II Thessalonians 3:1 · Bible study
2 Thessalonians 3:1 Commentary: Prayer for the Gospel to Run and Be Glorified
Greek · 11 what the commentators say
Meaning in one sentence
What does Paul mean by asking that the word of the Lord may 'run' and be 'glorified'? Explore the grammar, the metaphor, and how prayer fuels mission.
Research Summary
- Meaning: Paul asks the church to pray that the gospel spreads rapidly and is honored as divine, just as it was among them.
- Key words: τρέχῃ (trechē), 'may run' (athletic imagery); δοξάζηται (doxazētai), 'may be glorified' (acknowledged in its power); λόγος τοῦ κυρίου, 'word of the Lord' (the gospel message).
- Main debate: Whether 'run' emphasizes speed (fast propagation) or freedom from obstacles (unhindered course); both are present in the commentaries.
- Theological theme: Prayer as partnership in mission; the sovereignty of God working through human intercession for the advance of the word.
- Best use: A key text for teaching on the necessity and focus of prayer in evangelism and missions.
Translation Comparison
BSB Berean Standard Bible 2020
Finally, brothers, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may spread quickly and be held in honor, just as it was with you.
WEB World English Bible 2000
Finally, brothers, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may spread rapidly and be glorified, even as also with you,
KJV King James Version 1769
Finally, brethren, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may have free course, and be glorified, even as it is with you:
ASV American Standard Version 1901
Finally, brethren, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may run and be glorified, even as alsoit iswith you;
YLT Young's Literal Translation 1898
As to the rest, pray ye, brethren, concerning us, that the word of the Lord may run and may be glorified, as also with you,
Darby Darby Bible 1890
For the rest, brethren, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may run and be glorified, even as also with you;
Douay-Rheims Douay-Rheims Bible 1899
For the rest, brethren, pray for us that the word of God may run and may be glorified, even as among you:
Translations in other languages (10 available)
RESTA, hermanos, que oréis por nosotros, que la palabra del Señor corra y sea glorificada así como entre vosotros:
Nas demais coisas, irmãos, rogai por nós, para que a palavra do Senhor continue seu percurso, e seja glorificada, assim como também entre vós;
Au reste, frères, priez pour nous, afin que la parole du Seigneur se répande et soit glorifiée comme elle l’ est chez-vous,
Weiter, liebe Brüder, betet für uns, daß das Wort des HERRN laufe und gepriesen werde wie bei euch,
Voorts, broeders, bidt voor ons, opdat het Woord des Heeren zijn loop hebbe, en verheerlijkt worde, gelijk ook bij u;
Del rimanente, fratelli, pregate per noi perché la parola del Signore si spanda e sia glorificata com’è tra voi,
Na ostatek, bracia! módlcie się za nas, aby się słowo Pańskie szerzyło i rozsławiało, jako i u was;
Итак молитесь за нас, братия, чтобы слово Господне распространялось и прославлялось, как и у вас,
弟兄們，我還有話說：請你們為 我們 禱告，好叫 主 的道理 快快行開， 得著榮耀，正 如 在 你們中間一樣，
For the rest, my brothers, let there be prayer for us that the word of the Lord may go forward with increasing glory, even as it does with you;
Verse in Context
Original Language (Koine Greek)
New Testament · Koine Greek · II Thessalonians 3:1
Source: STEPBible TAGNT/TEHB (CC-BY 4.0). Click or tap a morphology code to see the full parsing.
Scholars' Consensus
Commentators across traditions agree Paul's request prioritizes the gospel's advance over his own comfort. The verb τρέχῃ (trechē), 'may run', is drawn from athletic imagery. Adam Clarke notes an allusion to the Olympic games: the word has started its race and must reach the goal and be crowned. Vincent's Word Studies says 'may have free course' is better rendered simply 'may run,' meaning swift progress, an idea rooted in Old Testament passages like Psalm 147:15 ('His word runneth very swiftly'). Calvin explains that 'course' means dissemination, and 'be glorified' (δοξάζηται) means the preaching has its power and efficacy for renewing people after God's image. The Cambridge Bible adds that the metaphor may come from Psalm 19, where the sun rejoices as a champion to run its race. The consensus holds that Paul is asking the church to pray for the word to travel swiftly without hindrance and to be recognized in its true divine power, a request that shows his dependence on their partnership in prayer.
How settled is the interpretation?
Interpretive difficulty: Low
What is clear: The central request is for the gospel to spread rapidly and be honored, a request tied to the prayers of the church.
What Scholars Agree and Debate
| Topic | Agreed | Debated |
|---|---|---|
| The metaphor 'run' | It pictures the gospel spreading swiftly and effectively through the world. | Adam Clarke sees an Olympic race allusion (running for the prize); the Cambridge Bible connects it to Psalm 19 and the sun's course. Both agree on rapid propagation. |
| The meaning of 'glorified' | The word is held in honor and seen as divinely powerful. | Calvin emphasizes internal renewal (believers transformed into God's image); others see outward praise and acceptance of the gospel. Both are connected. |
| Prayer's role in gospel advance | Prayer is essential for the gospel to spread and bear fruit. | Some traditions stress God's sovereignty in the word's success, others the human responsibility to pray; both affirm that God uses prayer as a means. |
Historical & Cultural Context
Paul writes 2 Thessalonians from Corinth around AD 51, 52, soon after his first letter. The Thessalonians had received the gospel with joy despite persecution (1 Thessalonians 1:6), but false teaching about the Day of the Lord had unsettled them. Having corrected that confusion in chapter 2, Paul now turns to closing exhortations. The phrase 'Finally' (τὸ λοιπόν) signals the conclusion, as Gill notes: 'nothing more remained; this was the last he had to say.' The Olympic games were deeply familiar in the Greco-Roman world, which makes the metaphor of the word 'running' vivid. The word is not merely to crawl but to race, unbound, free, and fast. The Old Testament supplies the image: Psalm 147:15, 'his word runneth very swiftly,' and the Cambridge Bible connects it to Psalm 19, where the sun runs its course. Paul's request for prayer also reflects his circumstances. He was in Corinth, facing opposition from Jews who rejected his message (Acts 18:5, 6). The next verse (2) asks for deliverance from unreasonable and evil men. So the prayer for the word to run and be glorified is tied to his own safety and freedom. The phrase 'even as also with you' (καθὼς καὶ πρὸς ὑμᾶς) grounds the request in the Thessalonians' own experience: they had seen the word run and be glorified in their midst (1 Thessalonians 1:5, 8). Paul is asking them to pray that what happened in Thessalonica would happen everywhere. This mutual prayer, apostle and congregation, shows the partnership essential to God's mission.
Textual Notes
The consulted sources note no significant textual variants for this verse. The Greek text is stable across manuscripts, with unanimous readings for τρέχῃ and δοξάζηται.
Reception History
This verse has been a staple in Christian prayer for missions across the centuries. The King James rendering 'have free course' gave English-speaking churches a memorable phrase for intercession. Reformers like Calvin used it to teach that the gospel’s progress depends on God but is aided by the faithful prayers of the church. In the modern era, it appears frequently in mission conference themes and prayer letters, calling believers to partner with missionaries through prayer. The image of the word running has inspired hymns and devotions that emphasize both the urgency of evangelism and the power of intercession.
Preaching This Verse
Three-point outline
- Paul's Great Concern, He doesn't ask for personal comfort or fame. He asks that the word of the Lord may run and be glorified. His heart beats for the gospel's advance.
- Prayer as Partnership in Mission, Paul, though an apostle, depends on the prayers of ordinary believers. God has woven human intercession into the spread of his word.
- The Goal: The Word Glorified, The word is glorified not when it is merely heard, but when it transforms lives and produces faith and holiness, as Calvin says: 'holiness of life and uprightness on the part of Christians is the glory of the gospel.'
Five-point outline
- 'Finally', The urgency of what remains. Paul is wrapping up, but his final concern is for the word to race ahead.
- 'Pray for us', Interdependence in ministry. The greatest of ministers needs the weakest saint's prayers.
- 'That the word of the Lord may run', Swift and unobstructed. The verb τρέχῃ pictures the gospel as an athlete on the track, clearing every hurdle.
- 'And be glorified', Honored through transformed lives. The passive voice shows God at work; the word's glory is seen in repentant hearts and holy communities.
- 'Even as also with you', Past grace as fuel for future prayer. The Thessalonians had already seen the word run. Their memory of grace becomes a request for more.
Illustration hooks
- A runner in a relay race passes the baton to the next teammate. The church's prayers are the handoff that keeps the gospel moving.
- A news story or social media post that spreads to millions in hours. The word of the Lord is meant to travel faster and farther.
- The sense of celebration when a new believer comes to faith, like a runner crossing the finish line and the crowd erupts. That is the word being glorified.
Questions your congregation is asking
- “Does my prayer really make a difference in whether the gospel spreads?”
- “What does it look like for the word of the Lord to be ‘glorified’ in my own life?”
- “How can I move beyond generic prayers and pray specifically for the gospel to run and be honored?”
Leading a Discussion
Paul ends his letter with a striking request: the final thing on his mind is the gospel's advance, and he believes the Thessalonians' prayers are part of how God will accomplish that. This session explores the partnership between prayer and mission.
Discussing the text
- Read 2 Thessalonians 3:1-2. What does Paul’s request reveal about his priorities? Why does he ask for prayer for the word, not for himself?
- The Greek verb for 'run' (τρέχῃ) is used in athletic races. How does this metaphor shape your understanding of the gospel’s movement in the world?
- What does it mean for the word of the Lord to be 'glorified'? How is this different from simply being preached or talked about? (See Acts 13:48.)
- Paul says 'even as also with you.' Why does he point back to the Thessalonians’ own reception of the gospel? What does this say about the relationship between past grace and future prayer?
- If Paul, an apostle, needed the church’s prayers for the gospel to run, what does this teach us about our role in the spread of the gospel today?
- How can you pray this week that the word of the Lord would run in your own community? What specific hindrances might need prayer?
- This passage connects prayer to mission. How does that change the way you think about your prayer life?
Word Study
The key original-language words in this verse. Select any word for its full lexicon entry — meaning, every occurrence in Scripture, and related words.
Cross-References
Source: Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (TSK, public domain)
| Psalms 138:2 | I will bow down toward your holy temple, and give thanks to your Name for your loving kindness and for your truth; for you have exalted your Name and your Word above all. |
| Matthew 9:38 | Pray therefore that the Lord of the harvest will send out laborers into his harvest.” |
| Luke 10:2 | Then he said to them, “The harvest is indeed plentiful, but the laborers are few. Pray therefore to the Lord of the harvest, that he may send out laborers into his harvest. |
| Acts 6:7 | The word of God increased and the number of the disciples greatly multiplied in Jerusalem. A great company of the priests were obedient to the faith. |
| Acts 12:24 | But the word of God grew and multiplied. |
| Acts 13:48 | As the Gentiles heard this, they were glad and glorified the word of God. As many as were appointed to eternal life believed. |
| Acts 13:49 | The Lord’s word was spread abroad throughout all the region. |
| Acts 19:20 | So the word of the Lord was growing and becoming mighty. |
Interlinear and lexical data from STEPBible (CC BY 4.0). Cross-reference data from OpenBible.info (CC BY 4.0). Commentaries are public domain.
For personal reflection
Read the devotional page — prayer, application, and "for families"
What the Commentators Say
10 public-domain commentaries, condensed into plain language.
Adam Clarke's Commentary Methodist/Wesleyan 1826
Clarke notes that the Greek phrase usually translated as "Finally" actually means "furthermore" or "what remains." He highlights the athletic imagery: Paul asks for prayer so that the Lord's message might "run" like a runner in the Olympic games, sprinting to the finish and winning the crown.
Barnes' Notes on the Bible Protestant 1832
Barnes draws attention to Paul's image of the gospel having "free course" — literally running like a racer with every obstacle removed. He notes that Paul specifically requests prayer for this because he faced real hindrances at Corinth, and that believers should constantly pray for the removal of all human obstructions to the gospel's spread.
Calvin's Commentaries Reformed 1564
Calvin stresses that Paul's request for prayers is not for personal comfort but for the gospel's spread and its transforming power. He distinguishes between the word having free course (its dissemination) and being glorified (its effect in producing holiness). This echoes the daily prayer for God's kingdom to come.
Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges Anglican 1880
This commentator highlights Paul's vivid metaphor of the word of the Lord "running" like a swift messenger, borrowed from Psalms where the sun races across the sky. The request for prayer is specifically that the gospel would spread rapidly and be honored, as it already was among the Thessalonians.
Geneva Bible Notes Reformed 1599
Furthermore, brethren, pray for vs, that the worde of the Lord may haue free passage and be glorified, euen as it is with you,
Gill's Exposition of the Bible Baptist 1748
Gill breaks down Paul's request for prayer into specific petitions: that ministers be guided in private study, bold in public ministry, protected from the world's allure and intimidation, and sustained in health and joy. He defines "the word having free course" as the Gospel spreading unimpeded, and "being glorified" as it being reverently received and obeyed.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Commentary Protestant 1871
JFB highlights Paul's request that the word of God may "run" swiftly like the original creation, spreading without hindrance. This contrasts with times when the word is "bound" and unable to advance. When sinners accept it, the word is "glorified," but rejection leads to it being "evil spoken of."
Matthew Henry's Commentary Reformed/Presbyterian 1710
Matthew Henry highlights Paul's remarkable humility: though mighty in prayer himself, he still asked the humblest believers to pray for him and his coworkers. This mutual prayer is how the communion of saints is sustained, especially at a distance. Paul's foremost request was for the gospel to run freely and be honored.
Vincent's Word Studies Evangelical 1887
Vincent insists that "may have free course" is better translated "may run," drawing on an Old Testament image of God's word speeding swiftly through the world. He notes that "be glorified" means acknowledged in its true power and glory, a phrase that appears only here.
Wesley's Explanatory Notes Methodist/Wesleyan 1754
Wesley specifies that "run" means to go on swiftly without any interruption, and "be glorified" means being acknowledged as divine while also bringing forth much fruit. He ties the believer's uninterrupted progress directly to the acknowledgment of God's glory.