This prayer illustrates Paul's genuine concern for the Thessalonians, and it bridges the narrative material in chapters 1-3 and the parenetic material in chapters 4-5.63
3:11 Paul summarized the content of his prayer in the form of a wish to conclude this section of the epistle (1:2-3:13). He asked God his Father and Jesus his Lord to clear the way so he and his fellow missionaries could return to Thessalonica. He addressed two members of the godhead in prayer. He regarded both of these as God as is clear from his use of a singular verb ("direct") with a plural subject. "Himself"emphasizes Paul's dependence on God to grant his request.
3:12-13 He also prayed that the Lord, not man, would cause the believers' love to increase and overflow even more among themselves and toward all people. Paul's love for them did so. He prayed for this so God would strengthen them spiritually to be free from any reasonable charge whenever Christ might return.64Again, Paul anticipated the judgment seat of Christ (cf. 2:19; 5:23).
As mentioned earlier (cf. 2:19), "coming"(Gr. parousia) is a term that Paul used to describe a person's extended visit (cf. 1 Cor. 16:17; 2 Cor. 10:10; Phil. 2:12) as well as his or her arrival for that visit. Consequently, it may refer to the Rapture, the actual arrival of Christ for Christians, or what will follow that arrival. The context determines whether a "coming"or what will follow it is in view.65Here Paul's concern was that the Thessalonians would be ready to give a good account of themselves to the Lord, not just that they would be ready for His arrival.
The saints who will join the Thessalonians before the judgment seat of Christ include all other Christians (cf. 2 Cor. 5:10; 2 Thess. 1:10).
