“May the Lord direct your hearts to the love of God and to the steadfastness of Christ.” (2 Thessalonians 3:5 (ESV)
The Apostle Paul, along with Silas and Timothy, were many things and were involved in many tasks. They were missionaries, evangelists, church planters, and apologists for the Gospel. They were also pastors. They fed, led, and protected the various churches the Lord established through their efforts. The trio did not consider believers in Christ, or the unconverted, as a means to the end of ministerial self-glorification or pawns for self-promotion.
They embodied the spirit of Micah 6:8: “He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?”
They also fulfilled the pastoral characteristics found in I Peter 5:1-3: “ So I exhort the elders among you, as a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, as well as a partaker in the glory that is going to be revealed: 2 shepherd the flock of God that is among you, exercising oversight, not under compulsion, but willingly, as God would have you; not for shameful gain, but eagerly; 3 not domineering over those in your charge, but being examples to the flock.”
Therefore, it should be no surprise the Holy Spirit would direct Paul to write today’s text. Therein is the key word: direct. Direct (κατευθύναι; kateuthyno) is an aorist, active, optative verb. This is an action to occur at a particular and decisive moment in the future. It is a wish. Paul wanted the Lord to guide, lead and literally make straight the Thessalonian believer’s hearts. It was another prayer by a shepherd for the sheep.
The noun hearts (καρδίας; kardias) καρδίας) refers to an individual’s inner self. It is their mind, emotions and will. In other words, their soul. Paul wished the Lord would guide the believer’s soul toward a two-fold destination. These were not worldly objectives, such as the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes or the pride of life (I John 2:15-17). Rather, they were the goals of love and steadfastness.
The phrase the love of God (ἀγάπην θεοῦ; agapen theou) is the self-sacrificial concern sourced in the will and which is sourced and possessed from God the Father alone. The phrase steadfastness of Christ (ὑπομονὴν Χριστοῦ) refers to the endurance sourced and possessed by God the Son; the Lord Jesus Christ alone.
Paul wished the Thessalonians would be captivated and guided by God the Father’s love, and the steadfastness of Jesus Christ, for them. The apostle did not want these believers to lose the awe and wonder of God’s love and endurance on their behalf. It is an awe and wonder Paul, among others, never lost.
“But although the missionaries have full confidence in the readers, they realize, nevertheless, that it is only with the help of the Lord that men will be disposed to keep the commandments. Hence, the pendulum swings back once more from the human to the divine,” states Dr. William Hendriksen.[1]
“When the love which God has for the Thessalonians and which he is constantly showing to them becomes the motivating force in their lives and when the endurance exercised by Christ in the midst of a hostile world becomes their example, then they will do and will continue to do whatever God through his servants demands of them.” [2]
“Both “of God” and “of Christ” are to be considered subjective genitives. Not “their love for God” but “God’s love for them” is what is meant. That is regular Pauline usage (see Rom. 5:5, 8; 8:39; 2 Cor. 13:14; cf. Eph. 2:4). This is “the love of God which has been shed abroad in our hearts.” It is “his own love toward us.” It is “the love of God in Christ from which nothing shall be able to separate us.” It is “his great love with which he loved us,” concludes Dr. Hendriksen.[3]
Are you so captivated and directed by the love of God the Father and the endurance and faithfulness of the Lord Jesus Christ? May this be our goal to never lose the glory, awe and wonder of our great heavenly Father and our wonderful Savior Jesus. May the Lord’s truth and grace be found here. Have a blessed day in the Lord.
Soli deo Gloria!
[1] William Hendriksen and Simon J. Kistemaker, Exposition of I-II Thessalonians, vol. 3, New Testament Commentary (Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1953–2001), 197.
[2] Ibid
[3] Ibid
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