2TH 3:6-15

A Warning against Idleness

6Now we command you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, to withdraw yourselves from every brother walking idly and not according to the tradition received from us. [3:7] For you yourselves know how you ought to follow our example, because we were not idle among you, [3:8] nor did we eat anyone's bread without paying for it, but with hardship and toil we worked night and day, so as not to burden any of you — [3:9] not because we do not have the right, but to give you ourselves as an example to follow. [3:10] For even when we were with you, we gave you this command: if anyone is not willing to work, let him not eat. [3:11] For we hear that some among you are walking idly, not doing any work, but being busybodies. [3:12] Now such persons we command and urge in the Lord Jesus Christ to work quietly and to eat their own bread. [3:13] As for you, brothers, do not grow weary in doing good. [3:14] If anyone does not obey what we say in this letter, take note of that person, and have nothing to do with him, that he may be ashamed. [3:15] Do not regard him as an enemy, but warn him as a brother.

In the world it was spoken into

In the Greco-Roman world, work was deeply tied to social identity and honor. Manual labor was often viewed as demeaning, reserved for slaves or the lower classes, while leisure was a mark of status. However, Jewish and early Christian traditions emphasized the dignity of labor, rooted in creation and Torah. Paul’s emphasis on working 'night and day' reflects this ethic, contrasting with the idle who disrupt communal harmony. The term , borrowed from military language, implies disorderly conduct, akin to soldiers breaking rank. In the Thessalonian community, some may have abandoned work, perhaps due to eschatological fervor, expecting the Lord’s imminent return. Paul counters this by modeling self-sufficiency, refusing patronage (bread without payment) to avoid burdening others, though he acknowledges his right to support. His command to withdraw from the idle underscores the communal responsibility to uphold order and mutual accountability, reflecting the honor-shame dynamics of the broader culture.

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How other translations render this

2TH 3:6

KJV: Now we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye withdraw yourselves from every brother that walketh disorderly, and not after the tradition which he received of us.
BSB: Now 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.
Koinōnos: Now we command you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, to withdraw yourselves from every brother walking idly and not according to the tradition received from us.

2TH 3:7

KJV: For yourselves know how ye ought to follow us: for we behaved not ourselves disorderly among you;
BSB: For you yourselves know how you ought to imitate us, because we were not undisciplined among you,
Koinōnos: For you yourselves know how you ought to follow our example, because we were not idle among you,

2TH 3:8

KJV: 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:
BSB: nor did we eat anyoneʼs 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.
Koinōnos: nor did we eat anyone's bread without paying for it, but with hardship and toil we worked night and day, so as not to burden any of you —

2TH 3:9

KJV: Not because we have not power, but to make ourselves an ensample unto you to follow us.
BSB: Not that we lack this right, but we wanted to offer ourselves as an example for you to imitate.
Koinōnos: not because we do not have the right, but to give you ourselves as an example to follow.

2TH 3:10

KJV: For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat.
BSB: For even while we were with you, we gave you this command: “If anyone is unwilling to work, he shall not eat.”
Koinōnos: For even when we were with you, we gave you this command: if anyone is not willing to work, let him not eat.

2TH 3:11

KJV: For we hear that there are some which walk among you disorderly, working not at all, but are busybodies.
BSB: For we hear that some of you are leading undisciplined lives, accomplishing nothing, but being busybodies.
Koinōnos: For we hear that some among you are walking idly, not doing any work, but being busybodies.

2TH 3:12

KJV: Now them that are such we command and exhort by our Lord Jesus Christ, that with quietness they work, and eat their own bread.
BSB: We command and urge such people by our Lord Jesus Christ to begin working quietly to earn their own living.
Koinōnos: Now such persons we command and urge in the Lord Jesus Christ to work quietly and to eat their own bread.

2TH 3:13

KJV: But ye, brethren, be not weary in well doing.
BSB: But as for you, brothers, do not grow weary in well-doing.
Koinōnos: As for you, brothers, do not grow weary in doing good.

2TH 3:14

KJV: And if any man obey not our word by this epistle, note that man, and have no company with him, that he may be ashamed.
BSB: Take 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.
Koinōnos: If anyone does not obey what we say in this letter, take note of that person, and have nothing to do with him, that he may be ashamed.

2TH 3:15

KJV: Yet count him not as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother.
BSB: Yet do not regard him as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother.
Koinōnos: Do not regard him as an enemy, but warn him as a brother.

Only verses where the wording diverges meaningfully are shown. Identical phrasings are suppressed.

Translator's notes

2TH 3:6

We command:The word translated 'We command' was a military term for an order given by a superior officer, carrying a strong sense of authority and expectation of obedience.
idly:The term translated 'idly' literally means 'out of order' or 'undisciplined,' like a soldier who has broken ranks or is not at his post, implying a disruptive and disorderly conduct.

2TH 3:8

hardship:The word translated 'hardship' refers to strenuous, painful toil or labor, often implying distress and suffering that accompanies the effort.

2TH 3:11

being busybodies.:The phrase 'being busybodies' comes from a word that literally means to 'over-work' or 'be over-industrious' in things that don't concern one, implying meddling and wasting effort on others' affairs.