2 Thessalonians 3:2
New International Version
And pray that we may be delivered from wicked and evil people, for not everyone has faith.

New Living Translation
Pray, too, that we will be rescued from wicked and evil people, for not everyone is a believer.

English Standard Version
and that we may be delivered from wicked and evil men. For not all have faith.

Berean Standard Bible
And pray that we may be delivered from wicked and evil men; for not everyone holds to the faith.

Berean Literal Bible
and that we may be delivered from perverse and evil men; for not all are of the faith.

King James Bible
And that we may be delivered from unreasonable and wicked men: for all men have not faith.

New King James Version
and that we may be delivered from unreasonable and wicked men; for not all have faith.

New American Standard Bible
and that we will be rescued from troublesome and evil people; for not all have the faith.

NASB 1995
and that we will be rescued from perverse and evil men; for not all have faith.

NASB 1977
and that we may be delivered from perverse and evil men; for not all have faith.

Legacy Standard Bible
and that we will be rescued from perverse and evil men, for not all have faith.

Amplified Bible
and [pray] that we will be rescued from perverse and evil men; for not everyone has the faith.

Christian Standard Bible
and that we may be delivered from wicked and evil people, for not all have faith.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
and that we may be delivered from wicked and evil men, for not all have faith.

American Standard Version
and that we may be delivered from unreasonable and evil men; for all have not faith.

Contemporary English Version
Pray that we may be kept safe from worthless and evil people. After all, not everyone has faith.

English Revised Version
and that we may be delivered from unreasonable and evil men; for all have not faith.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Also pray that we may be rescued from worthless and evil people, since not everyone shares our faith.

Good News Translation
Pray also that God will rescue us from wicked and evil people; for not everyone believes the message.

International Standard Version
Also pray that we may be rescued from worthless and evil people, since not everyone holds to the faith.

Majority Standard Bible
And pray that we may be delivered from wicked and evil men; for not everyone holds to the faith.

NET Bible
and that we may be delivered from perverse and evil people. For not all have faith.

New Heart English Bible
and that we may be delivered from unreasonable and evil people; for not all have faith.

Webster's Bible Translation
And that we may be delivered from unreasonable and wicked men: for all men have not faith.

Weymouth New Testament
and that we may be delivered from wrong-headed and wicked men; for it is not everybody who has faith.

World English Bible
and that we may be delivered from unreasonable and evil men; for not all have faith.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
and that we may be delivered from the unreasonable and evil men, for not all [are] of the faith;

Berean Literal Bible
and that we may be delivered from perverse and evil men; for not all are of the faith.

Young's Literal Translation
and that we may be delivered from the unreasonable and evil men, for the faith is not of all;

Smith's Literal Translation
And that we may be delivered from unfit and evil men: for not faith of all.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And that we may be delivered from importunate and evil men; for all men have not faith.

Catholic Public Domain Version
and so that we may be freed from pertinacious and evil men. For not everyone is faithful.

New American Bible
and that we may be delivered from perverse and wicked people, for not all have faith.

New Revised Standard Version
and that we may be rescued from wicked and evil people; for not all have faith.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And that we may be delivered from evil and unreasonable men: for not every man has faith.

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
And that we would be saved from evil and vicious men, for the faith does not belong to everyone.
NT Translations
Anderson New Testament
and that we may be delivered from wicked and evil men; for all have not the disposition for faith.

Godbey New Testament
and in order that we may be delivered from the ungodly and wicked men; for faith does not belong to all.

Haweis New Testament
and that we may be delivered from unreasonable and wicked men: for there is not faith in all.

Mace New Testament
and that we may be delivered from vexatious wicked men; for all have not the faith.

Weymouth New Testament
and that we may be delivered from wrong-headed and wicked men; for it is not everybody who has faith.

Worrell New Testament
and that we may be delivered from unreasonable and evil men; for not all have the faith.

Worsley New Testament
and that we may be delivered from unreasonable and wicked men; for all have not faith.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Request for Prayer
1Finally, brothers, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may spread quickly and be held in honor, just as it was with you. 2And pray that we may be delivered from wicked and evil men; for not everyone holds to the faith. 3But the Lord is faithful, and He will strengthen you and guard you from the evil one.…

Cross References
Romans 15:31
Pray that I may be delivered from the unbelievers in Judea, and that my service in Jerusalem may be acceptable to the saints there,

Matthew 10:16
Behold, I am sending you out like sheep among wolves; therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves.

Acts 18:9-10
One night the Lord spoke to Paul in a vision: “Do not be afraid; keep on speaking; do not be silent. / For I am with you and no one will lay a hand on you, because I have many people in this city.”

1 Thessalonians 2:15-16
who killed both the Lord Jesus and their own prophets and drove us out as well. They are displeasing to God and hostile to all men, / hindering us from telling the Gentiles how they may be saved. As a result, they continue to heap up their sins to full capacity; the utmost wrath has come upon them.

2 Corinthians 1:10-11
He has delivered us from such a deadly peril, and He will deliver us. In Him we have placed our hope that He will yet again deliver us, / as you help us by your prayers. Then many will give thanks on our behalf for the favor shown us in answer to their prayers.

Ephesians 6:19-20
Pray also for me, that whenever I open my mouth, words may be given me so that I will boldly make known the mystery of the gospel, / for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may proclaim it fearlessly, as I should.

Philippians 1:28
without being frightened in any way by those who oppose you. This is a clear sign of their destruction but of your salvation, and it is from God.

1 Corinthians 16:9
because a great door for effective work has opened to me, even though many oppose me.

2 Timothy 4:18
And the Lord will rescue me from every evil action and bring me safely into His heavenly kingdom. To Him be the glory forever and ever. Amen.

John 17:15
I am not asking that You take them out of the world, but that You keep them from the evil one.

Psalm 140:1-4
For the choirmaster. A Psalm of David. Rescue me, O LORD, from evil men. Protect me from men of violence, / who devise evil in their hearts and stir up war all day long. / They sharpen their tongues like snakes; the venom of vipers is on their lips. Selah ...

Isaiah 54:17
No weapon formed against you shall prosper, and you will refute every tongue that accuses you. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and their vindication is from Me,” declares the LORD.

Psalm 71:4
Deliver me, O my God, from the hand of the wicked, from the grasp of the unjust and ruthless.

Psalm 31:15
My times are in Your hands; deliver me from my enemies and from those who pursue me.

Proverbs 29:25
The fear of man is a snare, but whoever trusts in the LORD is set securely on high.


Treasury of Scripture

And that we may be delivered from unreasonable and wicked men: for all men have not faith.

delivered.

Romans 15:31
That I may be delivered from them that do not believe in Judaea; and that my service which I have for Jerusalem may be accepted of the saints;

1 Corinthians 15:32
If after the manner of men I have fought with beasts at Ephesus, what advantageth it me, if the dead rise not? let us eat and drink; for to morrow we die.

2 Corinthians 1:8-10
For we would not, brethren, have you ignorant of our trouble which came to us in Asia, that we were pressed out of measure, above strength, insomuch that we despaired even of life: …

unreasonable.

Deuteronomy 32:20
And he said, I will hide my face from them, I will see what their end shall be: for they are a very froward generation, children in whom is no faith.

Matthew 17:17
Then Jesus answered and said, O faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you? how long shall I suffer you? bring him hither to me.

Matthew 23:23
Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone.

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2 Thessalonians 3
1. Paul craves their prayers for himself;
3. testifies what confidence he has in them;
5. makes request to God in their behalf;
6. gives them various precepts, especially to shun idleness, and ill company;
16. and then concludes with prayer and salutation.














And pray
The Greek word for "pray" here is "προσεύχομαι" (proseuchomai), which implies a deep, earnest communication with God. In the context of the early church, prayer was not just a ritual but a lifeline. The Thessalonians are encouraged to engage in this spiritual discipline, highlighting the importance of intercession for those in ministry. This call to prayer underscores the belief in divine intervention and the power of collective supplication.

that we may be delivered
The term "delivered" comes from the Greek "ῥύομαι" (rhuomai), meaning to rescue or save. This reflects a plea for divine protection and intervention. Historically, the early Christians faced persecution and hostility, making this request for deliverance both urgent and necessary. It emphasizes the reliance on God for safety and the belief that He is a rescuer in times of trouble.

from wicked and evil men
"Wicked" and "evil" are translated from the Greek words "ἀτόπων" (atopon) and "πονηρῶν" (poneron), respectively. "Atopon" suggests something out of place or improper, while "poneron" denotes moral corruption and malevolence. This phrase paints a picture of the opposition faced by the early church, not just from those who were misguided but from those actively working against the Gospel. It serves as a reminder of the spiritual warfare that believers are engaged in and the need for vigilance and prayer.

for not everyone holds to the faith
The phrase "holds to the faith" is derived from the Greek "πίστις" (pistis), meaning faith or belief. This acknowledges the reality that not all individuals embrace the Christian faith, and some may even oppose it. In the historical context, the early church was a minority facing skepticism and hostility. This statement serves as both a caution and a call to perseverance, reminding believers of the challenges they face in a world that may not share their convictions.

(2) And that we may be delivered.--Compare Romans 15:31. This clause is an amplification of the word "may run along:" the impediments to the gospel progress were (except that all were overruled for good) such persecutions as these. St. Paul gives thanks for such deliverances in 2Corinthians 1:10; 2Timothy 3:11; 2Timothy 4:17. Perhaps (as St. Chrysostom suggests) one reason for here inviting their prayers for himself was to nerve the Thessalonians by the sense that they were not the only people in the world in danger.

From unreasonable and wicked men.--The curious word rendered "unreasonable" is rendered "amiss" in Luke 23:41, "wickedness" in Acts 25:5, "harm" in Acts 28:6, occurring nowhere else in the New Testament. It properly means something "misplaced" hence "extravagant," "monstrous." Thus the dying robber says that our Lord had done "nothing so monstrous" as to deserve crucifixion; Festus ironically invites the priests to a serious journey to St. Paul's trial, "if there be something so monstrous in him;" the Maltese barbarians "saw that nothing so monstrous happened to him after all." So St. Paul wishes the Thessalonians to pray for his deliverance "from these monstrous and depraved people." He is evidently meaning some particular foes whom he fears, for the original has the definite article. Who, then, are "these monstrous persons?" If we turn to Acts 18:6; Acts 18:9; Acts 18:12, and observe the circumstances in which the letter was written, we can hardly doubt that they are the unbelieving Jews of Corinth. From these Jews he was, though narrowly, delivered. It was, perhaps, in direct answer to the prayers for which St. Paul here asks that he received the vision and assurances of our Lord, and that Gallio was moved to quash so abruptly the proceedings of the Jews. . . .

Verse 2. - And that; a further addition to the prayer. We; either I Paul, or else Paul and Silas and Timothy. May be delivered; not may "come off victorious whether by life or death" (Calvin), but may be rescued from our enemies. Jowett observes that we have here the shrinking of the flesh from the dangers which awaited the apostle. But there is no trace of cowardice in these words; the apostle desires deliverance, not for his own sake, but for the sake of the free diffusion of the gospel. From unreasonable; a word whose original meaning is "out of place;" then used in an ethical sense, "wicked," "absurd," "unreasonable;" perhaps here applied to persons who will not listen to arguments. And wicked men. By these unreasonable and wicked men are not to be understood the Jews of Thessalonica, from whom Paul formerly suffered, for their influence would hardly extend to Corinth; nor Christians who were only so in name (Calvin), and specially the Judaizing Christians, for there is no allusion as vet to their attacks upon the apostle; but the fanatical and unbelieving Jews at Corinth (see Acts 18:12). For all men have not faith; or, the faith; the faith is not the possession of all. Faith here is the Christian faith: all men have not received it - obviously alluding to the unbelieving Jews. The words cannot mean, all men have not the true faith - referring to pretended Christians - false brethren, but secret enemies (Calvin). Nor is it to be rendered "all men have not the capacity of faith." Others understand by faith that upright and candid disposition which would engage men to receive the testimony of the apostle; and others fidelity, as if the apostle meant, "There are few men whom we can trust."

Parallel Commentaries ...


Greek
And [pray]
καὶ (kai)
Conjunction
Strong's 2532: And, even, also, namely.

that
ἵνα (hina)
Conjunction
Strong's 2443: In order that, so that. Probably from the same as the former part of heautou; in order that.

we may be delivered
ῥυσθῶμεν (rhysthōmen)
Verb - Aorist Subjunctive Passive - 1st Person Plural
Strong's 4506: To rescue, deliver (from danger or destruction).

from
ἀπὸ (apo)
Preposition
Strong's 575: From, away from. A primary particle; 'off, ' i.e. Away, in various senses.

wicked
ἀτόπων (atopōn)
Adjective - Genitive Masculine Plural
Strong's 824: (lit: out of place, unusual, unbecoming), improper, unrighteous, perverse. Out of place, i.e. improper, injurious, wicked.

and
καὶ (kai)
Conjunction
Strong's 2532: And, even, also, namely.

evil
πονηρῶν (ponērōn)
Adjective - Genitive Masculine Plural
Strong's 4190: Evil, bad, wicked, malicious, slothful.

men;
ἀνθρώπων (anthrōpōn)
Noun - Genitive Masculine Plural
Strong's 444: A man, one of the human race. From aner and ops; man-faced, i.e. A human being.

for
γὰρ (gar)
Conjunction
Strong's 1063: For. A primary particle; properly, assigning a reason.

not
οὐ (ou)
Adverb
Strong's 3756: No, not. Also ouk, and ouch a primary word; the absolute negative adverb; no or not.

everyone [ holds to ]
πάντων (pantōn)
Adjective - Genitive Masculine Plural
Strong's 3956: All, the whole, every kind of. Including all the forms of declension; apparently a primary word; all, any, every, the whole.

the
(hē)
Article - Nominative Feminine Singular
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

faith.
πίστις (pistis)
Noun - Nominative Feminine Singular
Strong's 4102: Faith, belief, trust, confidence; fidelity, faithfulness.


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NT Letters: 2 Thessalonians 3:2 And that we may be delivered (2 Thess. 2 Thes. 2Th iiTh ii th)
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