2 Thessalonians 3:10

10 For also when we were among you, we commanded this thing to you [For why and when we were with you, this thing we announced, or warned, to you], that if any man will not work, neither eat he.

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 without our own travail we ate bread of any man, but in travail and weariness wrought night and day, that we grieved none of you [but in travail and weariness night and day working, that we grieve none of you].

9 Not as we had not power, but that we should give us selves [but that we should give ourselves] [an] ensample to you to follow us.

10 For also when we were among you, we commanded this thing to you [For why and when we were with you, this thing we announced, or warned, to you], that if any man will not work, neither eat he.

11 For we have heard that some among you go unrestfully, and nothing work, but do curiously. [+Soothly we have heard some among you to wander unquietly, or unpeaceably, nothing working, but doing curiously.]

12 But we command to them that be such men, and beseech in the Lord Jesus Christ, that they work with silence, and eat their own bread. [Forsooth we announce to them that be such manner, and beseech in the Lord Jesus Christ, that they with silence, or stillness, working, eat their own bread.]