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Response to the Undisciplined

But we command you, brothers and sisters,[a] in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, to keep away from any brother who lives an undisciplined[b] life[c] and not according to the tradition they[d] received from us. For you know yourselves how you must imitate us, because we did not behave without discipline[e] among you, and we did not eat anyone’s food without paying.[f] Instead, in toil and drudgery we worked[g] night and day in order not to burden any of you. It was not because we do not have that right, but to give ourselves as an example for you to imitate.[h] 10 For even when we were with you, we used to give you this command: “If anyone is not willing to work, neither should he eat.” 11 For we hear that some among you are living an undisciplined life,[i] not doing their own work but meddling in the work of others.[j] 12 Now such people we command and urge in the Lord Jesus Christ to work quietly and so provide their own food to eat.[k] 13 But you, brothers and sisters,[l] do not grow weary in doing what is right. 14 But if anyone does not obey our message through this letter, take note of him and do not associate closely with him, so that he may be ashamed. 15 Yet do not regard him as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother.[m]

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Footnotes

  1. 2 Thessalonians 3:6 tn Grk “brothers.” See note on the phrase “brothers and sisters” in 1:3.
  2. 2 Thessalonians 3:6 tn Or “unruly, out of line.” The particular violation Paul has in mind is idleness (as described in vv. 8-11), so this could be translated to reflect that.
  3. 2 Thessalonians 3:6 tn Grk “walking in an undisciplined way” (“walking” is a common NT idiom for one’s way of life or conduct).
  4. 2 Thessalonians 3:6 tc The reading “you received” (παρελάβετε, parelabete) is found predominately in Western witnesses (F G), although the support of B and the Sahidic version (along with 1505 2464) strengthens the reading considerably. The reading “they received” is found in two different forms: παρελάβοσαν (parelabosan; in א* A [D*] 0278 33) and παρέλαβον (parelabon; in א2 D1 Ψ 1175 1241 1739 1881 M). (παρέλαβον is evidently a correction of παρελάβοσαν to the more common spelling for the third person aorist form). The external evidence is divided fairly evenly, with παρελάβετε and παρελάβοσαν each having adequate support. Internal evidence leans toward “they received”: Given the second person reading, there is little reason why scribes would intentionally change it to a third person plural, and especially an archaic form at that. There is ample reason, however, for scribes to change the third person form to the second person form given that in the prior context παράδοσις (paradosis, “tradition”) is used with a relative clause (as here) with a second person verb (see 2:15). The third person form should be regarded as authentic.
  5. 2 Thessalonians 3:7 tn This is the verbal form of the words occurring in vv. 6 and 11, meaning “to act out of line, in an unruly way.”
  6. 2 Thessalonians 3:8 tn Grk “we did not eat bread freely from anyone.”
  7. 2 Thessalonians 3:8 tn Grk “but working,” as a continuation of the previous sentence. Because of the length and complexity of the Greek sentence, a new sentence was started with the word “Instead” in the translation.
  8. 2 Thessalonians 3:9 tn Grk “an example for you to imitate us.”
  9. 2 Thessalonians 3:11 tn Grk “walking in an undisciplined way” (“walking” is a common NT idiom for one’s way of life or conduct).
  10. 2 Thessalonians 3:11 tn There is a play on words in the Greek: “working at nothing, but working around,” “not keeping busy but being busybodies.”
  11. 2 Thessalonians 3:12 tn Grk “that by working quietly they may eat their own bread.”
  12. 2 Thessalonians 3:13 tn Grk “brothers.” See note on the phrase “brothers and sisters” in 1:3.
  13. 2 Thessalonians 3:15 tn That is, as a fellow believer.

Warning Against Lazy, Irresponsible Behavior

But we command you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you keep away from every brother who lives irresponsibly and not according to the tradition that they received from us. For you yourselves know how it is necessary to imitate us, that we did not behave irresponsibly among you, nor did we eat bread from anyone without paying, but with toil and labor, we were working night and day in order not to be a burden to any of you, not that we do not have the right, but so that we may give ourselves as an example to you, so that you may imitate us. 10 For even when we were with you, we used to command this to you: that if anyone does not want to work, neither should he eat. 11 For we hear that some among you are living irresponsibly, working at nothing, but being busybodies. 12 Now we command and we exhort such people in the Lord Jesus Christ that, working with quietness, they eat their own bread. 13 But as for you, brothers, do not be discouraged while[a] doing what is right. 14 But if anyone does not obey our message through this letter, take note not to associate with him, in order that he may be put to shame. 15 And do not consider him as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother.

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Footnotes

  1. 2 Thessalonians 3:13 Here “while” is supplied as a component of the participle (“doing what is right”) which is understood as temporal