2 Thessalonians 3:10

Contextual Overview

⁶In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, we command you, brothers, to keep away from every brother who is idle and does not live according to the teaching you received from us. ⁶ In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, we command you, brothers and sisters, to keep away from every believer who is idle and disruptive and does not live according to the teaching you received from us. ⁶ Now we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you keep away from every brother who leads an unruly life and not according to the tradition which you received from us. ⁶Now we command you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you keep away from every brother who walks in an unruly manner and not according to the tradition which they received from us. ⁶We aren't asking, we are telling you to steer clear of every believer who is either lazy or causes problems. If they don't do the job we gave all of you, ride off and don't look back. ⁶ Now we give you orders, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, to keep away from all those whose behaviour is not well ordered and in harmony with the teaching which they had from us. ⁶ Now we enjoin you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye withdraw from every brother walking disorderly and not according to the instruction which he received from us. ⁶ Now we command you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, to keep away from every brother who walks irresponsibly and not according to the tradition received from us. ⁶ Now we command you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you withdraw yourselves from every brother who walks in rebellion, and not after the tradition which they received from us. ⁶ Now we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, to withdraw yourselves from every brother that walketh disorderly and not according to the tradition which he received of us.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

when: Luke 24:44, John 16:4, Acts 20:18

that: Genesis 3:19, Proverbs 13:4, Proverbs 20:4, Proverbs 21:25, Proverbs 24:30-34, 1 Thessalonians 4:11

Reciprocal: Genesis 47:3 - What is Genesis 47:22 - for the priests Exodus 5:17 - General Judges 19:16 - his work Proverbs 13:25 - the belly Proverbs 14:23 - but Proverbs 19:15 - and Proverbs 20:13 - Love Proverbs 31:13 - worketh Matthew 11:1 - commanding 1 Thessalonians 4:2 - General 2 Thessalonians 2:5 - when 2 Thessalonians 3:6 - after

Cross-References

Genesis 2:25
The man and his wife were both naked, and they felt no shame.

Genesis 2:25
Adam and his wife were both naked, and they felt no shame.

Genesis 2:25
And the man and his wife were both naked and were not ashamed.

Genesis 2:25
And the man and his wife were both naked and were not ashamed.

Genesis 2:25
And they were both naked the man and his wife, and were not ashamed.

Genesis 2:25
The man and his wife were naked, but they were not ashamed.

Genesis 2:25
And the man and his wife were both naked, and were not ashamed.

Genesis 2:25
Forsothe euer eithir was nakid, that is, Adam and his wijf, and thei weren not aschamed.

Genesis 2:25
And they were both naked, the man & his wife, and were not ashamed.

Genesis 2:25
And they were both naked, the man and his wife, and were not ashamed.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

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" q. And again r,

"he that labours on the evening of the sabbath (or on weekdays), he shall eat on the sabbath day; and he who does not labour on the evening of the sabbath, from whence shall he eat (or what right and authority has he to eat) on the sabbath day?''

Not he that could not work through weakness, bodily diseases, or old age, the necessities of such are to be distributed to, and they are to be taken care of, and provided with the necessaries of life by the officers of the church; but those that can work, and will not, ought to starve, for any assistance that should be given them by the members of the church, or the officers of it.

q Bereshit Rabba, sect. 14. fol. 13. 1. Echa Rabbati, fol. 48. 4. & Midrash Koholet, fol. 65. 4. r T. Bab. Avoda Zara, fol. 3. 1.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

For even when we were with you, this we commanded you - It would seem from this that the evil of which the apostle here complains had begun to operate even when he was with them. There were those who were disposed to be idle, and who needed the solemn command of an apostle to induce them to labor.

That if any would not work, neither should he eat - That is, at the public expense. They should not be supported by the church. This was a maxim among the Jews (see Wetstein, in loc.), and the same sentiment may be found in Homer, Demosthenes, and Pythagoras; see Grotius, in loc. The maxim is founded in obvious justice, and is in accordance with the great law under which our Creator has placed us; Genesis 3:19. That law, in the circumstances, was benevolent, and it should be our aim to carry it out in reference to ourselves and to others. The law here laid down by the apostle extends to all who are able to work for a living, and who will not do it, and binds us not to contribute to their support if they will not labor for it. It should be regarded as extending:

(1)To the members of a church - who, though poor, should not be supported by their brethren, unless they are willing to work in any way they can for their own maintenance.

(2)To those who beg from door to door, who should never be assisted unless they are willing to do all they can do for their own support. No one can be justified in assisting a lazy man. In no possible circumstances are we to contribute to foster indolence. A man might as properly help to maintain open vice.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse 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 morsel of bread. It is a sin to minister to necessities that are merely artificial.