2 Thessalonians 3:6-10, 16-18
Chapter 3
6
Against Idleness
We urge you, beloved, to stay away from believers who are living in idleness, contrary to the traditions we passed on to you.7
You know you should follow our example: we worked while we were with you,
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And we did not eat food received free from anyone without paying for it; but with toil and labor we worked day and night to avoid being a burden to any of you.
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We could have acted differently, but we chose to set an example for you.
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Furthermore, while we were with you, we made it clear: If anyone is unwilling to work, they should not eat.
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May the Lord of peace give you his peace always and in every way. May the Lord be with you all.
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I, Paul, am writing this greeting by my own hand. This is my signature on all my letters. This is how I sign my name.
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May the grace of Christ Jesus our Lord be with you.
Commentaries
Against Idleness.
If earlier he discussed the forces of evil that led some to turn away from faith and created confusion, now the author of the letter shifts focus to the chaos caused by certain individuals in the community through their irresponsible actions. An absurd and dangerous result of believing that the parousia was near—mentioned earlier in 1 Thessalonians 4:11—was idleness, waiting around for “the holy advent,” as it is popularly called. His warning is stern and realistic: “if anyone does not want to work, let him not eat” (10), or in other words, if they think that the Lord’s imminent return excuses them from working, it should also mean they don’t need to eat. Paul shares his personal experience as a worker who earns his livelihood through hard labor. The closing greeting adds a note of peace to this needed but firm message.