Matthew Poole and continuators on 2 Thessalonians 3:4

4 And we have confidence in the Lord touching you that ye both do, and will do the things that we command you .

The Apostle had before declared his confidence that God would establish them and keep them from evil, and now here declares his confidence in them concerning their obedience. For he knew well that this is the way of Gods keeping men, and whereby he shews that he built his confidence concerning what he had before declared about their Election, Calling, Establishment and Preservation upon some good ground. And he describes their obedience by doing what the Apostle, and his Fellow-Labourers in the Gospel among them commanded them, whether they were Commandments about the duties of the Law of the first or second Tables, or the Doctrine, Order, Worship or Discipline of the Gospel. So that their Commandements were no other but the Commandements of the Lord himself, Mat. 28.20. 1 Cor. 14.37. Ministers are not arbitrary Commanders in the Church. Not Lords over Gods Heritage, 1 Pet. 5.3. or have dominion over the peoples Faith, 2 Cor. 1.24. nor may they, as the Pharisee, teach for Doctrine the Commandments of men, Mat. 15.9. And he speaks before of these Thessalonians that they received the word preached by them, not as the word of men but of God, 1 Thes. 2.13. Both our Faith and Practice in Religion is, to be built upon Divine Authority. Either upon what God hath expresly declared, or what by clear Consequence may be derived from it. So that what they command the people is from the Lord, and not themselves. Their work is to search out the Mind and Will of Christ, as revealed in the Scripture, seeing they have not that immediate infallible inspiration that the Apostles had, who were called to lay the foundation which others were to build upon. And as to those things that are but appendixes, and not of the substance of Religion, and for which no particular Rule is or can be laid down Christian prudence is to regulate them according to general Rules, wherein the advice, appointment and authority of the Minister is to be regarded in every Church. Yet nothing ought to be enjoyned in these things that is uncomly, that is not for edification, that is not of good report▪ that hath an appearance of Evil, that gives just occasion of offence, that transgresseth the general Rule of Mercy, that is a direction of superstition, whereby many of the Commandments of the Romish Church are justly condemned. And obedience to these Commandments of the Apostle he describes it by the universality of it, the things that we command you; that is all things; the indefinite being equivalent to the universal. And by the constancy of it, that you both do, and will do, &c. ye will persevere to do what Comandments ye have already received, or any new Commmandments we shall further give you; some whereof are probably such as are mentioned in the following part of this Chapter. And their present obedience gave the Apostle confidence about that which was future. At least he declares to them this confidence, as an insinuating argument to perswade them thereunto.

Marginal references: 2 Cor. 7.16.