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2 Thessalonians 3:1

New American Standard Bible (NASB ©1995) [2]
— Finally, brethren, pray for us that the word of the Lord will spread rapidly and be glorified, just as [it did] also with you;
King James Version (KJV 1769) [2]
— Finally, brethren, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may have [free] course, and be glorified, even as [it is] with you:
English Revised Version (ERV 1885)
— Finally, brethren, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may run and be glorified, even as also [it is] with you;
American Standard Version (ASV 1901) [2]
— Finally, brethren, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may run and be glorified, even as also [it is] with you;
Webster's Revision of the KJB (WEB 1833)
— Finally, brethren, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may have [free] course, and be glorified, even as [it is] with you;
Darby's Translation (DBY 1890)
— For the rest, brethren, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may run and be glorified, even as also with you;
Rotherham's Emphasized Bible (EBR 1902)
— For the rest, brethren, be praying for us,—that, the word of the Lord, may be running, and gaining glory, according as [it did] even with you;
Young's Literal Translation (YLT 1898)
— As to the rest, pray ye, brethren, concerning us, that the word of the Lord may run and may be glorified, as also with you,
Douay-Rheims Challoner Revision (DR 1750)
— For the rest, brethren, pray for us that the word of God may run and may be glorified, even as among you:
Geneva Bible (GNV 1560)
— Fvrthermore, brethren, pray for vs, that the worde of the Lorde may haue free passage and be glorified, euen as it is with you,
Original King James Bible (AV 1611) [2]
— Finally, brethren, pray for vs, that the word of the Lord may haue free course, and be glorified, euen as [it is] with you:
Lamsa Bible (1957)
— FINALLY, brethren, pray for us, that the word of our Lord may spread freely and be glorified in every place even as it is among you,
John Etheridge Peshitta-Aramaic NT (1849)
— Henceforth, my brethren, pray for us, that the word of our Lord may run and be glorified in every place, as among you.
James Murdock Peshitta-Aramaic NT (1852)
— Henceforth, brethren, pray ye for us, that the word of our Lord may, in every place, run and be glorified, as with you;

Strong's Numbers & Red-LettersGreek New TestamentColor-Code/Key Word Studies
Finally, 3063
{3063} Prime
λοιπόν
loipon
{loy-pon'}
Neuter singular of the same as G3062; something remaining (adverb).
brethren, 80
{0080} Prime
ἀδελφός
adelphos
{ad-el-fos'}
From G0001 (as a connective particle) and δελφύς [[delphus]] (the womb); a brother (literally or figuratively) near or remote (much like [H0001]).
pray 4336
{4336} Prime
προσεύχομαι
proseuchomai
{pros-yoo'-khom-ahee}
From G4314 and G2172; to pray to God, that is, supplicate, worship.
z5737
<5737> Grammar
Tense - Present (See G5774)
Voice - Middle or Passive Deponent (See G5790)
Mood - Imperative (See G5794)
Count - 152
for 4012
{4012} Prime
περί
peri
{per-ee'}
From the base of G4008; properly through (all over), that is, around; figuratively with respect to; used in various applications, of place, cause or time (with the genitive case denoting the subject or occasion or superlative point; with the accusative case the locality, circuit, matter, circumstance or general period).
us, 2257
{2257} Prime
ἡμῶν
hemon
{hay-mone'}
Genitive plural of G1473; of (or from) us.
that 2443
{2443} Prime
ἵνα
hina
{hin'-ah}
Probably from the same as the former part of G1438 (through the demonstrative idea; compare G3588); in order that (denoting the purpose or the result).
the x3588
(3588) Complement

ho
{ho}
The masculine, feminine (second) and neuter (third) forms, in all their inflections; the definite article; the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in English idiom).
word 3056
{3056} Prime
λόγος
logos
{log'-os}
From G3004; something said (including the thought); by implication a topic (subject of discourse), also reasoning (the mental faculty) or motive; by extension a computation; specifically (with the article in John) the Divine Expression (that is, Christ).
of the x3588
(3588) Complement

ho
{ho}
The masculine, feminine (second) and neuter (third) forms, in all their inflections; the definite article; the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in English idiom).
Lord 2962
{2962} Prime
κύριος
kurios
{koo'-ree-os}
From κῦρος [[kuros]] (supremacy); supreme in authority, that is, (as noun) controller; by implication Mr. (as a respectful title).
may have [free] course, 5143
{5143} Prime
τρέχω
trecho
{trekh'-o}
Apparently a primary verb (properly θρέχω [[threcho]]; compare G2359); which uses δρέμω [[dremo]], {drem'-o} (the base of G1408) as an alternate in certain tenses; to run or walk hastily (literally or figuratively).
z5725
<5725> Grammar
Tense - Present (See G5774)
Voice - Active (See G5784)
Mood - Subjunctive (See G5792)
Count - 352
and 2532
{2532} Prime
καί
kai
{kahee}
Apparently a primary particle, having a copulative and sometimes also a cumulative force; and, also, even, so, then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words.
be glorified, 1392
{1392} Prime
δοξάζω
doxazo
{dox-ad'-zo}
From G1391; to render (or esteem) glorious (in a wide application).
z5747
<5747> Grammar
Tense - Present (See G5774)
Voice - Passive (See G5786)
Mood - Subjunctive (See G5792)
Count - 18
even 2532
{2532} Prime
καί
kai
{kahee}
Apparently a primary particle, having a copulative and sometimes also a cumulative force; and, also, even, so, then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words.
as 2531
{2531} Prime
καθώς
kathos
{kath-oce'}
From G2596 and G5613; just (or inasmuch) as, that.
[it is] with 4314
{4314} Prime
πρός
pros
{pros}
A strengthened form of G4253; a preposition of direction; forward to, that is, toward (with the genitive case the side of, that is, pertaining to; with the dative case by the side of, that is, near to; usually with the accusative case the place, time, occasion, or respect, which is the destination of the relation, that is, whither or for which it is predicated).
you: 5209
{5209} Prime
ὑμᾶς
humas
{hoo-mas'}
Accusative of G5210; you (as the object of a verb or preposition).
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Commentary

2 Thessalonians 3:1

_ _ 2 Thessalonians 3:1-18. He asks their prayers: His confidence in them: Prayer for them: Charges against disorderly idle conduct; his own example: Concluding prayer and salutation.

_ _ Finally — literally, “As to what remains.”

_ _ may have free course — literally, “may run”; spread rapidly without a drag on the wheels of its course. That the new-creating word may “run,” as “swiftly” as the creative word at the first (Psalms 147:15). The opposite is the word of God being “bound” (2 Timothy 2:9).

_ _ glorified — by sinners accepting it (Acts 13:48; Galatians 1:23, Galatians 1:24). Contrast “evil spoken of” (1 Peter 4:14).

_ _ as it is with you — (1 Thessalonians 1:6; 1 Thessalonians 4:10; 1 Thessalonians 5:11).

Matthew Henry's Commentary

2 Thessalonians 3:1-5

_ _ In these words observe,

_ _ I. The apostle desires the prayers of his friends: Finally, brethren, pray for us, 2 Thessalonians 3:1. He always remembered them in his prayers, and would not have them forget him and his fellow-labourers, but bear them on their hearts at the throne of grace. Note, 1. This is one way by which the communion of saints is kept us, not only by their praying together, or with one another, but by their praying for one another when they are absent one from another. And thus those who are at great distance may meet together at the throne of grace; and thus those who are not capable of doing or receiving any other kindness may yet this way do and receive real and very great kindness. 2. It is the duty of people to pray for their ministers; and not only for their own pastors, but also for all good and faithful ministers. And, 3. Ministers need, and therefore should desire, the prayers of their people. How remarkable is the humility, and how engaging the example, of this great apostle, who was so mighty in prayer himself, and yet despised not the prayers of the meanest Christian, but desired an interest in them. Observe, further, what they are desired and directed to pray for; namely, (1.) For the success of the gospel ministry: That the word of the Lord may have free course, and be glorified, 2 Thessalonians 3:1. This was the great thing that Paul was most solicitous about. He was more solicitous that God's name might be sanctified, his kingdom advanced, and his will done, than he was about his own daily bread. He desired that the word of the Lord might run (so it is in the original), that it might get ground, that the interest of religion in the world might go forward and not backward, and not only go forward, but go apace. All the forces of hell were then, and still are, more or less, raised and mustered to oppose the word of the Lord, to hinder its publication and success. We should pray, therefore, that oppositions may be removed, that so the gospel, may have free course to the ears, the hearts, and the consciences of men, that it may be glorified in the conviction and conversion of sinners, the confutation, of gainsayers, and the holy conversation of the saints. God, who magnified the law, and made it honourable, will glorify the gospel, and make that honourable, and so will glorify his own name; and good ministers and good Christians may very well be contented to be little, to be any thing, to be nothing, if Christ be magnified and his gospel be glorified. Paul was now at Athens, or, as some think, at Corinth, and would have the Thessalonians pray that he might have as good success there as he had at Thessalonica, that it might be as well with others even as it was with them. Note, If ministers have been successful in one place, they should desire to be successful in every place where they may preach the gospel. (2.) For the safety of gospel ministers. He asks their prayers, nor for preferment, but for preservation: That we may be delivered from unreasonable and wicked men, 2 Thessalonians 3:2. Note, Those who are enemies to the preaching of the gospel, and persecutors of the faithful preachers of it, are unreasonable and wicked men. They act against all the rules and laws of reason and religion, and are guilty of the greatest absurdity and impiety. Not only in the principles of atheism and infidelity, but also in the practice of the vice and immorality, and especially in persecution, there is the greatest absurdity in the world, as well as impiety. There is need of the spiritual protection, as well as the assistance, of godly and faithful ministers, for these are as the standard-bearers, who are most struck at; and therefore all who wish well to the interest of Christ in the world should pray for them. For all men have not faith; that is, many do not believe the gospel; they will not embrace it themselves, and no wonder if such are restless and malicious in their endeavours to oppose the gospel, decry the ministry, and disgrace the ministers of the word; and too many have not common faith or honesty; there is no confidence that we can safely put in them, and we should pray to be delivered from those who have no conscience nor honour, who never regard what they say or do. We may sometimes be in as much or more danger from false and pretended friends as from open and avowed enemies.

_ _ II. He encourages them to trust in God. We should not only pray to God for his grace, but also place our trust and confidence in his grace, and humbly expect what we pray for. Observe,

_ _ 1. What the good is which we may expect from the grace of God — establishment, and preservation from evil; and the best Christians stand in need of these benefits. (1.) That God would establish them. This the apostle had prayed for on their behalf (2 Thessalonians 2:17), and now he encourages them to expect this favour. We stand no longer than God holds us up; unless he hold up our goings in his paths, our feet will slide, and we shall fall. (2.) That God will keep them from evil. We have as much need of the grace of God for our perseverance to the end as for the beginning of the good work. The evil of sin is the greatest evil, but there are other evils which God will also preserve his saints from — the evil that is in the world, yea, from all evil, to his heavenly kingdom.

_ _ 2. What encouragement we have to depend upon the grace of God: The Lord is faithful. He is faithful to his promises, and is the Lord who cannot lie, who will not alter the thing that has gone out of his mouth. When once the promise therefore is made, performance is sure and certain. He is faithful to his relation, a faithful God and a faithful friend; we may depend upon his filling up all the relations he stands in to his people. Let it be our care to be true and faithful in our promises, and to the relations we stand in to this faithful God. He adds,

_ _ 3. A further ground of hope that God would do this for them, seeing they did and would do the things they were commanded, 2 Thessalonians 3:4. The apostle had this confidence in them, and this was founded upon his confidence in God; for there is otherwise no confidence in man. Their obedience is described by doing what he and his fellow-labourers had commanded them, which was no other thing than the commandments of the Lord; for the apostles themselves had no further commission than to teach men to observe and to do what the Lord had commanded, Matthew 28:20. And as the experience the apostle had of their obedience for the time past was one ground of his confidence that they would do the things commanded them for the time to come, so this is one ground to hope that whatsoever we ask of God we shall receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight, 1 John 3:22.

_ _ III. He makes a short prayer for them, 2 Thessalonians 3:5. It is a prayer for spiritual blessings. Two things of the greatest importance the apostle prays for: — 1. That their hearts may be brought into the love of God, to be in love with God as the most excellent and amiable Being, the best of all beings; and this is not only most reasonable and necessary in order to our happiness, but is our happiness itself; it is a great part of the happiness of heaven itself, where this love shall be made perfect. We can never attain to this unless God by his grace direct our hearts aright, for our love is apt to go astray after other things. Note, We sustain a great deal of damage by misplacing our affections; it is our sin and our misery that we place our affections upon wrong objects. If God directs our love aright upon himself, the rest of the affections will thereby be rectified. 2. That a patient waiting for Christ may be joined with this love of God. There is no true love of God without faith in Jesus Christ. We must wait for Christ, which supposes our faith in him, that we believe he came once in flesh and will come again in glory: and we must expect this second coming of Christ, and be careful to get ready for it; there must be a patient waiting, enduring with courage and constancy all that we may meet with in the mean time: and we have need of patience, and need of divine grace to exercise Christian patience, the patience of Christ (as some read the word), patience for Christ's sake and after Christ's example.

John Wesley's Explanatory Notes

2 Thessalonians 3:1

May run — Go on swiftly, without any interruption. And be glorified — Acknowledged as divine, and bring forth much fruit.

Geneva Bible Translation Notes

2 Thessalonians 3:1

Finally, (1) brethren, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may have [free] course, and be glorified, even as [it is] with you:

(1) He adds now consequently according to his manner, various admonitions: the first of them is, that they pray for the increase and passage of the Gospel, and for the safety of the faithful ministers of it.

Cross-Reference Topical ResearchStrong's Concordance
pray:

Matthew 9:38 Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest.
Luke 10:2 Therefore said he unto them, The harvest truly [is] great, but the labourers [are] few: pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he would send forth labourers into his harvest.
Romans 15:30 Now I beseech you, brethren, for the Lord Jesus Christ's sake, and for the love of the Spirit, that ye strive together with me in [your] prayers to God for me;
2 Corinthians 1:11 Ye also helping together by prayer for us, that for the gift [bestowed] upon us by the means of many persons thanks may be given by many on our behalf.
Ephesians 6:19-20 And for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel, ... For which I am an ambassador in bonds: that therein I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.
Colossians 4:3 Withal praying also for us, that God would open unto us a door of utterance, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in bonds:
1 Thessalonians 5:17 Pray without ceasing.
1 Thessalonians 5:25 Brethren, pray for us.
Hebrews 13:18-19 Pray for us: for we trust we have a good conscience, in all things willing to live honestly. ... But I beseech [you] the rather to do this, that I may be restored to you the sooner.

the word:

Acts 6:7 And the word of God increased; and the number of the disciples multiplied in Jerusalem greatly; and a great company of the priests were obedient to the faith.
Acts 12:24 But the word of God grew and multiplied.
Acts 13:49 And the word of the Lord was published throughout all the region.
Acts 19:20 So mightily grew the word of God and prevailed.
1 Corinthians 16:9 For a great door and effectual is opened unto me, and [there are] many adversaries.
2 Timothy 2:9 Wherein I suffer trouble, as an evil doer, [even] unto bonds; but the word of God is not bound.

have free course:
Gr. run

be:

Psalms 138:2 I will worship toward thy holy temple, and praise thy name for thy lovingkindness and for thy truth: for thou hast magnified thy word above all thy name.
Acts 13:48 And when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad, and glorified the word of the Lord: and as many as were ordained to eternal life believed.

even:

1 Thessalonians 1:5 For our gospel came not unto you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Ghost, and in much assurance; as ye know what manner of men we were among you for your sake.
1 Thessalonians 2:1 For yourselves, brethren, know our entrance in unto you, that it was not in vain:
1 Thessalonians 2:13 For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us, ye received [it] not [as] the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe.
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Chain-Reference Bible SearchCross References with Concordance

Ps 138:2. Mt 9:38. Lk 10:2. Ac 6:7; 12:24; 13:48, 49; 19:20. Ro 15:30. 1Co 16:9. 2Co 1:11. Ep 6:19. Col 4:3. 1Th 1:5; 2:1, 13; 5:17, 25. 2Ti 2:9. He 13:18.

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