From his high expectations of the Advent, the Apostle turns to the prosaic commonplaces of daily toil. There was need for this, because the expectation of the speedy return of Christ was disarranging the ordinary course of life and duty. People were neglecting the common round of daily tasks, and idlers were imposing on Christian generosity. Against these the Apostle sets his own example of sitting far into the night at his tent-making. See 1 Thessalonians 2:9. The best attitude for those that look for their Lord is not in pressing their faces against the oriel window, to behold the chariot of their returning Master, but in plying their toil with deft hands and consecrated hearts.
Note that parting salutation, 2 Thessalonians 3:16, and let us believe that the God of peace is causing peace for us at all times and in all ways. Even storms are forwarding our boat to its haven, and we shall be borne in with the flood tide of His mercy. Every wind is a home wind to the child of God, setting in from the quarter of His love. Every messenger, however garbed, brings God's salutation and benediction [source]
Chapter Summary: 2 th 3
1Paul craves their prayers for himself; 3testifies what confidence he has in them; 5makes request to God in their behalf; 6gives them various precepts, especially to shun idleness, and ill company; 16and then concludes with prayer and salutation
Greek Commentary for 2 Thessalonians 3:13
But ye, brethren, be not weary in well-doing [υμεις δε αδελποι μη ενκακησητε καλοποιουντες] Emphatic position of εν κακος humeis in contrast to these piddlers. καλοποιεω Mē and the aorist subjunctive is a prohibition against beginning an act (Robertson, Grammar, pp. 851-4). It is a late verb and means to behave badly in, to be cowardly, to lose courage, to flag, to faint, It occurs in Polybius. The late verb αγατοποιεω kalopoieō to do the fair (kalos) or honourable thing occurs nowhere else in the N.T., but is in the lxx and a late papyrus. Paul uses to kalon poiein in 2 Corinthians 13:7; Galatians 6:9; Romans 7:21 with the same idea. He has agathopoieō to do good, in 1 Timothy 6:18. [source]
Be not weary [ἐντραπῇ] With one exception, Luke 13:1, only in Paul. To faint or lose heart. [source]
Well doing [καλοποιοῦντες] N.T.oAccording to the Greek idiom, doing well, be not weary. Not limited to works of charity, but including Christian conduct generally, as, for instance, steadily attending to their own business, 2 Thessalonians 3:12. [source]
Reverse Greek Commentary Search for 2 Thessalonians 3:13
Galatians 6:9Let us not be weary in well-doing [το καλον ποιουντες μη ενκακωμεν] Volitive present active subjunctive of ενκακεω enkakeō on which see note on Luke 18:1; note on 2 Thessalonians 3:13; note on 2 Corinthians 4:1,2 Corinthians 4:16. Literally, “Let us not keep on giving in to evil while doing the good.” It is curious how prone we are to give in and to give out in doing the good which somehow becomes prosy or insipid to us. [source]
Ephesians 3:13That ye faint not [μη ενκακειν] Object infinitive with μη mē after αιτουμαι aitoumai The infinitive (present active) ενκακειν enkakein is a late and rare word (see already Luke 18:1; 2 Thessalonians 3:13; 2 Corinthians 4:1,2 Corinthians 4:16; Galatians 6:9) and means to behave badly in, to give in to evil Paul urges all his apostolic authority to keep the readers from giving in to evil because of his tribulations for them. [source]
What do the individual words in 2 Thessalonians 3:13 mean?
Greek Commentary for 2 Thessalonians 3:13
Emphatic position of εν κακος humeis in contrast to these piddlers. καλοποιεω Mē and the aorist subjunctive is a prohibition against beginning an act (Robertson, Grammar, pp. 851-4). It is a late verb and means to behave badly in, to be cowardly, to lose courage, to flag, to faint, It occurs in Polybius. The late verb αγατοποιεω kalopoieō to do the fair (kalos) or honourable thing occurs nowhere else in the N.T., but is in the lxx and a late papyrus. Paul uses to kalon poiein in 2 Corinthians 13:7; Galatians 6:9; Romans 7:21 with the same idea. He has agathopoieō to do good, in 1 Timothy 6:18. [source]
With one exception, Luke 13:1, only in Paul. To faint or lose heart. [source]
N.T.oAccording to the Greek idiom, doing well, be not weary. Not limited to works of charity, but including Christian conduct generally, as, for instance, steadily attending to their own business, 2 Thessalonians 3:12. [source]
Reverse Greek Commentary Search for 2 Thessalonians 3:13
Lit. faint or lose heart. Comp. 2 Thessalonians 3:13. [source]
Volitive present active subjunctive of ενκακεω enkakeō on which see note on Luke 18:1; note on 2 Thessalonians 3:13; note on 2 Corinthians 4:1, 2 Corinthians 4:16. Literally, “Let us not keep on giving in to evil while doing the good.” It is curious how prone we are to give in and to give out in doing the good which somehow becomes prosy or insipid to us. [source]
Object infinitive with μη mē after αιτουμαι aitoumai The infinitive (present active) ενκακειν enkakein is a late and rare word (see already Luke 18:1; 2 Thessalonians 3:13; 2 Corinthians 4:1, 2 Corinthians 4:16; Galatians 6:9) and means to behave badly in, to give in to evil Paul urges all his apostolic authority to keep the readers from giving in to evil because of his tribulations for them. [source]