2 Thessalonians 3:10-11

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 3:10

For even when we were with you ,.... At Thessalonica in person, and first preached the Gospel to them, we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat ; the Ethiopic version reads in the singular number, "when I was with you, I commanded you"; using the above words, which were a sort of a proverb with the Jews, and is frequently used by them, דאי לא אכיל , or לעי לא נגיס , "that if a man would not work, he should not eat" F17 Bereshit Rabba, sect. 14.... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Thessalonians 3:11

For we hear that there are some ,.... This is the reason of the order or command given in 2 Thessalonians 3:6 for withdrawing from disorderly persons. When the apostle was with them, he observed that there were idle persons among them, and therefore gave orders then, that if they would not work, they should not eat; and in his former epistle, having intelligence that there were still such persons among them, he exhorts them to their duty, and puts the church upon admonishing them; and... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 2 Thessalonians 3:10

If any would not work, neither should he eat - This is a just maxim, and universal nature inculcates it to man. If man will work, he may eat; if he do not work, he neither can eat, nor should he eat. The maxim is founded on these words of the Lord: In the sweat of thy brow thou shall eat bread. Industry is crowned with God's blessing; idleness is loaded with his curse. This maxim was a proverb among the Jews. Men who can work, and will rather support themselves by begging, should not get one... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 2 Thessalonians 3:11

For we hear that there are some - It is very likely that St. Paul kept up some sort of correspondence with the Thessalonian Church; for he had heard every thing that concerned their state, and it was from this information that he wrote his second epistle. Disorderly - Ατακτως· Out of their rank - not keeping their own place. Working not at all - Either lounging at home, or becoming religious gossips; μηδεν εργαζομενους , doing nothing. Busybodies - Περιεργαζομενους· Doing... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - 2 Thessalonians 3:10

Verse 10 10He that will not labor. From its being written in Psalms 128:2 — Thou art blessed, eating of the labor of thy hands, also in Proverbs 10:4, The blessing of the Lord is upon the hands of him that laboreth, it is certain that indolence and idleness are accursed of God. Besides, we know that man was created with this view, that he might do something. Not only does Scripture testify this to us, but nature itself taught it to the heathen. Hence it is reasonable, that those, who wish... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - 2 Thessalonians 3:11

Verse 11 11We hear that there are some among you. It is probable that this kind of drones were, as it were, the seed of idle monkhood. For, from the very beginning, there were some who, under pretext of religion, either made free with the tables of others, or craftily drew to themselves the substance of the simple. They had also, even in the time of Augustine, come to prevail so much, that he was constrained to write a book expressly against idle monks, where he complains with good reason of... 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 3:10

For even when we were with you; during our residence in Thessalonica. This we commanded, that if any man would not work, neither should he eat. This or similar expressions have been shown to be a proverb in frequent use among the Jews. Thus: "Whoever doth not work doth not eat" ('Bereshith Rabba'); "Let not him who would not labour before the sabbath eat on the sabbath" ('In Lib. Zenon.'). It is a law of nature, and the apostle here sanctions it as a law of Christianity. There is here a... read more

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