Deeper Reflection
A KEY EMPHASIS IN 2 THESSALONIANS 3 IS PAUL’S APOSTOLIC authority, shown in “we command” (2 Thess 3:4, 6, 12), “we would give you this command” (2 Thess 3:10), “if anyone does not obey what we say” shall suffer consequences (2 Thess 3:14). The apostolic commands demand obedience. This apostolic authority is unique in salvation history at Christ’s First Coming, when the Church is “built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus Himself being the cornerstone” (Eph 2:19-20).Paul exercised his apostolic authority “in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ” (v.6). Here, Paul claimed that his authority in teaching and commanding the churches is the authority of the Lord Jesus Himself. His commands are the Lord’s commands. To disobey his commands is to disobey the Lord. And we submit to apostolic authority today by submitting to the New Testament, which preserves the apostles’ “Godbreathed” writings (cf. 2 Tim 3:16).“There is nobody in the church who has an authority which even remotely resembles that of the apostles of Christ; nor has there been since the last apostle died.”⁵⁷.The church leaders in the immediate post-apostolic church “knew that the apostles had no successors and that they lacked their authority”⁵⁸. Ignatius, Bishop of Syrian Antioch, said when he was condemned to death: “I do not give you orders like Peter and Paul. They were apostles; I am a convict.”⁵⁹ But there are very authoritarian leaders in today’s churches, who consider those who do not follow their leadership as being disobedient to God. Strong leaders who are hard on people may just become this kind of leader.

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⁵⁷ John R. W. Stott, 196 ⁵⁸ John R. W. Stott, 196 ⁵⁹ John R. W. Stott, 196