2 Thess 3:10. “For even when we were with you, we gave you this command: that if anyone does not wish to work, neither let him eat.”
That part in which he admonishes the good to withdraw themselves from the disorderly is divided into three parts. First, he gives a warning; secondly, he assigns the reason; thirdly, he recalls that he had already given the same warning before.
He says therefore, “For,” as though to say: we acted in such a way among you as to give our very selves to you as an example. And truly, we labored for your example; for when we were with you in bodily presence, we announced this to you—commanding and admonishing you—that if anyone does not wish to work, neither let him eat. As if he were saying, if he wishes to eat, let him work.
As it is written (1 Thessalonians 4:11): Work with your own hands, as we commanded you.
2 Thess 3:11. “For we have heard that some among you walk in a disorderly manner, doing nothing, but being busybodies.”
After having warned the good to withdraw from the disorderly, here he admonishes the disorderly themselves that they may correct themselves. And first, he shows that there are some among them who stand in need of correction; secondly, he commands them to reform themselves.
“To those, however, who are of this sort,” thirdly, he exhorts the good not to cease doing good to the poor.
“But you, brethren…”
In this first part, he notes three things about some of them: first, their restlessness; secondly, their idleness—doing nothing; thirdly, their curiosity or meddling.
But curiosity (curiositas) arises from the rational part of the soul; restlessness (inquietudo) from the irascible part; idleness (otiositas) from the concupiscible part.
He therefore says, We have heard, as if to say: we give this command, that he who does not wish to work should not eat idly. And this we command for this reason, because we have heard that certain ones among you are restless, walking disorderly—that is, without peace. As it is written (Isaiah 57:20): The heart of the wicked is like the raging sea, which cannot rest. And (1 Thessalonians 5:14): Admonish the unruly, etc.
Some, I say, are doing nothing, that is, slothful and idle. As it is written (Proverbs 21:25): The desires of the sluggard kill him. They were unwilling, I say, to do anything with their hands, but were busybodies—that is, curious about the affairs of others.
As the Apostle says (1 Timothy 5:13): They learn to be idle, going about from house to house; not only idle, but also gossips and busybodies, speaking about things they ought not.
Thus they are not only idle, but also talkative and inquisitive about matters that do not profit.
2 Thess 3:12. “Now to such persons we command and beseech, in the Lord Jesus Christ, that working with silence they eat their own bread.”
Here he commands the restless (inquieti) that they correct themselves.
First, he sets forth the form of admonition: “We declare and beseech you in the Lord.”
Secondly, he adds the manner of correction: “That, with silence, they work.”
He says therefore: But to those who are such—that is, the restless and the idle—we declare, by way of command, and we beseech, by way of entreaty and admonition. Or rather, we declare that they may know, and we beseech that they may do—and this in the Lord Jesus Christ, that is, by the authority of the Lord Jesus Christ.
As it is written (1 Corinthians 13:3): Do you seek proof of the one who speaks in me?
“We declare,” I say, “that, working in silence with their own hands”—as Isaiah says (Isaiah 32:17): The cultivation of justice shall be peace and silence—they eat their own bread, not another’s; that is, that they eat the bread gained by their own labor.
As it is written (Psalm 127:2): You shall eat the labors of your hands; you shall be blessed and it shall be well with you.
Therefore he admonishes against three things:
—Silence, against restlessness;
—Working with the hands, against idleness;
—Eating their own bread, not delicacies, against the curiosity or excessive refinement of foods.
Blessed is he who works against idleness, is silent against vain speech, eats his own bread against gluttony, and eats his own against robbery.
Comments
Post a Comment