2 Thessalonians 3:10 King James Version with Strong's Concordance (STRONG)

10 For G1063 even G2532 when G3753 we were G2258 with G4314 you, G5209 this G5124 we commanded G3853 you, G5213 that G3754 if any G1536 would G2309 not G3756 work, G2038 neither G3366 should he eat. G2068

Cross Reference

Genesis 3:19 STRONG

In the sweat H2188 of thy face H639 shalt thou eat H398 bread, H3899 till H5704 thou return H7725 unto the ground; H127 for out of it wast thou taken: H3947 for dust H6083 thou H859 art, and unto dust H6083 shalt thou return. H7725

Proverbs 13:4 STRONG

The soul H5315 of the sluggard H6102 desireth, H183 and hath nothing: but the soul H5315 of the diligent H2742 shall be made fat. H1878

Proverbs 20:4 STRONG

The sluggard H6102 will not plow H2790 by reason of the cold; H2779 therefore shall he beg H7592 H7592 in harvest, H7105 and have nothing.

Proverbs 21:25 STRONG

The desire H8378 of the slothful H6102 killeth H4191 him; for his hands H3027 refuse H3985 to labour. H6213

Proverbs 24:30-34 STRONG

I went H5674 by the field H7704 of the slothful, H376 H6102 and by the vineyard H3754 of the man H120 void H2638 of understanding; H3820 And, lo, it was all grown over H5927 with thorns, H7063 and nettles H2738 had covered H3680 the face H6440 thereof, and the stone H68 wall H1444 thereof was broken down. H2040 Then I saw, H2372 and considered it well: H7896 H3820 I looked H7200 upon it, and received H3947 instruction. H4148 Yet a little H4592 sleep, H8142 a little H4592 slumber, H8572 a little H4592 folding H2264 of the hands H3027 to sleep: H7901 So shall thy poverty H7389 come H935 as one that travelleth; H1980 and thy want H4270 as an armed H4043 man. H376

1 Thessalonians 4:11 STRONG

And G2532 that ye study G5389 to be quiet, G2270 and G2532 to do G4238 your own business, G2398 and G2532 to work with G2038 your G5216 own G2398 hands, G5495 as G2531 we commanded G3853 you; G5213

1 Thessalonians 3:4 STRONG

For G1063 verily, G2532 when G3753 we were G2258 with G4314 you, G5209 we told G4302 you G5213 before G4302 that G3754 we should G3195 suffer tribulation; G2346 even G2532 as G2531 it came to pass, G1096 and G2532 ye know. G1492

Luke 24:44 STRONG

And G1161 he said G2036 unto them, G846 These G3778 are the words G3056 which G3739 I spake G2980 unto G4314 you, G5209 while G5607 I was yet G2089 with G4862 you, G5213 that G3754 all things G3956 must G1163 be fulfilled, G4137 which G3588 were written G1125 in G1722 the law G3551 of Moses, G3475 and G2532 in the prophets, G4396 and G2532 in the psalms, G5568 concerning G4012 me. G1700

John 16:4 STRONG

But G235 these things G5023 have I told G2980 you, G5213 that G2443 when G3752 the time G5610 shall come, G2064 ye may remember G3421 that G3754 I G1473 told G2036 you G5213 of them. G846 And G1161 these things G5023 I said G2036 not G3756 unto you G5213 at G1537 the beginning, G746 because G3754 I was G2252 with G3326 you. G5216

Acts 20:18 STRONG

And G1161 when G5613 they were come G3854 to G4314 him, G846 he said G2036 unto them, G846 Ye G5210 know, G1987 from G575 the first G4413 day G2250 that G575 G3739 I came G1910 into G1519 Asia, G773 after what manner G4459 I have been G1096 with G3326 you G5216 at all G3956 seasons, G5550

Commentary on 2 Thessalonians 3 Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible


CHAPTER 3

2Th 3:1-18. He Asks Their Prayers: His Confidence in Them: Prayer for Them: Charges against Disorderly Idle Conduct; His Own Example: Concluding Prayer and Salutation.

1. Finally—literally, "As to what remains."

may have free course—literally, "may run"; spread rapidly without a drag on the wheels of its course. That the new-creating word may "run," as "swiftly" as the creative word at the first (Ps 147:15). The opposite is the word of God being "bound" (2Ti 2:9).

glorified—by sinners accepting it (Ac 13:48; Ga 1:23, 24). Contrast "evil spoken of" (1Pe 4:14).

as it is with you—(1Th 1:6; 4:10; 5:11).

2. that we … be delivered from unreasonable … men—literally, men out of place, inept, unseemly: out of the way bad: more than ordinarily bad. An undesigned coincidence with Ac 18:5-9. Paul was now at Corinth, where the Jews "opposed themselves" to his preaching: in answer to his prayers and those of his converts at Thessalonica and elsewhere, "the Lord, in vision," assured him of exemption from "the hurt," and of success in bringing in "much people." On the unreasonable, out-of-the way perversity of the Jews, as known to the Thessalonians, see 1Th 2:15, 16.

have not faith—or as Greek, "the faith" of the Christian: the only antidote to what is "unreasonable and wicked." The Thessalonians, from their ready acceptance of the Gospel (1Th 1:5, 6), might think "all" would similarly receive it; but the Jews were far from having such a readiness to believe the truth.

3. faithful—alluding to "faith" (2Th 3:2): though many will not believe, the Lord (other very old manuscripts read "God") is still to be believed in as faithful to His promises (1Th 5:24; 2Ti 2:13). Faith on the part of man answers to faithfulness on the part of God.

stablish you—as he had prayed (2Th 2:17). Though it was on himself that wicked men were making their onset, he turns away from asking the Thessalonians' prayers for HIS deliverance (2Th 3:2: so unselfish was he, even in religion), to express his assurance of THEIR establishment in the faith, and preservation from evil. This assurance thus exactly answers to his prayer for them (2Th 2:17), "Our Lord … stablish you in every good word and work." He has before his mind the Lord's Prayer, "Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil"; where, as here, the translation may be, "from the evil one"; the great hinderer of "every good word and work." Compare Mt 13:19, "the wicked one."

4. we have confidence in the Lord—as "faithful" (2Th 3:3). Have confidence in no man when left to himself [Bengel].

that ye both do—Some of the oldest manuscripts insert a clause, "that ye both have done" before, "and are doing, and will do." He means the majority by "ye," not all of them (compare 2Th 3:11; 2Th 1:3; 1Th 3:6).

5. If "the Lord" be here the Holy Ghost (2Co 3:17), the three Persons of the Trinity will occur in this verse.

love of God—love to God.

patient waiting for Christ—rather as Greek, "the patience (endurance) of Christ," namely, which Christ showed [Alford] (2Th 2:4; 1Th 1:3). Estius, however, supports English Version (compare Re 1:9; 3:10). At all events, this grace, "patience," or persevering endurance, is connected with the "hope" (1Th 1:3, 10) of Christ's coming. In Alford's translation we may compare Heb 12:1, 2, "Run with patience (endurance) … looking to Jesus … who, for the joy that was before Him, endured the cross"; so WE are to endure, as looking for the hope to be realized at His coming (Heb 10:36, 37).

6. we command you—Hereby he puts to a particular test their obedience in general to his commands, which obedience he had recognized in 2Th 3:4.

withdraw—literally, "to furl the sails"; as we say, to steer clear of (compare 2Th 3:14). Some had given up labor as though the Lord's day was immediately coming. He had enjoined mild censure of such in 1Th 5:14, "Warn … the unruly"; but now that the mischief had become more confirmed, he enjoins stricter discipline, namely, withdrawal from their company (compare 1Co 5:11; 2Jo 10, 11): not a formal sentence of excommunication, such as was subsequently passed on more heinous offenders (as in 1Co 5:5; 1Ti 1:20). He says "brother," that is, professing Christian; for in the case of unprofessing heathen, believers needed not be so strict (1Co 5:10-13).

disorderly—Paul plainly would not have sanctioned the order of Mendicant Friars, who reduce such a "disorderly" and lazy life to a system. Call it not an order, but a burden to the community (Bengel, alluding to the Greek, 2Th 3:8, for "be chargeable," literally, "be a burden").

the tradition—the oral instruction which he had given to them when present (2Th 3:10), and subsequently committed to writing (1Th 4:11, 12).

which he received of us—Some oldest manuscripts read, "ye received"; others, "they received." The English Version reading has no very old authority.

7. how ye ought to follow us—how ye ought to live so as to "imitate (so the Greek for 'follow') us" (compare Notes, see on 1Co 11:1; 1Th 1:6).

8. eat any man's bread—Greek, "eat bread from any man," that is, live at anyone's expense. Contrast 2Th 3:12, "eat THEIR OWN bread."

wrought—(Ac 20:34). In both Epistles they state they maintained themselves by labor; but in this second Epistle they do so in order to offer themselves herein as an example to the idle; whereas, in the first, their object in doing so is to vindicate themselves from all imputation of mercenary motives in preaching the Gospel (1Th 2:5, 9) [Edmunds]. They preached gratuitously though they might have claimed maintenance from their converts.

labour and travail—"toil and hardship" (see on 1Th 2:9).

night and day—scarcely allowing time for repose.

chargeable—Greek, "a burden," or "burdensome." The Philippians did not regard it as a burden to contribute to his support (Php 4:15, 16), sending to him while he was in this very Thessalonica (Ac 16:15, 34, 40). Many Thessalonians, doubtless, would have felt it a privilege to contribute, but as he saw some idlers among them who would have made a pretext of his example to justify themselves, he waived his right. His reason for the same course at Corinth was to mark how different were his aims from those of the false teachers who sought their own lucre (2Co 11:9, 12, 13). It is at the very time and place of writing these Epistles that Paul is expressly said to have wrought at tent-making with Aquila (Ac 18:3); an undesigned coincidence.

9. (1Co 9:4-6, &c.; Ga 6:6.)

10. For even—Translate, "For also." We not only set you the example, but gave a positive "command."

commanded—Greek imperfect, "We were commanding"; we kept charge of you.

would not work—Greek, "is unwilling to work." Bengel makes this to be the argument: not that such a one is to have his food withdrawn from him by others; but he proves from the necessity of eating the necessity of working; using this pleasantry, Let him who will not work show himself an angel, that is, do without food as the angels do (but since he cannot do without food, then he ought to be not unwilling to work). It seems to me simpler to take it as a punishment of the idle. Paul often quotes good adages current among the people, stamping them with inspired approval. In the Hebrew, "Bereshith Rabba," the same saying is found; and in the book Zeror, "He who will not work before the sabbath, must not eat on the sabbath."

11. busy bodies—In the Greek the similarity of sound marks the antithesis, "Doing none of their own business, yet overdoing in the business of others." Busy about everyone's business but their own. "Nature abhors a vacuum"; so if not doing one's own business, one is apt to meddle with his neighbor's business. Idleness is the parent of busybodies (1Ti 5:13). Contrast 1Th 4:11.

12. by—The oldest manuscripts read, "IN the Lord Jesus." So the Greek, 1Th 4:1, implying the sphere wherein such conduct is appropriate and consistent. "We exhort you thus, as ministers IN Christ, exhorting our people IN Christ."

with quietness—quiet industry; laying aside restless, bustling, intermeddling officiousness (2Th 3:11).

their own—bread earned by themselves, not another's bread (2Th 3:8).

13. be not weary—The oldest manuscripts read, "Be not cowardly in"; do not be wanting in strenuousness in doing well. Edmunds explains it: Do not culpably neglect to do well, namely, with patient industry do your duty in your several callings. In contrast to the "disorderly, not-working busybodies" (2Th 3:11; compare Ga 6:9).

14. note that man—mark him in your own mind as one to be avoided (2Th 3:6).

that he may be ashamed—Greek, "made to turn and look into himself, and so be put to shame." Feeling himself shunned by godly brethren, he may become ashamed of his course.

15. admonish him as a brother—not yet excommunicated (compare Le 19:17). Do not shun him in contemptuous silence, but tell him why he is so avoided (Mt 18:15; 1Th 5:14).

16. Lord of peace—Jesus Christ. The same title is given to Him as to the Father, "the God of peace" (Ro 15:33; 16:20; 2Co 13:11). An appropriate title in the prayer here, where the harmony of the Christian community was liable to interruption from the "disorderly." The Greek article requires the translation, "Give you the peace" which it is "His to give." "Peace" outward and inward, here and hereafter (Ro 14:17).

always—unbroken, not changing with outward circumstances.

by all means—Greek, "in every way." Most of the oldest manuscripts read, "in every place"; thus he prays for their peace in all times ("always") and places.

Lord be with you all—May He bless you not only with peace, but also with His presence (Mt 28:20). Even the disorderly brethren (compare 2Th 3:15, "a brother") are included in this prayer.

17. The Epistle was written by an amanuensis (perhaps Silas or Timothy), and only the closing salutation written by Paul's "own hand" (compare Ro 16:22; 1Co 16:21; Col 4:18). Wherever Paul does not subjoin this autograph salutation, we may presume he wrote the whole Epistle himself (Ga 6:11).

which—which autograph salutation.

the token—to distinguish genuine Epistles from spurious ones put forth in my name (2Th 2:2).

in every epistle—Some think he signed his name to every Epistle with his own hand; but as there is no trace of this in any manuscripts of all the Epistles, it is more likely that he alludes to his writing with his own hand in closing every Epistle, even in those Epistles (Romans, Second Corinthians, Ephesians, Philippians, First Thessalonians) wherein he does not specify his having done so.

so I write—so I sign my name: this is a specimen of my handwriting, by which to distinguish my geniune letters from forgeries.

18. He closes every Epistle by praying for GRACE to those whom he addresses.

Amen—omitted in the oldest manuscripts It was doubtless the response of the congregation after hearing the Epistle read publicly; hence it crept into copies.

The Subscription is spurious, as the Epistle was written not "from Athens," but from Corinth.