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New Life Version

2 Thessalonians 3:10

When we were with you, we told you that if a man does not work, he should not eat.

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Commandments;   Example;   Idleness;   Industry;   Labor;   Slothfulness;  

Dictionaries:

- Bridgeway Bible Dictionary - Work;   Baker Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology - Discipline;   Thessalonians, First and Second, Theology of;   Wealth;   Work;   Fausset Bible Dictionary - Alms;   Paul;   Poor;   Proverbs, the Book of;   Thessalonians, the Epistles to the;   Tradition;   Holman Bible Dictionary - Idle;   Imitate;   2 Thessalonians;   Hastings' Dictionary of the New Testament - Abuse, Abusers;   Almsgiving ;   Boyhood ;   Care, Careful;   Collection;   Commandment;   Discipline;   Energy;   Example;   Good;   Labour;   Labour (2);   Self-Denial;   Socialism;   Thessalonians Epistles to the;  

Encyclopedias:

- International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Salvation;   Thessalonians, the Second Epistle of Paul to the;   Kitto Biblical Cyclopedia - Alms;  

Devotionals:

- Daily Light on the Daily Path - Devotion for September 11;  

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
In fact, when we were with you, this is what we commanded you: “If anyone isn’t willing to work, he should not eat.”
King James Version (1611)
For euen when wee were with you, this wee commanded you, that if any would not worke, neither should he eate.
King James Version
For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat.
English Standard Version
For even when we were with you, we would give you this command: If anyone is not willing to work, let him not eat.
New American Standard Bible
For even when we were with you, we used to give you this order: if anyone is not willing to work, then he is not to eat, either.
New Century Version
When we were with you, we gave you this rule: "Anyone who refuses to work should not eat."
New American Standard Bible (1995)
For even when we were with you, we used to give you this order: if anyone is not willing to work, then he is not to eat, either.
Legacy Standard Bible
For even when we were with you, we used to command this to you: if anyone is not willing to work, neither let him eat.
Berean Standard Bible
For even while we were with you, we gave you this command: "If anyone is unwilling to work, he shall not eat."
Contemporary English Version
We also gave you the rule that if you don't work, you don't eat.
Complete Jewish Bible
For even when we were with you, we gave you this command: if someone won't work, he shouldn't eat!
Darby Translation
For also when we were with you we enjoined you this, that if any man does not like to work, neither let him eat.
Easy-to-Read Version
When we were with you, we gave you this rule: "Whoever will not work should not be allowed to eat."
Geneva Bible (1587)
For euen when we were with you, this we warned you of, that if there were any, which would not worke, that he should not eate.
George Lamsa Translation
For even when we were with you, we commanded this very thing to you, that whoever is unwilling to work should likewise not eat.
Good News Translation
While we were with you, we used to tell you, "Whoever refuses to work is not allowed to eat."
Lexham English Bible
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.
Literal Translation
For even when we were with you, we commanded this to you: If anyone does not desire to work, neither let him eat.
Amplified Bible
For even while we were with you, we used to give you this order: if anyone is not willing to work, then he is not to eat, either.
American Standard Version
For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, If any will not work, neither let him eat.
Bible in Basic English
For even when we were with you we gave you orders, saying, If any man does no work, let him not have food.
Hebrew Names Version
For even when we were with you, we commanded you this: "If anyone will not work, neither let him eat."
International Standard Version
While we were with you, we gave this order: "If anyone doesn't want to work, he shouldn't eat."Genesis 3:19; 1 Thessalonians 4:11;">[xr]
Etheridge Translation
For while we were with you, this we commanded you, that every one who willeth not to work, neither should he eat.
Murdock Translation
And while we were with you, we also gave you this precept, That every one who would not work, should likewise not eat.
Bishop's Bible (1568)
For when we were with you, this we warned you of: that yf any woulde not worke, the same shoulde not eate.
English Revised Version
For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, If any will not work, neither let him eat.
World English Bible
For even when we were with you, we commanded you this: "If anyone will not work, neither let him eat."
Wesley's New Testament (1755)
For when we were with you, this we commanded you, If any will not work, neither let him eat.
Weymouth's New Testament
For even when we were with you, we laid down this rule for you: "If a man does not choose to work, neither shall he eat."
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
For also whanne we weren among you, we denounsiden this thing to you, that if ony man wole not worche, nethir ete he.
Update Bible Version
For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, If any will not work, neither let him eat.
Webster's Bible Translation
For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat.
New English Translation
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."
New King James Version
For even when we were with you, we commanded you this: If anyone will not work, neither shall he eat.
New Living Translation
Even while we were with you, we gave you this command: "Those unwilling to work will not get to eat."
New Revised Standard
For even when we were with you, we gave you this command: Anyone unwilling to work should not eat.
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
For, even when we were with you, this, were we giving in charge unto you, - that, if any will not work, neither let him eat!
Douay-Rheims Bible
For also, when we were with you, this we declared to you: that, if any man will not work, neither let him eat.
Revised Standard Version
For even when we were with you, we gave you this command: If any one will not work, let him not eat.
Tyndale New Testament (1525)
For when we were with you this we warned you of yt yf ther were eny which wolde not worke that ye same shuld not eate.
Young's Literal Translation
for even when we were with you, this we did command you, that if any one is not willing to work, neither let him eat,
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
And whan we were wt you, this we warned you of, that yf there were eny which wolde not worke, ye same shulde not eate.
Mace New Testament (1729)
pursuant to the maxim, which we laid down, when among you, "he that refuses to work should be deny'd food."
THE MESSAGE
Don't you remember the rule we had when we lived with you? "If you don't work, you don't eat." And now we're getting reports that a bunch of lazy good-for-nothings are taking advantage of you. This must not be tolerated. We command them to get to work immediately—no excuses, no arguments—and earn their own keep. Friends, don't slack off in doing your duty.
Simplified Cowboy Version
Y'all even heard us say, "If you ain't willing to work, then you must be willing to have an empty stomach."

Contextual Overview

6 Now this is what we tell you to do, Christian brothers. In the name of the Lord Jesus, keep away from any Christian who is lazy and who does not do what we taught you. 7 You know you should follow the way of life we lived when we were with you. We worked hard while we were there. 8 We did not eat anyone's food without paying for it. We worked hard night and day so none of you would have to give us anything. 9 We could have asked you to give us food. But we did not so that you might follow our way of living. 10 When we were with you, we told you that if a man does not work, he should not eat. 11 We hear that some are not working. But they are spending their time trying to see what others are doing. 12 Our words to such people are that they should be quiet and go to work. They should eat their own food. In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ we say this. 13 But you, Christian brothers, do not get tired of doing good. 14 If anyone does not want to listen to what we say in this letter, remember who he is and stay away from him. In that way, he will be put to shame. 15 Do not think of him as one who hates you. But talk to him as a Christian brother.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

when: Luke 24:44, John 16:4, Acts 20:18

that: Genesis 3:19, Proverbs 13:4, Proverbs 20:4, Proverbs 21:25, Proverbs 24:30-34, 1 Thessalonians 4:11

Reciprocal: Genesis 47:3 - What is Genesis 47:22 - for the priests Exodus 5:17 - General Judges 19:16 - his work Proverbs 13:25 - the belly Proverbs 14:23 - but Proverbs 19:15 - and Proverbs 20:13 - Love Proverbs 31:13 - worketh Matthew 11:1 - commanding 1 Thessalonians 4:2 - General 2 Thessalonians 2:5 - when 2 Thessalonians 3:6 - after

Cross-References

Genesis 2:25
The man and his wife were both without clothes and were not ashamed.
Genesis 3:7
Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they knew they were without clothes. So they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves clothing.
Genesis 3:17
Then He said to Adam, "Because you have listened to the voice of your wife, and have eaten from the tree of which I told you, "Do not eat from it," the ground is cursed because of you. By hard work you will eat food from it all the days of your life.
Genesis 3:18
It will grow thorns and thistles for you. You will eat the plants of the field.
Exodus 3:6
He said also, "I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob." Then Moses hid his face. For he was afraid to look at God.
Exodus 32:25
Moses saw that Aaron had let the people go wild and become a shame to those who hated them.
Job 23:15
So I am afraid to be with Him. When I think about it, I am very afraid of Him.
Psalms 119:120
My flesh shakes in fear of You, and I am afraid of how You may punish.
Isaiah 33:14
Sinners in Zion are filled with fear. The sinful shake with fear. They cry, "Who among us can live with the fire that destroys? Who among us can live with the fire that burns forever?"
Isaiah 47:3
Your body will not be covered, and your shame will be seen. I will punish, and will not show pity to any man."

Gill's Notes on the Bible

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, דאי לא אכיל, or לעי לא נגיס, "that if a man would not work, he should not eat" q. And again r,

"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.

q Bereshit Rabba, sect. 14. fol. 13. 1. Echa Rabbati, fol. 48. 4. & Midrash Koholet, fol. 65. 4. r T. Bab. Avoda Zara, fol. 3. 1.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

For even when we were with you, this we commanded you - 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.

That if any would not work, neither should he eat - That is, at the public expense. They should not be supported by the church. This was a maxim among the Jews (see Wetstein, in loc.), and the same sentiment may be found in Homer, Demosthenes, and Pythagoras; see Grotius, in loc. 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:

(1)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.

(2)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.



Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse 10. If any would not work, neither should he eat. — This is a just maxim, and universal nature inculcates it to man. If man will work, he may eat; if he do not work, he neither can eat, nor should he eat. The maxim is founded on these words of the Lord: In the sweat of thy brow thou shall eat bread. Industry is crowned with God's blessing; idleness is loaded with his curse. This maxim was a proverb among the Jews. Men who can work, and will rather support themselves by begging, should not get one morsel of bread. It is a sin to minister to necessities that are merely artificial.


 
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