and that we may be delivered from wicked and evil men. For not all have faith.
In the previous verse Paul asked them to pray that the word would run freely. Now he adds a second request: that God would rescue him from men set against him — because faith is not something everyone has. (Older translations read "unreasonable and wicked men"; the ESV has "wicked and evil men".)
Two sides of one request
The request has two halves, one positive and one negative. Paul puts both into the hands of young believers.
As in the first letter, the apostle again asks for their prayers. First he asks for the positive blessing of the Word of God which they proclaimed, that it might have free course to go forward and be glorified. Then, on the negative side, he asks that they might be delivered from the oppression of unreasonable and wicked men, for all men had not faith — as indeed his earlier reference to "the son of perdition" had fully shown.
after But it is precious to think of the apostle valuing the prayers of these young saints so highly: he well knew that God delights to work by such means.
Note which concern he puts first. Note also whose prayers he asks for.
F. B. HoleThe history recorded in Acts 17 shows us how greatly prayer for his safety was needed at this point, yet he gave the first place to the work. ... He prayed constantly for his converts, but he was also not ashamed to ask for their prayers for himself. The most advanced saint or servant may well be thankful for the prayers of the youngest convert or the humblest believer.
The word behind "unreasonable"
Kelly looks first at the word itself, then at who these opposers were.
William KellyThe apostle does ask their prayers "that we may be delivered from unreasonable and wicked men, for all have not faith." The word here translated "unreasonable," ἄτοποι (atopoi), originally meant "out of place." From there it came to mean strange, astonishing, and in a moral sense worthless — saying and doing what was unsuitable and out of the way. ... Nor do these adversaries mean Jews only, though these were prominent and active in bitter unbelief. Faith is natural to no sinner's heart; it is ever of grace.
Unreason and unbelief joined
Their unreason and their unbelief belong together.
The Numerical BibleHe needs their prayers himself. He is charged with that gospel whose power they had themselves proved, and he asks that it might run and be glorified in many like themselves. This is despite the opposition of unreasoning and evil men, in whom true reason would have led to the faith they had not.
Why success brings opposition
Opposition is not a sign that the gospel has failed.
An Outline of Sound WordsThe Apostle gladly admits that the gospel was glorified in these saints. But he saw the opposition of the world, and knew that he himself was a very special target of the attacks of unreasonable and wicked men. So he asks for their prayers, that he may be delivered from such men. ... Still, a gospel glorified in this way will raise the opposition of wicked men, who find in these changed lives a condemnation of their own lives.
Kelly makes a related observation: adversaries are as certain as an open door, and the servant of God is not to measure his standing by who is on his side.
William KellyMany adversaries never fail to appear, just as surely as grace gives an open and effective door for the testimony of Christ. Never does the apostle, never did a spiritual man, boast of the numbers or the position, of the wealth or the intelligence, of his supporters: there is no surer sign of the world, nor of Satan's snare, among those who take the ground of faith.
"Delivered from" — persons, not a condition
Greek has two words for "from." The one used here points to hostile people, not to a situation.
J. N. Darbyἀπό (apo) means aloof or away from. ... It supposes some persons or circumstances hostile to their interest, not allowed to act upon them or produce the effects of their malice, or which took them away from them. With ἀπό (apo) they are looked at as hostile beings; with ἐκ (ek) it is a state. ... In 2 Thessalonians 3:2 it is from unreasonable and wicked men. This is evident.
Darby draws the practical conclusion. Paul expected such men, and he knew where his safety lay.
J. N. DarbyHe could not but expect to find men unreasonable and full of enmity, for faith was not the portion of all. It was only a case for the protecting hand of God.
Summary
- Faith asked — Paul asks two things: that the word run freely, and that God rescue him from hostile men. He put the work first, and he asked young converts to pray for him.
- Faith opposed — changed lives honour the gospel, and they also condemn the lives of wicked men, who then oppose it.
- Faith absent — the older word "unreasonable" meant "out of place," and then morally worthless. True reason would have brought such men to the faith they lack.
- Faith given — faith is natural to no sinner's heart. It is always of grace. And the opposers are not from one nation only.
- Faith protected — the danger comes from hostile people. God holds them off, so their malice cannot take effect. It is a case for His protecting hand.