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.

People's New Testament

3:1 Closing Admonitions

SUMMARY OF II THESSALONIANS 3:

A Request for Prayer. A Command to Withdraw from the Disorderly. An Admonition to the Idle. The Salutation with His Own Hand.

Pray for us. How often Paul makes this request in his letters! Compare 1Th 5:25 Eph 6:19 Col 4:3.

That the word of the Lord. He asks no prayers for his own ease, or worldly prosperity, but that he may be helped in his work of the gospel.

Have free course. Not be hindered by opposition which might prevent success. When in bonds he rejoiced that the word of the Lord was not bound (2Ti 2:9).

Be glorified. By its powers to save. See Ac 13:48.

Wesley's Notes

3:1 May run - Go on swiftly, without any interruption. And be glorified - Acknowledged as divine, and bring forth much fruit.

King James Translators' Notes

have...: Gr. run

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

CHAPTER 3

2Th 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.

1. 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 (Ps 147:15). The opposite is the word of God being "bound" (2Ti 2:9).

glorified-by sinners accepting it (Ac 13:48; Ga 1:23, 24). Contrast "evil spoken of" (1Pe 4:14).

as it is with you-(1Th 1:6; 4:10; 5:11).

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary

3:1-5 Those who are far apart still may meet together at the throne of grace; and those not able to do or receive any other kindness, may in this way do and receive real and very great kindness. Enemies to the preaching of the gospel, and persecutors of its faithful preachers, are unreasonable and wicked men. Many do not believe the gospel; and no wonder if such are restless and show malice in their endeavours to oppose it. The evil of sin is the greatest evil, but there are other evils we need to be preserved from, and we have encouragement to depend upon the grace of God. When once the promise is made, the performance is sure and certain. The apostle had confidence in them, but that was founded upon his confidence in God; for there is otherwise no confidence in man. He prays for them for spiritual blessings. It is our sin and our misery, that we place our affections upon wrong objects. There is not true love of God, without faith in Jesus Christ. If, by the special grace of God, we have that faith which multitudes have not, we should earnestly pray that we may be enabled, without reserve, to obey his commands, and that we may be enabled, without reserve, to the love of God, and the patience of Christ.