2 Thessalonians 3

Paul asks for prayer that the word of the Lord may “speed ahead and be honored,” and that he be delivered from wicked men, affirming that “the Lord is faithful. He will establish you and guard you against the evil one.” He then turns to the idle: they are to keep away from any brother “walking in idleness,” for Paul himself had modeled hard work, laboring night and day so as not to burden anyone. He recalls his rule, “If anyone is not willing to work, let him not eat,” and commands the idle busybodies “to do their work quietly and to earn their own living.” The church is not to “grow weary in doing good,” but to warn the disorderly as a brother, not an enemy. Paul closes with a prayer for peace “at all times in every way,” a greeting in his own hand as the mark of genuineness, and grace.