfishly seeking their own temporal advantage. The Apostle did not counsel the handling of these wolves very gently, as some teachers of today advise. R1559:1
After the tradition – The Lord's plan, of which the atonement, the ransom, is the center, or hub. F630
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| 7 For yourselves know how ye ought to follow us: for we behaved not ourselves disorderly among you; |
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| 8 Neither did we eat any man's bread for nought; but wrought with labour and travail night and day, that we might not be chargeable to any of you: |
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| 9 Not because we have not power, but to make ourselves a pattern unto you to follow us. |
Power – Authority as the appointed apostles of the Lord to demand support. R2500:6
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| 10 For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat. |
Would not work – Many are bold to pray for what they will not work for. F651
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| 11 For we hear that there are some which walk among you disorderly, working not at all, but are busybodies. |
Working not at all – This passage does not authorize begging or idle waiting for the Lord's people to supply one's needs. R2805:1*
There are many ways of walking disorderly (1 Thes. 5:14). Some work not at all. R1575:3
Busybodies – Some are trying to attend to the affairs of others, and feeling responsibilities that the Lord has never put upon them. This is an indication of spiritual weakness, for these are surely neglecting their own nourishments and exercises, else they would not have so much time to spare in finding fault with others. R4376:1
"Let none of you suffer as a murderer, or a thief, or as an evil-doer, or as a busybody in other men's matters." (1 Peter 4:15; 1 Tim. 5:13) R4376:1
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| 12 Now them that are such we command and exhort by our Lord Jesus Christ, that with quietness they work, and eat their own bread. |
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| 13 But ye, brethren, be not weary in well doing. |
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| 14 And if any man obey not our word by this epistle, note that man, and have no company with him, that he may be ashamed. |
Obey not our word – If he be disorderly, unwilling to submit himself to sound reasoning, and loving, generous, rules of order. F303
The apostolic Scriptural directions in respect to their conduct. R3034:6
Have no company – After you have faithfully warned such a one, if still he obeys not the truth, note that man. But not until it becomes manifest that the Lord has cut him off, may we cease to feel a brother's interest in him. R1893:6
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| 15 Yet count him not as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother. |
Not as an enemy – But as misguided brethren for whose recovery we are to be willing to lay down even our lives, an hour here, another hour there, an effort for this one and an effort for another one, because they are the Lord's. R3092:4
Admonish him – This does not mean to denounce roundly and severely; it does mean to admonish in a spirit of love, gentleness, meekness, patience, and with a sincere desire to help the brother to see the fault which we are certain exists, and which we are sure is not evil surmising on our part. R3034:6
As a brother – All the Church were similarly greeted--as brothers and sisters in Christ. R1523:5
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| 16 Now the Lord of peace himself give you peace always by all means. The Lord be with you all. |
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| 17 The salutation of Paul with mine own hand, which is the token in every epistle: so I write. |
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| 18 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen. |
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