A Warning against Idleness

Paul commands the Thessalonians to keep away from any brother who lives in idleness and not according to the received teaching. He points to the apostles' own labor among them and repeats the rule they had already given: if someone is unwilling to work, he should not eat.

N⁶ow we command you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, to keep away from any brother who leads an undisciplined life that is not in keeping with the tradition you received from us. ⁷For you yourselves know how you ought to imitate us, because we were not undisciplined among you, ⁸nor did we eat anyone’s food without paying for it. Instead, in labor and toil, we worked night and day so that we would not be a burden to any of you. ⁹Not that we lack this right, but we wanted to offer ourselves as an example for you to imitate. ¹⁰For even while we were with you, we gave you this command: “If anyone is unwilling to work, he shall not eat.”

Paul says he has heard that some are living in idleness, doing no work but meddling in others' affairs. He commands such people to work quietly and earn their own living, while urging the rest of the church not to grow weary in doing good.

¹¹For we hear that some of you are leading undisciplined lives, accomplishing nothing, but being busybodies. ¹²We command and urge such people by our Lord Jesus Christ to begin working quietly to earn their own living. ¹³But as for you, brothers, do not grow weary in well-doing.

If anyone does not obey the letter's instruction, the church is to take note of that person and refrain from close association so that shame may lead to correction. Even so, he is not to be treated as an enemy, but warned as a brother.

¹⁴Take note of anyone who does not obey the instructions we have given in this letter. Do not associate with him, so that he may be ashamed. ¹⁵Yet do not regard him as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother.