Paul's Exhortations to the Thessalonian Church 2nd Letter Volume 20

Paul Warns them Against Idleness Part 2

2 Thessalonians 3:8-10 Neither did we eat any man's bread for nought; but wrought with labour and travail night and day, that we might not be chargeable to any of you: Not because we have not power, but to make ourselves an ensample unto you to follow us. For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat. KJV

Paul continues on in his declaration to these believers in the Church @ Thessalonica and we believers today of how he never even considered being a freeloader or one who lived lavishly, luxuriously, or largely (that is living large which is the common expression today) off of the sweat equity of others, as if this was the reason our Lord, Master, and Savior Jesus Christ left the Ivory Palace of His Throne in Heaven to enter a weak human body and live in this world of woe and die a brutal and horrible death to save sinners and make them rich or wealthy with earthly temporal stuff that will all be burned up into nothing upon His 2nd Coming (2 Peter 3:10), of course this is not the purpose of the Gospel. So again Paul continues to use himself as an example of a true believers conduct to money and to what it should be used for by the believer, for Paul worked to earn his own money, not to become rich, but that he would be able to eat bread without sponging off of the toil, travail, and treasure of others, even though (as an Apostle of Jesus Christ) he had every right to receive money from this Church to supply his needs and necessities. The reason he did not do what was his right as an Apostle was to set an example for these new believers in the city of Thessalonica and most important to him was not to be a burden to them financially, so he reminds them of this very fact with these words written, "Neither did we eat any man's bread for nought; but wrought with labour and travail night and day, that we might not be chargeable to any of you:" (2 Thessalonians 3:8) (KJV).

Paul wanted this message to reverberate throughout the entire Church that it was not the will of God that believers should freeload or sponge off of other believers taking advantage of their generosity. Paul wanted to completely distiguish himself from the false apostles and distance himself from their behavior of always having their hand out for a gift or an offerring, for they only were interested in monetary gain just as Paul described them to brother Titus with these words, "For there are many disorderly {and} unruly men who are idle (vain, empty) {and} misleading talkers and self-deceivers {and} deceivers of others. [This is true] especially of those of the circumcision party [who have come over from Judaism]. Their mouths must be stopped, for they are mentally distressing {and} subverting whole families by teaching what they ought not to teach, for the purpose of getting base advantage {and} disreputable gain." (Titus 1:10-11) (Amplified Bible). Think of it, one of the men who will sit on one of the twelve (12) Thrones judging the 12 tribes of Israel (our Lord Jesus Christ said this) (Matthew 19:28) paid for what he needed during his time in the city of Thessalonica and in the other cities as well. Did he have to? Of course not, but he wanted to and did, so that he might show that someone who truly loved them as brothers and sisters would not be desirous of getting or taking from them, but more wanted to give to them the whole counsel of God, that is the Word of God.

Paul immediately reminds them of his position, for he was an Apostle of Jesus Christ appointed directly by our Lord, Master, and Savior Himself to be 'the Apostle to the Gentiles', therefore, he had the authority, that is, the power and the right to receive all of his goods and services from their treasure as he writes with these words, "Not because we have not power, but to make ourselves an ensample unto you to follow us." (2 Thessalonians 3:9) (KJV). The little English phrase 'an ensample' is translated by one Greek word tupos meaning (figuratively) style or resemblance; specifically a sampler (type), that is, a model (for imitation). It was not that Paul did not use his authority and right as an Apostle of Jesus Christ, for he did so with the Philippian Church (Philippians 4:15) because he was confident in their ability to not misunderstand and become idle freeloading off one another. To reinforce this idea, Paul now reminds them of what he apparently taught them by his own actions and by what he directed and commanded them while he lived among them for the short time with these words, "For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat." (2 Thessalonians 3:10) (KJV). Paul does not want the freeloaders to be sustained in their freeloading status, but that those giving (of their generosity) to them would stop. The command was for those who were unwilling to work, but rather had their hands out willingly to take from others.

"We were incessantly employed, either in preaching the Gospel, visiting from house to house, or working at our calling. As it is very evident that the Church at Thessalonica was very pious, and most affectionately attached to the Apostle, they must have been very poor, seeing he was obliged to work hard to gain himself the necessaries of life. Had they been able to support him he would not have worked with labor and travail night and day, that he might not be burdensome to them; and, as we may presume that they were very poor, he could not have got his support among them without adding to their burdens. To this his generous mind could not submit; it is no wonder, therefore, that he is so severe against those who would not labor, but were a burden to the poor followers of God." Adam Clarke

"It would seem from this that the evil of which the Apostle here complains had begun to operate even when he was with them. There were those who were disposed to be idle, and who needed the solemn command of an Apostle to induce them to labor. They should not be supported by the Church. This was a maxim among the Jews and the same sentiment may be found in Homer, Demosthenes, and Pythagoras. The maxim is founded in obvious justice, and is in accordance with the great law under which our Creator has placed us; Genesis 3:19. That law, in the circumstances, was benevolent, and it should be our aim to carry it out in reference to ourselves and to others. The law here laid down by the Apostle extends to all who are able to work for a living, and who will not do it, and binds us not to contribute to their support if they will not labor for it. It should be regarded as extending: to the members of a Church - who, though poor, should not be supported by their brethren, unless they are willing to work in any way they can for their own maintenance. to those who beg from door to door, who should never be assisted unless they are willing to do all they can do for their own support. No one can be justified in assisting a lazy man. In no possible circumstances are we to contribute to foster indolence. A man might as properly help to maintain open vice." Albert Barnes

If you do not know the Lord Jesus Christ and His amazing healing power, pray this from your heart to the Lord Jesus Christ (you speaking directly to Him), Dear Lord Jesus, I confess to You that I am a sinner and I need Your forgiveness. I believe You shed Your Blood and died for my sins. I believe that You rose from the dead proving that You alone are God. I repent of my sins. I want to turn from my sins. I ask You Dear Lord Jesus to come into my heart and take control of my life. I want You to be my Lord, Savior, and my God. Amen...

Sincerely in Christ,

Clifford D. Tate, Sr.
Author of “Silent Assassins of the Soul - Are you Broken by Pornography and Masturbation? You can be Restored by the Lord Jesus Christ and brought into Deliverance, Freedom, and Victory! A Guide for Men and Women in the Enemy’s Crosshairs” e-book available now @ Amazon Kindle, @ Apple I Bookstore for IPod, Barnes and Noble for Nook, Reader Store for Sony Reade, Kobo, Copia, Gardners, Baker and Taylor, and eBookPie…