Глава 3

2 Thess. 3:1. Pray therefore for us, brethren, that the word of the Lord may spread and be glorified, as it is with you. 2 Sol.3:2. And so that we can get rid of disorderly and crafty people, for not everyone has faith. “Otherwise, pray for us, brothers, that the word of the Lord may flow and be glorified as it is in you, and that we may be delivered from evil and wicked people.” Apparently, there are two petitions here, but they constitute one, because when the evil people are defeated, then the word of preaching will flow unchecked. “Not everyone has faith.” The Apostle said this in another place: “the controversy is not of Him who called” (Gal. 5:8). For it is God’s work to call, and ours to obey. So the Lord in the Holy Gospel said: “If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink” (John 7:37), and: “If anyone wants to follow Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me” (Luke 9:23); because he does not force out of necessity, but seeks good will. 2 Sol.3:3. But the Lord is faithful, who will strengthen you and keep you from the evil one. “But the Lord is faithful, He will establish you and keep you from the evil one.” The apostle rewarded the prayer he asked for with prayer. 2 Sol.3:4. We are confident about you in the Lord, that you do and will do what we command you. “We trust in the Lord for you, as we command you, do and do.” And he said this as an incentive to them, so that, having learned what the Apostle’s opinion was about them, they would confirm it by deeds. 2 Sol.3:5. May the Lord direct your hearts into the love of God and into the patience of Christ. “May the Lord straighten your hearts into the love of God and into the patience of Christ.” You need both: good intentions and assistance from above. The Prophet also begged for this: “Make my steps in Your paths, so that my steps may not move” (Ps. 16:5). The Divine Apostle showed us the Trinity, for he named the Lord and God and Christ; and it is clear that he called the All-Holy Spirit Lord. So in his Epistle to the Corinthians he wrote: “But the Lord is the Spirit” (2 Cor. 3:17). Here we are finally talking about those who violate the apostolic definitions. 2 Sol.3:6. We command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, to distance yourself from every brother who acts disorderly, and not according to the tradition that was received from us. “We command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.” He made the word reliable as a reminder of the Lord. For He, says the Apostle, legitimizes this through us. What is the command? “You must be separated from every brother who walks in lawlessness, and not according to tradition, which he received from us.” He said: “to leave”, instead of: to separate. Tradition is understood not in words, but in deeds. And he explains what kind of legend it is. 2 Sol.3:7. For you yourselves know how you should imitate us; for we did not commit outrages among you. “You yourself know how foolishly it is to be like us: for it is not because of your atrocities.” What does disorder mean? 2 Sol.3:8. They did not eat anyone’s bread for free, but they labored and labored night and day, so as not to burden any of you. 2 Sol.3:9. Not because we do not have power, but to give ourselves to you as a model for us to follow. “Below the flesh of anyone’s bread is death, but one who labors and strives night and day, so that we do not burden anyone with you.” You know full well that, having brought the Divine Gospel to you, we did not take anything from anyone, but we spent day and night in labor in order to thereby acquire what we needed for food. Then, making it clear that this was beyond the Divine law, he added: “Not as if we were not the imams of power, but to give ourselves the image of a lady to you, so that you may become like us.” So in the Epistle to the Corinthians he wrote: “Are food not the imams of the authority to eat and drink?” (1 Cor. 9:4) and: “The Lord commanded those who preach the gospel to live by the gospel” (1 Cor. 9:14). 2 Thess. 3:10. For when we were with you, we commanded you this: if anyone does not want to work, he should not eat. “For when I was with you, I bequeathed this to you, because if anyone does not want to do it, let him eat.” What we are writing to you is not new, but what we were taught from the beginning. And this: “below and eat”, the Apostle said not to those who give, but to those living in idleness. And in a few words he gives advice to those who give, not to look at bad behavior, but to show their characteristic generosity. 2 Sol.3:11. But we hear that some among you act disorderly, do nothing, but fuss. “We hear some people walking around you disorderly, doing nothing, but going around craftily.” For those who live in idleness are characterized by idle talk, talkativeness, and useless curiosity. 2 Sol.3:12. We admonish and convince such people by our Lord Jesus Christ, so that they, working in silence, eat their bread. “We forbid such people and pray in our Lord Jesus Christ, that they who work in silence may eat their own bread.” Thus, having prescribed by law for some to be engaged in business and silence, he advises others to be guided by philanthropy. 2 Sol.3:13. But you, brothers, do not lose heart in doing good. “But you, brothers, do not be discouraged from doing good.” Let their bad behavior not prevail over your generosity. 2 Sol.3:14. If anyone does not listen to our words in this message, take note of him and do not communicate with him in order to shame him. 2 Sol.3:15. But do not consider him an enemy, but admonish him as a brother. “If anyone does not listen to our word by message, signify this and do not interfere with him, so that he will be put to shame: and do not have him as an enemy, but punish him as a brother.” Those who have been entrusted with the helm of the Church should pay attention to this rule. The Divine Apostle did not forbid those who sinned to provide bodily services. He deprived them of spiritual freedom, but did not order them to be considered worthy of caring for them. For he says: “Do not have him as an enemy, but punish him as a brother.” They are like sick members in the body; and we usually try to heal such members in a decent way. 2 Sol.3:16. May the Lord of peace Himself always give you peace in everything. The Lord is with you all! 2 Sol.3:17. Greeting with my hand, Paul's, which serves as a sign in every epistle; I write like this. “May the Lord of peace Himself give you peace in every way.” So that you can be at peace with Him and with each other and get rid of the machinations of your opponents. For this means: “in every way: the Lord is with you all.” I write a kiss to Paul with my hand, which is a sign in every epistle.” The Apostle called the blessing attached at the end “kissing.” 2 Sol.3:18. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen. “The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen." And the Apostle added this for the sake of those who dared to spread false messages, teaching them to look to see if there is the signature of the Apostle; for this, he says, is the sign of our messages. In every message I write a kiss. Therefore, we learn from this that this: “The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen”, usually write instead: be healthy. And we, having received the apostolic blessing, will glorify Christ, who spoke through the Apostle. With Him be glory and splendor to the Father and the All-Holy Spirit, now and always and unto the ages of ages! Amen. Second Epistle to the Thessalonians was written from Athens. You might be interested in: