2 Thessalonians 3:10

10 For even when we were with you, this we declared unto you, that if anyone desires not to work neither should he eat.

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.

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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 neither did we eat any man’s bread for nought, but working with labour and travail night and day, that we might not be a burden to any of you,

9 Not because we did not have authority, but to give you an example that you might imitate us.

10 For even when we were with you, this we declared unto you, that if anyone desires not to work neither should he eat.

11 For we hear that there are some who walk among you out of order, not working at all, but are busybodies.

12 Now those that are such, we charge and exhort in our Lord Jesus Christ, that working with quietness, they eat their bread.