2 Thessalonians 3:10

10 Even when we were with you we were giving you this command: "If anyone doesn't want to work, they shouldn't eat."

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2 Thessalonians 3:10 Meaning and 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, (lyka al yad) , or (oygn al yel) , "that if a man would not work, he should not eat" {q}. And again F18,

``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.


FOOTNOTES:

F17 Bereshit Rabba, sect. 14. fol. 13. 1. Echa Rabbati, fol. 48. 4. & Midrash Koholet, fol. 65. 4.
F18 T. Bab. Avoda Zara, fol. 3. 1.

2 Thessalonians 3:10 In-Context

8 We didn't eat anyone's food without paying for it. Instead, we worked night and day with effort and hard work so that we would not impose on you.
9 We did this to give you an example to imitate, not because we didn't have a right to insist on financial support.
10 Even when we were with you we were giving you this command: "If anyone doesn't want to work, they shouldn't eat."
11 We hear that some of you are living an undisciplined life. They aren't working, but they are meddling in other people's business.
12 By the Lord Jesus Christ, we command and encourage such people to work quietly and put their own food on the table.
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