"Paul's Second Letter to the Thessalonians — Honoring Paul Until the End”

Today we finish our verse by verse study of Paul’s second letter to the Thessalonians.  In these final verses, the apostle first asks the believers to pray for him, and that is significant.  He asks for their respect and honor and then goes on to a long section (10 verses!) where he strongly exhorts all to be self-sufficient like he was himself.  He was a tentmaker while on his missionary journeys and that was his “testimony” underscoring this critically important point.  They are also to support themselves and to be independent so that they may be able to help others who are in need.  Separation from those who are disobedient is “commanded” with those that will not follow his lead being publicly set aside.   He concludes the letter with a particularly touching reference to his own salutation in his own hand.  That would have been so precious for those in this fellowship as only they would possess that actual autograph. His final words, “The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ [be] with you all” matches what he closed with in the first letter.  Praise God for such grace!  Amen.