May the Lord
This phrase invokes the sovereignty and active involvement of the Lord in the lives of believers. The Greek word for "Lord" here is "Kyrios," which signifies authority and divinity. In the early Christian context, acknowledging Jesus as Lord was a profound declaration of faith, especially in a Roman world that demanded allegiance to Caesar. This invocation is a prayerful wish, emphasizing the need for divine guidance in the believer's spiritual journey.

direct your hearts
The Greek word for "direct" is "kateuthynō," which means to make straight or guide. This implies a divine intervention that aligns the believer's inner being with God's will. The "heart" in biblical terms often represents the center of one's emotions, will, and intellect. Thus, the prayer is for God to align the deepest parts of the believers' lives with His purposes, ensuring that their motivations and desires are in harmony with His divine love and truth.

into God’s love
The phrase "God’s love" refers to "agape," the highest form of love in the Greek language, characterized by selflessness and sacrificial giving. This love is not merely an emotion but an active force that transforms and sustains. Historically, the early church was known for its radical expressions of love, which set it apart in a world often marked by division and strife. The prayer is for believers to be immersed in this divine love, experiencing and expressing it in their daily lives.

and Christ’s perseverance
The term "perseverance" is translated from the Greek "hypomonē," which denotes steadfastness and endurance under trial. This is a call to emulate Christ's endurance, particularly His unwavering commitment to His mission despite suffering and opposition. In the historical context of the Thessalonian church, which faced persecution, this was a powerful reminder to remain faithful and resilient. The perseverance of Christ is both a model and a source of strength for believers, encouraging them to remain steadfast in their faith amidst challenges.

(5) The Lord.--See Note on 2Thessalonians 3:3. The Person of the Blessed Trinity to whom this guidance immediately belongs is the Holy Ghost. So far, the Greek expositors are right who are agreed to consider this a proof of the Holy Ghost's divinity. Their right conclusion is, however, drawn from wrong premise, for the name is not here to be taken as consciously intending Him. The ground for their supposition is that the names "God" and "Christ" occur immediately after, and not (as we might expect) "His" or "for Him." But in 1Thessalonians 3:12-13, there occurs precisely the same arrangement of the three words: the Greek equivalent for the sacred Hebrew Name standing first, and then, for clearness' sake, being explained by the personal titles, "God our Father," "our Lord Jesus Christ."

Direct your hearts into the love of God.--This prayer in itself implies that they had not yet reached the point which St. Paul would have them reach, and were perhaps not taking the directest course. The same word is used in Luke 1:79; 1Thessalonians 3:11. The "love of God" here meant is that practical love which consists in keeping the commandments (John 14:21), as may be seen from the context:--"I am sure that the Lord will strengthen you, and that you are doing and will continue to do as you are bidden: may God help you to the obedience of true love, and to such perseverance in obedience as was shown by Christ; and it is in this hope that we bid you take steps to repress the disorders which are prevalent among you." . . .

Verse 5. - And the Lord; namely, Christ, for so the word "Lord" is to be rendered in St. Paul's Epistles. Bishop Wordsworth supposes that the Holy Ghost is here invoiced, as both God and Christ are afterwards mentioned in the petition; but the term "Lord" is not applied by, the apostle to the Holy Ghost; '2 Corinthians 3:17 is the only apparent exception. Direct your hearts; as the heart is the fountain of Christian life - the centre of the will. Into the love of God. Here not God's love to us, specially "the manifestation of the love of God in Christ and his work of redemption" (Olshausen); nor the love of God to man, which is to be the pattern of our love to God; but, objectively, our love to God. This love of God is the fulfilment of the Law; and hence the apostle prays that the Thessalonians may be directed into it as the source and essence of all acceptable obedience. And into the patient waiting for Christ. The words, "patient waiting," are but one word in the original, generally translated "patience" or "endurance." The clause has been differently interpreted. Some (Calvin, Hofmann, Jowett) render it, as in the A.V., "patient waiting for Christ." And this is conformable to the context, as the object of Paul was to repress all impatient longing for the advent. But such a meaning is not linguistically justifiable. Others render it, "patience for Christ," that is, steadfast endurance for his sake (De Wette); but there is no preposition in the original. The words simply mean "Christ's patience," or "the patience of Christ" (R.V.), the patience which he exhibited under his unparalleled sufferings. The Thessalonians were exposed to persecutions, and therefore the apostle prays that they might be directed into the patience of Christ, as this would enable them to bear all their sufferings with composure. Love and patience comprehend the active and passive virtues of Christianity. Now follows a warning against the disorderly life and conduct which the expectation of the immediate advent of Christ had produced. On account of the supposed nearness of the day of the Lord, great disorders had arisen in the Thessalonian Church. Work had been given up by many, who walked about in fanatical idleness. The apostle had censured this conduct in his former Epistle (1 Thessalonians 4:11, 12), but the evil had rather increased than diminished; and, accordingly, he severely rebukes this spirit, and sets himself to correct the disorders occasioned by it.

Parallel Commentaries ...


{May} the
Ὁ (HO)
Article - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

Lord
Κύριος (Kyrios)
Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 2962: Lord, master, sir; the Lord. From kuros; supreme in authority, i.e. controller; by implication, Master.

direct
κατευθύναι (kateuthynai)
Verb - Aorist Optative Active - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 2720: (a) I make straight, (b) met: I put in the right way, direct. From kata and euthuno; to straighten fully, i.e. direct.

your
ὑμῶν (hymōn)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive 2nd Person Plural
Strong's 4771: You. The person pronoun of the second person singular; thou.

hearts
καρδίας (kardias)
Noun - Accusative Feminine Plural
Strong's 2588: Prolonged from a primary kar; the heart, i.e. the thoughts or feelings; also the middle.

into
εἰς (eis)
Preposition
Strong's 1519: A primary preposition; to or into, of place, time, or purpose; also in adverbial phrases.

God’s
Θεοῦ (Theou)
Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular
Strong's 2316: A deity, especially the supreme Divinity; figuratively, a magistrate; by Hebraism, very.

love
ἀγάπην (agapēn)
Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular
Strong's 26: From agapao; love, i.e. Affection or benevolence; specially a love-feast.

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

Christ’s
Χριστοῦ (Christou)
Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular
Strong's 5547: Anointed One; the Messiah, the Christ. From chrio; Anointed One, i.e. The Messiah, an epithet of Jesus.

perseverance.
ὑπομονὴν (hypomonēn)
Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular
Strong's 5281: Endurance, steadfastness, patient waiting for. From hupomeno; cheerful endurance, constancy.


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NT Letters: 2 Thessalonians 3:5 May the Lord direct your hearts into (2 Thess. 2 Thes. 2Th iiTh ii th)