A. Reciprocal prayer 3:1-5

Paul requested the prayers of his readers and assured them of his prayers for them to strengthen their mutual bonds in Christ and in the gospel.

 1. Prayer for the missionaries 3:1-2

3:1 "Finally"introduces the last major section of the epistle. As was so often his custom, Paul first exhorted his readers to pray (1 Tim. 2:1-2; cf. 1 Thess. 5:25; et al.). He realized that God will work in response to the requests of His people. To fail to pray is to fail to receive God's blessings (James 4:2). Specifically Paul asked the Thessalonians to ask God to facilitate the rapid and wide dissemination of the gospel and thus glorify His Word. Paul's readers had seen God do this in their midst when Paul and his fellow missionaries first visited their city.

3:2 Also Paul desired that God would grant him and his colleagues deliverance from unreasonable and harmful unbelievers who sought to limit the spread of the gospel. This is the negative side of the former positive request. To oppose the spread of the gospel is unreasonable behavior since the gospel brings spiritual life to those who are dead in sin. These men were probably unbelieving Jews who were opposing Paul in Corinth (cf. Acts 18:5-6, 12-13).

 2. Prayer for the Thessalonians 3:3-5

3:3 Paul was confident that God would provide strength and protection for the Thessalonians in view of His promises to provide for His own.

3:4 He was also confident that his readers, strengthened by the Lord, would continue to follow apostolic instruction as they had in the past. Paul had confidence in these Christians. Note the chiastic structure of Paul's thought in verses 1-4.

3:5 He prayed that God would give these brothers and sisters a greater appreciation of God's love for them and of Christ's steadfastness in the midst of His earthly afflictions.⁶⁵He wanted this so their own love and patient endurance might increase (cf. 1 Chron. 29:18; 2 Chron. 12:14).

"Consistent Christian behavior can result only from genuine inward commitment."⁶⁶