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- Preaching the Living WORD through
the Written WORD - 2 Tim 4;:2 - |
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OBEDIENCE NOT DISORDERLY AND IDLE CONDUCT 2Th 3:4-9 (05/27/12) Grace Bible Church, Gillette, Wyoming Pastor Daryl Hilbert I. ENCOURAGEMENT FOR OBEDIENCE, LOVE, AND
PERSEVERANCE (4-5) A. The Thessalonians were Commended for
Obedience (4) 1. Though a young church, the Thessalonians
were a thriving spiritual church. Paul commends them for “doing”
(present indicative - poie,ō - practicing or following) what he and the Word of God has asked
of them to do. 2. Actually, it is a stronger idea then
merely ask. It is the word “command” which is the Greek word parange,llō
and means an
authoritative directive given alongside. It is a divine directive given
through the authority of the apostles. It is seen in the Scriptures as
commands that the Thessalonians and all believers must follow. They are seen
as “prescriptions” (English transitive meaning of laying down a rule of
action or authoritative specifications, Webster collegiate dictionary)
(1Ti 4:11; 5:7), “instructions” (1Co 7:10; 11:17; 1Ti 1:3; 6:17), “orders”
(2Th 3:10), and “commands” (1Th 4:2, 11; 2Th 3:4, 6, 12). Living the
Christian life is not optional. 3. Paul’s “confidence” (pei,thō) was ultimately in the Lord who
sanctifies all believers (cp. 1Th 5:23) and will enable the Thessalonians to
continue to obey. B. The Thessalonians were to Continue in Love
and Perseverance through Christ (5) 1. With his confidence in the Lord, Paul
gives a final prayerful benediction. He prays that God would “direct”
(kateuthu,nō - make straight towards a point) the hearts of the Thessalonians in two
areas. 2. First he prays they be directed into the
“love of God” (tou, theou,). This
was most likely referring to the love that God has toward the believer (subjective
genitive) rather than the believer’s love towards God (objective
genitive). Often the phrase “love of God” refers to God’s love toward the
believer (2Co 13:14; 1Jo 4:9) because that is where the believer’s security
lies (Rom 8:39) and where the believer’s love springs (1Jo 4:10, 19). 3. But he also prays that they would
comprehend and appropriate the “steadfastness of Christ.”
“Steadfastness” is the Greek word hupomonê, which literally means to “remain under”
(duress) or steadfast adherence to a
course of action in spite of difficulties and testings (Friberg). It is the steadfastness “of Christ” not
only in the example of Christ but also in the enabling by Christ. The
Thessalonians needed to know that in the midst of all their difficulties,
their love, strength, and perseverance is being spiritually supplied by the
Lord through the Spirit of God. II. WARNING AGAINST UNRULY AND IDLE CONDUCT
(6-9) A. The Thessalonians were to Withdraw from
Those Evading Responsibilities (6) 1. Paul begins a new topic in this letter
but an older previous problem at Thessalonica. In 1Th 5:14 Paul warned them
of those who were “unruly” (ata,ktōs). This is the same word he uses in vs.
6, 7, and 11 of this chapter. a) The Greek word ata,ktōs
is a word that means a
- without, takto,s - order, or disorderly, undisciplined, evading one’s
obligations or duty, it was used often as a military term. b) As we look at this context it can be
observed that there were some among them who had neglected their Christian
responsibility to work and provide and thus became idle and sponged off of
others. Thus they were out of order, disorderly, and unruly toward the
believer’s responsibilities. (1) They did not follow Paul’s example of
working for their own provisions (3:7-8). (2) They were unwilling to work (3:10, 11). (3) They were to start working and providing
for their own provisions (3:12). (4) Note: Some have suggested that they may
have stopped working in order to prepare for the Lord’s coming. Either way,
they were in disobedience to biblical principles, Paul’s teaching and
admonition, as well as common sense (1Ti 5:8). 2. Because they disobeyed Paul’s admonition
and teaching (“the tradition which
you received from us”
cp. 2Th 2:15), he had to give a “command” (parange,llō,
same word as vs. 4, 6, 10, 12) the congregation through his apostolic authority (“in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ”). 3. He directed the congregation of believers
to “keep away” from the disorderly and idle believers. By “keep away”
(present infinitve - ste,llō) Paul meant to hold oneself aloof , withdraw, or steer clear. This was
a form of church discipline by the congregation to be exercised upon the
sinning believers. 4. As outlined in Mat 18:15-17, this was the
third step in church discipline for major sins as prescribed in the
Scriptures. a) Step 1 - Go to the sinning brother in
private. b) Step 2 - Go to the sinning brother with
witnesses (possibly Elders). c) Step 3 - Elders warn the church about the
sinning brother. d) Step 4 - Elders and the church
excommunicate the sinning brother. B. The Apostle’s Example was to be Imitated
(7) 1. The Thessalonians “themselves” (auto,s) saw and “knew” (oida)
the work ethic of Paul and those with him. Paul was a tent-maker by trade and
earned his own keep while in Corinth (Act 18:1-3). 2. Therefore, they all “ought” (dei,) to “follow
their example.” As new believers, they literally were to imitate (mime,omai -
mimic or imitate)
Paul’s Christian work ethic. 3. Paul and those with him did not “act in an undisciplined manner” (atakte,ō
- same root as vs. 6 and 11 - act disorderly or evade one’s responsibility or
duty) but provided for
themselves. C. The Apostles did not Freeload but Labored
for the Lord (8) 1. Paul states that he was not a freeloader
(“without paying for it” - dōrea, - gift, freely, i.e.
here freeload), sponging meals and provisions (“eat anyone’s bread”)
like some of the Thessalonians were doing. 2. Instead, they earned their own keep for
provisions with “labor and hardship.” The verbiage comes from two
familiar words (kopos and mo,chthos) that mean laborious toil and hardship. Usually they
were used in reference to labor of love for Lord (1Th 1:3; 2:9; 3:5; 2Th
3:8), but here it also encompasses labor for general provisions. 3. They continually “worked” (present
middle participle - erga,zomai - to work and do labor) for themselves “night and day”
in the ministry and in their trade of tent-making. 4. The reason that Paul and those with him
did not freeload was because they did not want to become a “burden” (epibare,ō
- lit. put weight upon, i.e burden) on the Thessalonians. In addition, they no doubt perceived
that some among them were disorderly and idle (1Th 5:14) and wanted to leave
an example, leaving no room for excuses. D. The Apostles had the Right but Desired to
be a Model (9) 1. As an apostle Paul had the “right”
(exousi,a - authority or right) of provisions in working for the Lord
among the church. In fact, Paul teaches elsewhere that provisions should be
made for those who labor in the ministry bring spiritual meat of the Word
(1Co 9:6-10; 1Ti 5:17-18). 2. But again, his desire was teach and “offer”
(didōmi - give) a “model” (tu,pos) for the Thessalonians to imitate (mime,omai -
same as vs. 7),
especially in light of their current situation. 3. Paul instructs them with a biblical,
Jewish, and practical adage, “No work, no eat” (10). III. OBSERVATIONS AND APPLICATIONS A. THE BELIEVER’S WORK ETHIC IN THE WORLD 1. The believer’s work ethic ought to
supersede that of the rest of the world’s work ethic (Col 3:17, 22-24; Eph
6:5-6; Pro 14:4; 10:4; 12:24; 26:13-14). B. THE BELIEVER’S WORK ETHIC IN MINISTRY 1. The believer’s work ethic ought to be
seen first in their labor of love for the Lord in ministry and carry over
into every aspect of life (1Th 5:12; 2Ti 2:15). C. THE BELIEVER’S OBEDIENCE TO THE LORD’S
COMMANDS 1. The believer must view Antinomianism as a
misunderstanding of grace and the necessity of following the Lord’s commands
as in keeping with grace (1Th 4:2, 11; 2Th 3:14; 1Co 9:21; Gal 6:2). |
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