2 Thessalonians
General
The Thessalonian brethren seem to have drawn a wrong conclusion from the
Apostle’s first epistle to them, supposing him to intimate that the Day of the
Lord would surely come in their day.
Abd certain teachers of that daym led by their own imaginations, began
to proclaim that the Day of the Lord had commenced; that the Lord was then
present, and that the dead had been resurrected. (See 2 Tim. 2:17, 18)
The Thessalonian Church knowing that Paul’s teachings were not out of
harmony with this proclamation, were much exercised and troubled to know
whether it was true that the Day of the Lord had come. To meet their difficulty, Paul wrote them
the second epistle in which the main thought is the correcting of this
error. R665:3
2 Thessalonians 1
2 Thessalonians 1:5
Be counted worthy -- In spite of the fact that no human being actually is
worthy. R3002:2
We are not worthy of the Kingdom
of God; but the Lord purposes to (count) his faithful ones worthy, through the
merit of the atonement sacrifice, which permits the acceptance of our wills,
intentions, instead of the perfect works of righteousness. R3002:2
Ye also suffer -- Strive in a reasonable, rational manner, according to the
divine Word and plan, to suffer for the Kingdom's sake. R3002:2
This loyalty should be put to the
test. CR80:3
2 Thessalonians 1:6
Tribulation to them that
trouble you -- It will be but a just
thing for the Lord, at the second coming of the Lord Jesus, to render a
recompense (purgatorial punishment) upon those who have been opposers of the
truth and of the saints. Their punishment or tribulation will be just, and not
an unjust one. R1471:2,4
2 Thessalonians 1:7
To you -- The saints, whose enemies are allowed to prosper and
oppose. R356:2
Who are troubled -- We are enduring tribulation, until he come. R3652:6
Shall be revealed -- Greek: apokalupsis; revealment, uncovering, unveiling (as
of a thing previously present but hidden). R2979:2,3, 580:5, 264:2, 20:4
The revelation of Christ to the
world will be subsequent to his revelation of himself to the "wise
virgin" class. The world will know, not by seeing Jesus in the flesh, but
by seeing the great time of trouble. R5523:1
Angels -- Agencies. R764:6
2 Thessalonians 1:8
In flaming fire -- Of righteous purgatorial judgment. R1471:4
In which Christ's presence will
first be revealed to the world in the great day of trouble which will introduce
the new dispensation; and will continue to burn throughout that thousand-year
day against all evil-doers. R1471:4, 5527:4
Symbol of the destructive force
which will be exercised against everything that shall oppose the laws of
Messiah's Kingdom. OV324:1; B151
Gradually, the world will come to
understand that the great King is identified with the trouble. R5830:5
Judgments against all
unrighteousness. R2979:3
Trouble, judgments--consumingly
destructive to evil and ignorance and wrongs of every sort. R764:6, 5527:4
In the time of trouble. R5456:1
After 1914. Q98:T; R5567:1
Melting of the social fabric.
R668:1
Anarchy, bringing retributive
justice preceding the blessings of the new Kingdom. R5567:1, 5586:6
Outward manifestation of judgment,
which will come on men in a natural way. It is their own fire that they built.
Q98:T
Trouble--great anarchistic
blaze--destruction, leaving present institutions in ashes. R5058:6, 1040:1
The outward sign by which the
world will know that Messiah has accepted his throne. CR291:4
That know not God -- Who acknowledge not God. T86
The ignorant who do not appreciate
God's character and plans, and obey not the gospel. R764:6, 356:2
On them who are not really
acquainted with God, but who nevertheless fail to obey the light of conscience,
which all to some extent possess. B152
And that obey not -- And also on those who, while knowing God, yet obey not the
gospel. B152
The gospel -- Glad tidings. R1471:4
2 Thessalonians 1:9
Who -- Willful sinners against full light. OV363:T
Class of incorrigibles. R4973:5
Disobedient lovers of evil.
PD95/109
Including Satan and all who follow
his way. E392
Shall be punished -- Divine vengeance or retribution against sinners. R2858:4
With -- Or by. R926:1
Everlasting destruction -- The second death. E330; R5344:1, 5314:6, 5286:6, 2972:5,
2690:4, 2657:4, 2607:6, 1882:4, 1878:6; OV363:T, 333:3; CR279:3, 338:2*;
SM167:T
Beyond all hope of recovery.
R2858:4, 2972:5; Greek: aionion; not limited, i.e. upon which destruction no
limit has been placed. R764:3, 719:4
Not preservation in torment or
otherwise. R3947:2, 4973:5, 4881:6; OV373:5
From it there will be no
redemption, no resurrection; Christ shall die no more, perish like natural
brute beasts. (2 Pet. 2:12) R5314:6, 1882:4, 1878:6, 926:1; CR350:1, 338:2
Only the willingly obdurate shall
be lost, and their loss will be the loss of life. R4702:4
"Destroyed from amongst the
people." (Acts 3:23) E193; R4140:4; SM767:T
"Be as though they had not
been." (Job 10:19) E387
"The wages of sin is
death." (Rom. 6:23) R4618:4, 1882:4, 1085:5, 926:1
2 Thessalonians 1:10
When he shall -- Messiah--Head and Body. OV119:4; R2407:4
Come -- Have come. R764:3
When he comes it will be
privately. He comes to organize the Church as his Kingdom, to set it up.
R579:6, 263:3, 19:3
To be glorified -- Recognized as glorious, and to manifest his glory in his
saints. R582:2*
That coming glory was foreshadowed
in his miracles, "manifested forth his glory." (John 2:11) R526:5
In his saints -- In the first resurrection. F161
And to be admired -- Respected, obeyed, worshipped. R774:1
Wondered at. R582:2*
In all them -- Who desire fellowship with God will come to him through the
Royal Priesthood, who will offer their sacrifices for them. R1732:5
All who come into harmony with
God, through Christ, under the terms of the New Covenant sealed by the precious
blood. R2407:4
Those who choose the heavenly
portion and the sacrifices necessary to obtain it should be admired by all
mankind. OV119:4
In that day -- In the Millennial day. R1732:5, 2407:4, 1176:1, 765:1,
764:6, 356:2
"The last day" of sin,
in which it will be forever wiped out. R356:2
2 Thessalonians 1:11
Of this calling -- The great high calling of this Gospel age--to
joint-heirship with his Son in the Kingdom. R3002:4
Present and future--now to suffer
with Christ to cultivate his spirit, to bear much fruit and thus be fitted for
a share in the work of the incoming age--for the blessing of the world. R2414:6
The work of faith -- These are not things which he offers us grudgingly, but
things which he is well pleased to bestow. R3002:5
2 Thessalonians 2
2 Thessalonians 2:1
Beseech you -- Entreat you. R665:4
By the coming -- Greek: parousia; presence. B159; R2979:1, 1693:1, 223:2
2 Thessalonians 2:2
Not soon shaken -- Not quickly agitated, nor alarmed. R665:4
The day of Christ -- Period of Messiah's glorious reign. SM151:1
Is at hand -- Greek: enestemi; is present. B269; F226; R665:4
"Has set in."
(Rotherham) R519:4*
For it was yet a long way off.
F672
2 Thessalonians 2:3
Let no man deceive you -- "Beguile." (Revised Version) R519:4*
Jesus knew the enemy's subtle
power, and that he would deceive the very elect, if possible. (Matt. 13:24-43)
R632:1
That day -- Could not come until after the great falling away, and the
manifestation of the Man of Sin. R3128:4
Until the abomination of
desolation has been set up. R5339:3
We are now living in "that
Day of the Lord." (1 Thes. 5:2) R305:1, 54:2
Not come, except -- Paul did not use arguments such as some today are disposed
to use against the claim that the Day of the Lord has begun. He did not say
when Christ comes your eyes shall behold him and your ears hear the trump of
God. B270
Come a falling away -- The apostasy--from the true faith. B269; R1093:4; 665:4
From the truth. R306:1, 980:2,
55:1
In the Church before the great Day
of the Lord could come. R5769:1, 306:6, 55:5
A spiritual defection. (Used one
other place in New Testament, where Paul is charged with teaching apostasy from
Moses by abandoning circumcision.) R638:6*
A false system that would develop
in the Church. R305:1, 54:2
As one error after another crept
in, the Church fell from her position of trust in and support of the promises
of her absent Lord, and began to love the world and the things of the world.
R305:1, 54:2 A falling away into formalism, the development of a clergy, and a
desire for worldly power. B286, 287
During the "Dark Ages"
of Papacy's reign, from about the year 300 to 1600
A.D. During that carnival of
heresy several portions of the Bible were altered as to appear to give support
to Papacy's teachings. R278:2
That man of sin -- An apostasy; the system of error. R980:2; B267-361
The kingdom of Antichrist. R1093:6
In the Dark Ages there was quite a
clear understanding that the Papacy was the Man of Sin. R5339:5
The Antichrist; the abomination of
desolation, the beast, the little horn, the Papacy. B271, 277; C95; D32;
R1775:1, 1526:4, 606:4, 402:1, 310:2, 305:2, 54:3
Be revealed -- His real character shown and seen. R305:1, 54:2
Son of perdition -- The son of destruction, the opponent. R665:4
2 Thessalonians 2:4
That is called God -- That is called a mighty ruler. B269
That is worshipped. R304:3, 54:1
So that he as God -- As a mighty religious ruler, A theos, not THE theos,
Jehovah. B275
In the temple of God -- A religious ruler, claiming and exercising authority over
and above all other religious rulers, even to the extent of exalting himself in
the Church, which is the true temple of God. B275; R305:6; 638:3*
Greek: Ton naon; here translated
"temple," never means in six other usages a literal temple, but is
always applied to the Church of God; "Which temple ye are." (1 Cor.
3:17) R638:1*
2 Thessalonians 2:6
Withholdeth -- Prevents, hinders, comes between. R665:5
Interposes. B270
That he -- Christ Jesus. R665:5; B270
In his time -- In his own due season. B270
Now you know why I so positively
declare that we are not yet in the Day of the Lord. R665:5
2 Thessalonians 2:7
Mystery of iniquity -- Began in Paul's day, and developed into Papacy and her
daughter organizations. There is a sense in which the word mystery is used in
Scripture in the same sense as the word church. (Col. 1:27; Eph. 5:32; 1 John
3:1) R368:6, 711:1, CR11:3
Insubordination to Christ. B270
The body of Antichrist, Babylon,
Christendom, particularly the Papacy. F201; R767:1
Only he who now letteth -- The thing which hindered a rapid development of Antichrist
was the fact that the place aspired to was already filled by another, the Roman
Empire. B288
2 Thessalonians 2:8
Shall that wicked -- System. R307:2
The Lawless One. (Diaglott)
R1977:2
The Man of Sin. R1363:1
The Antichrist; "Even now
there are many." (1 John 2:18) E286
Be revealed -- Greek: apokalupto; to uncover, to remove a disguise.
R307:3, 711:1
By Luther and others, even though
many do not even yet see it. T86, R307:3
Spirit of his mouth -- His Word--the truth. This agency for the consuming of
Papacy has progressed for about three hundred years, or since God's Word began
to be published--AD 1526, and particularly since 1801
when the "two witnesses"
were exalted to heaven and the "dominion" or temporal power began to
be taken away. R307:3, 815:4, 287:5, 55:6
Truth, the spirit of the Lord's
mouth, may come through a thousand channels. Even blasphemous infidelity may be
one of the agencies and we believe it is the truth uttered, though mixed, which
is the secret of power against Babylon--with respect to human rights and
equality. R757:4
And shall destroy -- All willful sinners, and all who will not hear his voice,
his command, his instructions. F398
Let no one hastily infer a
peaceable conversion of the nations, for this and many scriptures teach the
opposite. (Rev. 19:15; Rev. 11:17, 18; Dan. 12:1; Psa. 149 and 47) B101
With the brightness -- Greek: epiphania; bright shining; manifestation. C39;
R2979:2,6, 307:4
Light and knowledge will so
increase that all forms of error and evil will be finally dispelled by the
bright shining of the present one. We may expect vengeance to begin in October
(1881). While it will not be hindered after October, yet great results need not
be looked for in a day. R247:6
Of his coming -- Greek: parousia; presence. B159, 270; C39; R3082:3,
2979:1,6, 2001:5, 1363:1
Of the present one. R711:2, 247:6,
124:1
2 Thessalonians 2:9
Even him -- These words, supplied by the translators, and not in the
original text, tend to obscure the sense of this passage. R1363:2
Whose coming -- Christ's parousia (presence). R1363:1, 1693:1
Is after -- Greek: kata; is with, or accompanied by, as the same word
is rendered in Mark 1:27; 1 Cor. 2:1; Eph. 6:6. B359; R1363:1,2
The working -- An energetic operation. (Satanic energy and action.) B359
Of Satan -- One of many scriptures which refer to this Adversary whose
very existence is now denied by many. F609
The Apostle was a firm believer in
a personal devil, and a Bible study of his teachings on this subject would be
profitable when Christian Scientists and others deny the existence of the
Adversary. R3165:6
The prime mover in the evils of
this present time, and especially active in this hour of temptation. R2793:2
He will not yield peaceably to the
new rule; but must be overthrown by Christ after a violent struggle. R3119:6
And lying wonders -- Healing and miracles. F639
The fallen angels, spirit mediums.
R3742:4
Out of the church of Rome have
sprung the various minor systems. R767:1
"Seducing spirits and
doctrines of devils." (1 Tim. 4:1; Eph. 6:11-13; 2 Pet. 3:17; Matt. 24:24)
R2189:3, 2173:4, 1643:2
2 Thessalonians 2:10
Of unrighteousness -- Untruth. R2891:3
Satan will be granted by the Lord
special power in the end of this age, and as a result there will be special,
severe testings upon the people of God; many will fall away from a Christian
profession and a nominal faith. SM325:1
Satan himself is aware that
nothing that is wholly false could succeed. (2
Cor. 11:14) SM323:1
The first question to be asked
respecting any matter is: Is it true or is it false? To tamper with error after
we see it to be error is to lay a trap for our spiritual feet. R2891:3; F264
Received not the love of the
truth -- With a proper zeal. R4194:3
But in the love of self. R3138:5
Loved the error rather than the
light. SM326:1; R1643:2, 1356:3
Rather the love of building up a
denomination; the love of soliciting money for a denomination; and the love of
certain ideas of their own. R5800:4
After coming to a knowledge of the
truth, they do not love it so as to be willing to die for it. R1356:3
They that receive the truth in the
love of it will surely serve it with all the decision they can command. R2950:4
They who on receiving truth ponder
long whether it will cost too much, give evidence that their love for the truth
is not great enough. Such must cultivate love for the truth until it outweighs
all other things else they will not be fit for the Kingdom. R2950:4
The Lord will not permit those who
receive the truth in the love of it to be turned aside. But he would send
strong delusions to those who receive it from any other motive, or for any
other reason. R5800:4
If sincere love for the truth,
honesty of thought and deed, be yielded, sacrificed to pride, ambition,
vain-glory, or any other thing, the result will be a loss of Present Truth.
R3847:4
They are not worthy of it. R2275:1
To the listless and selfish who
are not grossly wicked, the truth is only made a minister to pride and
selfishness, and hence it is the will of God that all such should lose it.
R1950:1
2 Thessalonians 2:11
And for this cause -- Evidently these words were a prophecy concerning the
present Harvest time. Doubtless they apply primarily to the Church and will
later apply also to Babylon and the unregenerate world. "Judgment must
begin at the house of God." (1 Pet. 4:17) R4514:3
Shall send them -- Permit to come upon them. R2274:6 Speaking of this evil
day, a certain class may believe a lie, because they were not honest, but acted
deceptively, hypocritically. Probably the most valuable trait of character is
honesty. R5098:3
The Harvest time, especially the
closing years of the Harvest. R4583:2
All, in the end of the Gospel age,
who, having been favored with the Word of God, have failed to appreciate and
use it. R2174:4, 3847:5, 3490:3
For the purpose of sifting and
separating the true from the false among those who have named the name of
Christ. OV294:1; R3209:3
To gather the tares. OV297:4;
R3209:3 Upon many in the nominal church. R2540:1, 3490:3, 2274:6
The church in general. R4167:5
Not only nominal Christendom, but
upon those who have been specially favored with the light of truth now shining.
R4583:2
The intimation is that the
severity of the testing will come first to the saints. R4583:3
Strong delusion -- That which, from certain standpoints, has the appearance of
truth. R2274:2
Literally, a frenzy of delusion.
R4514:2
Of Satanic wrath and power.
R1949:3
God not only permits, but also
desires, that the faith of his professed people should be severely tried.
R1949:6, 5990:4, 5800:4, 1280:1
A working of deception--Spiritism.
Fallen angels transformed to appear as angels of light and progress. F639;
R2174:5
The success of strong
organizations; such as Papacy, Methodism, Spiritism, Theosophy, Christian
Science, Church Federation. F200; R4583:2, 1736:4
The modern Satanic gift of tongues
is one of the many delusions of our day. R3941:5
Putting light for darkness, and
darkness for light. R3119:6
Christian Science, mind-cure
teachers, Satan masquerading as the champion of pure thoughts and righteous
living. SM326:1
Giving them over, permitting them
to believe, the lie which they preferred, and to suffer for missing the Truth
which they did not love. SM238:2
Persistence in that which in the
beginning, at least, was clearly recognized as wrong; but which, through
self-will persisted in, subsequently became a gross deception. F166
Because the Christian world
received not the truth in the love of it, God sent these delusions that it
should be condemned thereby. R5652:4; OV294:1
The pestilence (moral and spiritual)
that walketh in darkness that spreads and makes its victims among those who are
ignorant of the truth, or who are unfaithful to it and hence unworthy of it.
(Psa. 91:6) R3332:1
The Adversary is permitted to
bring strong delusions upon the Lord's people for the very purpose of sifting
out all not truly his. (Mal. 3:17) R3125:2, 5800:4
These delusions will have
wonderful power upon the world of mankind and especially in Christendom, which
will gain power during the next few years. The delusions will have their power
because God's people have not been sufficiently awake to the privileges of
Bible study. R4583:2
Great delusions are just before
us, and some of these may come closest upon those possessing the most light of
Present Truth. (Matt. 24:26, 27) Had it been foretold precisely what form these
deceptions would take, this would have somewhat hindered their deceptive power.
D581
Surely the proposed
union--vitalizing the Protestant image and bringing it into accord with the
Papal (beast) system, is a master-stroke of Satan and one of the strong
delusions of this time foretold by the Apostle. R1474:6
That they -- A certain class, who acted deceptively, hypocritically.
R5098:3
Those who, having been brought in
contact with the truth, either resist it, or by failure to follow the true
light loyally, show that they are unworthy of it. R2033:5
No doubt some who will be of the
Great Company will be more or less deceived of the Adversary by the strong
delusions of this hour. R4583:6
Should believe a lie -- And depart from the truth. R3125:2
A disloyal condition of heart may
be meant which would apply to every form of truth and correspondingly apply to
various lies. R4514:3
The demons are constantly striving
to perpetuate the lie of Genesis 3:4, "Ye shall not surely die." They
will now be permitted to personate the dead so successfully as to be a strong
delusion. R3490:4, 5909:6
Whoever would come under the
influence of the teaching of Satan and his fallen host would think of a dead
man as really advanced to a higher station instead of having fallen into death.
Other errors could be introduced, such as purgatory. OV301:3
The poor world, lacking wisdom
from on high, misled by its trusted scientific and theological teachings, is
rapidly coming under the power of the evil spirits. R4404:4
2 Thessalonians 2:12
They all -- Those who having once heard and understood the truth,
turned from it, rejected it. R2274:6
Those who fall. SM567:2; R3941:5
Might be damned -- Condemned. SM326:1; R3941:5, 3490:3, 3125:2, 2274:5,6, 2174:5,
1869:5, 1766:4, 606:4; Q166:2
Might be judged unworthy to share
the Millennial Kingdom, as joint-heirs with Christ. B359; R2813:3, 2274:2;
Q166:2
Be manifested as not right--as out
of harmony with God. SM567:2; R3941:5, 1766:4
Who believed not -- Manifesting that they were not worthy of the glorious
things which God has in reservation for those who love righteousness and hate
iniquity. SM326:1
Had pleasure in
unrighteousness -- The preceding
verses show that the reference here is to the development of the Man of
Sin--Papacy. Those who were instrumental in introducing this system sought to
pervert the truth for their own selfish ends. R606:4
Greek: adikia; untruth, deception,
hypocrisy, two-facedness. R1363:2, 3181:3, 3941:5; SM105:T
Injustice. R1766:4
Doctrinal or practical. R2174:5
Not necessarily in gross
unrighteousness, such as crime, but often a desire for a little more liberty of
self-will instead of close conformity to the divine will. R2274:6
The great majority have followed
Satan, the opponent of God. R5910:1
2 Thessalonians 2:13
From the beginning -- God foreknew and fore-arranged that those should be chosen
to this high calling who, believing the truth, would be sanctified by it. This
implies the searching for truth as for hid treasures. R475:6
Chosen you -- The saints, not the nominal church. A299; R2538:5, 25:1*
This peculiar people is a new and
chosen generation. Or in other words, having believed the message of salvation
and gratefully accepted, they were chosen of God. R1567:2, 3621:2
Through sanctification of
the Spirit -- The sanctification
movement among Methodists is not the same as the high calling. Sanctification
means, set apart, or, separated. The only sanctification recognized in
Scripture is a sanctification of the spirit (mind) through the belief of the
truth. R377:3, 475:6
Consecration of their hearts or
minds. R831:4
A complete setting apart to the
divine will and service. R1950:5
The divine spirit is the
sanctifier, and the Word of Truth is the instrument. R197:3*
2 Thessalonians 2:14
Gospel -- It is the voice of God by Jesus Christ proclaiming glad
tidings of the coming Kingdom. R810:3*
Of the glory of our Lord -- Pre-eminence over all other classes, all other stations, in
earth or in heaven. Exalted far above angels and granted the divine nature.
(Rom. 2:7; 1 Cor. 15:53; 1 John 3:2, 3; 1 Cor. 1:26, 27; 2 Peter 1:4) This is
the glorious inheritance of Zion, and this promotion can be received from no
other quarter than God himself, on his own terms. R5711:1
"The far more exceeding and
eternal weight of glory." (2 Cor. 4:17; 1 John 3:2; Col. 1:27; John 17:22;
1 Peter 5:10) R5684:5; A211
"Partaker of the divine
nature." (2 Peter 1:4; 1 John 3:2; Rev. 21:2, 9; 22:17; 1 Cor. 10:16, 17;
12:12, 13, 27) R5748:6
Referring to our intimate
relationship to our Head. "If we suffer with him we shall also reign with
him." (2 Tim. 2:12) T80
2 Thessalonians 2:15
Traditions -- Teachings of the Scriptures and Paul's own instructions.
Q747:2
2 Thessalonians 2:16
Hath loved us -- God's special love and provision for his saints as
distinguished from the world. R1254:5
2 Thessalonians 2:17
Word and work -- Give earnest heed to opportunities for service, and
consider that the information has been given us that we may impart it to
others--to those brethren and sisters of the Lord's family, some of whom are in
Babylon yet. R4685:5
2 Thessalonians 3
2 Thessalonians 3:2
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
2 Thessalonians 3:5
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*
2 Thessalonians 3:6
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
2 Thessalonians 3:9
Power -- Authority as the appointed apostles of the Lord to demand
support. R2500:6
2 Thessalonians 3:10
Would not work -- Many are bold to pray for what they will not work for. F651
2 Thessalonians 3:11
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
2 Thessalonians 3:14
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
2 Thessalonians 3:15
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