2 Thessalonians 3:1
“Finally, brethren, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may have free course, and be glorified, even as it is with you:”
King James Version (KJV)
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Read Full Chapter →Paul asks the believers to pray that the Lord's word would spread rapidly and be honored, just as it was among the Thessalonians.
What Does 2 Thessalonians 3:1 Mean?
Turning toward the close of the letter, Paul makes a humble request: "pray for us." The great apostle does not see himself as self-sufficient; he leans on the prayers of an ordinary church. His chief desire is not for his own comfort but for the gospel, "that the word of the Lord may have free course, and be glorified." The image is of a message running unhindered, like a runner with a clear track.
Paul longs for the word not only to spread but to "be glorified," honored and welcomed as it changes lives. And he adds a gracious touch: "even as it is with you." The Thessalonians themselves are his example of what he is praying for elsewhere. Their reception of the gospel becomes the pattern he hopes to see repeated. The verse models a heart turned outward, more concerned for the advance of God's word in the world than for personal ease, and willing to ask others to pray to that end.