2 Thessalonians 3:8 NIV

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 2 Thessalonians 3:6-15

The apostle having commended their obedience for the time past, and mentioned his confidence in their obedience for the time to come, proceeds to give them commands and directions to some who were faulty, correcting some things that were amiss among them. Observe, The best society of Christians may have some faulty persons among them, and some things that ought to be reformed. Perfection is not to be found on this side heaven: but evil manners beget good laws; the disorders that Paul heard of... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - 2 Thessalonians 3:6-18

3:6-18 Brothers, we command you in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, keep yourselves from every brother who behaves like a truant from duty and who does not conduct himself in accordance with the teaching which they received from us, for you yourselves know that you must imitate us because we never played the truant from work when we were among you nor did we eat bread which we had received from you without paying for it, but in labour and toil we kept on working night and day so that we... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Thessalonians 3:8

Neither did we eat any man's bread for nought .... Or freely, at free cost, without paying for it; he signifies, that what they ate, they bought with their own money, and lived on no man, without giving him a valuable consideration for what they had; though if they had not paid in money for their food, they would not have ate it for nought, since they laboured among them in preaching the Gospel to them; and such labourers are worthy of their maintenance, Luke 10:7 though the former sense... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 2 Thessalonians 3:8

Neither did we eat any man's bread for naught - We paid for what we bought, and worked with our hands that we might have money to buy what was necessary. Labour and travail night and day - We were incessantly employed, either in preaching the Gospel, visiting from house to house, or working at our calling. As it is very evident that the Church at Thessalonica was very pious, and most affectionately attached to the apostle, they must have been very poor, seeing he was obliged to work hard... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Thessalonians 3:1-18

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Thessalonians 3:8

Neither did we eat any man's bread; a Hebraism for "neither did we get our sustenance," as bread was the staff of life. For nought; gratis, free of expense. But wrought with labour and travail night and day, that we might not be chargeable unto any of you. The apostle makes the same declaration in his First Epistle, expressed in almost similar terms: "For ye remember, brethren, our labour and travail; for labouring night and day, because we would not be chargeable unto any of you, we preached... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - 2 Thessalonians 3:8

Neither did we eat any man’s bread for nought - We were not supported in idleness at the expense of others. We gave a fair equivalent for all that we received, and, in fact, labored for our own support; see the notes on 1 Thessalonians 2:9. read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - 2 Thessalonians 3:6-12

2 Thessalonians 3:6-12. We command you, brethren We solemnly charge you; in the name of the Lord. (see on 1 Corinthians 5:4,) the credit and progress of whose religion are so nearly concerned in the matter; that ye withdraw yourselves from every brother Whatever his rank, circumstances, or profession may be; that walketh disorderly Particularly (as the apostle here means) in not working; that you have no unnecessary converse or society with such. Disorderly persons, ατακτοι , are... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - 2 Thessalonians 3:6-18

Work to earn a living (3:6-18)Thinking that Christ was about to return, some believers in Thessalonica stopped working for a living and were being supported by others in the church. Paul says that the church should not support such people. By their selfishness, these idlers are denying the teaching they have received concerning Christian brotherhood (6). They should follow Paul’s example. As a teacher Paul had the right to be supported by those whom he taught, but instead he worked hard to earn... read more

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - 2 Thessalonians 3:8

Neither . Greek. oude. any man's bread = bread from (Greek. para, App-104 .) any one ( App-123 .) for nought . Greek. dorean. See John 15:25 . wrought = working. with . App-104 . travail . Greek. mochthos. See 2 Corinthians 11:27 . that we, &c . = with a view to ( App-104 .) our not being. chargeable to . Greek. epibareo. See 2 Corinthians 2:5 . 1 Thessalonians 2:9 . any . App-123 . read more