Kehillah in Thessalonika II 3:6-15

6 Now we charge you, Achim b’Moshiach, b’Shem Adoneinu Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach Yehoshua, to shun chavrusashaft (association) with every one of the Achim b’Moshiach who follows the derech habatlanim (way of idlers) and walks not according to Moshiach’s [pnimiyus] haTorah that was handed over and transmitted to you and which you received from us [Shlichim].

7 For you yourselves have da’as how it is necessary to imitate us as a mofet, a role model, because we [Shlichim] were not batlanim (idlers) among you.

8 Nor did we eat lechem (food) from anyone gratis, but in labor and exertion lailah v’yomam (night and day) we were working for the tachlis (purpose) of not weighing down and burdening any one of you;

9 Not because we do not have the zchus (right), but in order that we impart ourselves as a mofet (role model) to you that you might imitate us.

10 For even when we were with you, this we used to direct you: that if anyone will not be a po’el (worker), neither let him be an ochel (eater) [Gn 3:19].

11 For we hear that some among you are leading the life of a batlan (loafer), not being busy with a parnasah, but being busybodies with hitarevut (meddlesomeness).

12 Now such persons we are directing and exhort in Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach Yehoshua Adoneinu to work with quietness that they may eat their own lechem.

13 But you, Achim b’Moshiach, do not lose chozek in well-doing.

14 But if anyone does not obey the gzeira (injunction) in this iggeret hakodesh (holy letter), take special notice of that one; do not have chavrusashaft (association) with him, for the tachlis (purpose) of stirring him with a sense of bushah (shame).

15 And do not consider (him) an oyev (enemy) but warn him as an Ach b’Moshiach.

Kehillah in Thessalonika II 3:6-15 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO 2 THESSALONIANS 3

In this chapter the apostle requests of the Thessalonians, that they would pray for him, and other Gospel ministers; and he puts up prayers for them, gives them rules about dealing with disorderly persons, and concludes the epistle with his usual salutation. The request to pray for ministers is in 2Th 3:1 the petitions to be made for them are, that their ministry might be succeeded, and their persons preserved and delivered from evil minded men, destitute of faith in Christ, 2Th 3:1-2 and, for the consolation of the saints, observes the faithfulness of God engaged in their behalf to establish them in the faith they had, and to preserve them from everything and person that is evil, 2Th 3:3 and expresses his confidence in them with respect to their walk and conversation, 2Th 3:4 and then prays for them that their hearts might be directed into the love of God, and patience of Christ, 2Th 3:5. And next follows an order to withdraw from every disorderly walker, particularly idle and slothful persons, 2Th 3:6 and from such a lazy idle life the apostle dissuades by his own example, who behaved not disorderly, nor ate the bread of others, but wrought with his own hands, though he had a right to a maintenance without it, but did this to set an example to them, 2Th 3:7-9. He puts them in mind of a precept of his when among them, that such who would not work should not eat, 2Th 3:10 and the order he now gave, and the precept he reminds them of, were not without reason; seeing there were disorderly idle persons, and busy bodies, among them, whom the apostle exhorts and beseeches, in the name of Christ, to be industrious, and eat their own bread, as the fruit of their labours, 2Th 3:11,12 and as for the other members of the church, he exhorts them to diligence and constancy in well doing, and to mark those that were incorrigible, and have no conversation with them, yet dealing with them not as enemies, but admonishing them as brethren, 2Th 3:13-15. And closes all with prayers, that the Lord would give them peace, and grant his presence to them, and with his usual salutation, written with his own hand, as a token of this being a genuine epistle of his, and by which every epistle of his might be known, 2Th 3:16-18.