and that we may be delivered from unreasonable and evil men; for not all have faith.
Paul desires that Christians pray to God on their behalf that they would be delivered from individuals who protest against the name of Christ. The apostle’s primary intention in this request is not to escape physical persecution. He is more concerned about the actions of wicked men who would hinder the furtherance of the gospel. This teaching reminds us of the model prayer when Jesus was teaching his disciples how to pray; He taught them among other things to pray requesting God to "...Lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil..." (Luke 11:2-4).