 |  |
"Finally, brethren, pray for us, that the Word of the Lord may have free course (run
R.V.) and be glorified, even as it is with you" (3: 1).
The tense of the verb `pray' is present and means `keep on praying'. Spasmodic
intercession for others is useless. Effective praying is a work, a labour, as Epaphras well
knew (Col. 4: 12), and must be persisted in to be of lasting value. It costs both in time
and strength. The Apostle Paul knew only too well the opposition of the evil one,
working largely through his Jewish opponents, and so he asks that the Word of truth may
`run' (R.V.) unhindered and be glorified in carrying out the purpose of its Divine Author.
This running reminds one of Psa. 147: 15:
"His Word runneth very swiftly."
In this context we get one more example of the blending of prayer with the
outworking of God's plan. From one angle we might say that surely it was God's will for
His Word to run and prosper and all hindrances to be removed. Yet Paul did not hesitate
to call for prayer that this might be realized in practice. Such praying is greatly needed
today, for the blocks that Satan seeks to put in the pathway of the Word of Truth are no
less at the present time than they were at the beginning. Lightfoot translates the phrase
`may run and be glorified', `may have a triumphant career'. This had already happened
at Thessalonica and so Paul could add `even as it is with you'. We note too that both the
verbs in the verse under consideration are in the present subjunctive tense, `may keep on
running and being glorified', that is, a continual experience, and we too today can use this
prayer effectively.
Paul now makes a second and more personal request:
"And that we may be delivered from unreasonable and wicked men: for all men have
not faith" (3: 2).
"Deliver" is ruomai, to rescue, which occurs so graphically in Col. 1: 13 where we
are said to be rescued (delivered A.V.) from the authority of darkness. `Unreasonable' is
atopos, literally out of place, and then comes to mean `perverse'. The Apostle is
referring to his Jewish opponents who dogged his footsteps wherever he went and
violently opposed the truth proclaimed by him `for all men have not faith'. This means
either faith in Christ, or do not hold the faith--faith being equivalent to truth; either is
possible. The last word in the sentence is pistis faith. The next word is pistos faithful,
there being a play upon words to bring into contrast the faithfulness of the Lord. He can
be relied on however perverse men may be. "Faithful is the Lord, who will confirm
(establish) you and will guard you from the evil one." The A.V. reads impersonally
`evil', but the R.V. the `evil one', i.e. Satan, and this promise is for the comfort of the
Thessalonian believers.
Paul is assured that they carry out his commands and will continue to do so (verse 4).
Here is a note of apostolic authority, yet with love behind it.
"And the Lord direct your hearts into the love of God, and into the patience of Christ"
(3: 5 R.V.).