Fathers

2 Thessalonians 3

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Finally, brothers, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may spread rapidly and be glorified, even as also with you, and that we may be delivered from unreasonable and evil men; for not all have faith. But the Lord is faithful, who will establish you and guard you from the evil one. We have confidence in the Lord concerning you, that you both do and will do the things we command. May the Lord direct your hearts into God’s love, and into the perseverance of Christ. Now we command you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you withdraw yourselves from every brother who walks in rebellion, and not after the tradition which they received from us. For you know how you ought to imitate us. For we didn’t behave ourselves rebelliously among you, neither did we eat bread from anyone’s hand without paying for it, but in labor and travail worked night and day, that we might not burden any of you, not because we don’t have the right, but to make ourselves an example to you, that you should imitate us. For even when we were with you, we commanded you this: “If anyone is not willing to work, don’t let him eat.” For we hear of some who walk among you in rebellion, who don’t work at all, but are busybodies. Now those who are that way, we command and exhort in the Lord Jesus Christ, that they work with quietness and eat their own bread. But you, brothers, don’t be weary in doing what is right. If any man doesn’t obey our word in this letter, note that man, that you have no company with him, to the end that he may be ashamed. Don’t count him as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother. Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times in all ways. The Lord be with you all. The greeting of me, Paul, with my own hand, which is the sign in every letter: this is how I write. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.

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What the Fathers say

2 Thessalonians 3:10

Eastern Fathers

John Chrysostom

"For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, If any will not work, neither let him eat." See how in the former Epistle indeed he discourses somewhat more mildly concerning these things; as when he says, "We beseech you, brethren,-that ye would abound more and more-and that ye study"-and nowhere does he say, "we command," nor "in the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ," which was fearful and implied danger, but that "ye abound," he says, and "study," which are the words of one exhorting to virtue; "that ye may walk honestly" …

Homily on 2 Thessalonians 5 ↗

Theophylact of Ohrid

"Among you" (προς υμάς) instead of "with you" (μετ υμών). In the first epistle the apostle discusses this leniently, but here more strictly. For if he himself labored day and night, though he had no need to, then all the more should others have done the same.

Commentary on 2 Thessalonians ↗

Ignatius of Antioch

The prophets were His servants, and foresaw Him by the Spirit, and waited for Him as their Teacher, and expected Him as their Lord and Saviour, saying, "He will come and save us." Let us therefore no longer keep the Sabbath after the Jewish manner, and rejoice in days of idleness; for "he that does not work, let him not eat." For say the [holy] oracles, "In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat thy bread." But let every one of you keep the Sabbath after a spiritual manner, rejoicing in meditation on the law, not in relaxation of the …

Epistle of Ignatius to the Magnesians ↗

Western Saints

Augustine of Hippo

In the first place, we must prove that the blessed apostle Paul wished the servants of God to perform manual labor which would merit a great spiritual reward, and to do this without seeking food and clothing from anybody but to procure these commodities for themselves by their own work. Secondly, we must show that those gospel precepts by which some monks justify not only laziness but even arrogance are not contrary to the direction and example of the apostle. …

On the Work of Monks 3.4 ↗

Thomas Aquinas

Above, the Apostle shows what he taught them by his own example, namely that they should not be troublesome but should work. Here he shows how he handed this on to them by words and deeds when he was with them. Hence he says "when we were with you," as though to say: In order to give you a pattern to follow, we did what we taught, since "this we declared to you: that if any man will not work, neither let him eat." As the Gloss says, and as Augustine says in his book De Operibus Monachorum, some twisted these words to say that …

Commentary on 2 Thessalonians ↗

Bonaventure

Granted that the Apostle commands manual labor of this kind — which I have never denied — yet he does not command this universally to the servants of Christ, except perhaps in a moment of necessity in which no lawful way of obtaining sustenance is available except through the labor of the hands — but he commands it to determinate persons, as is apparent from the text: We have heard that certain ones among you are walking disorderly, doing no work, but acting as busybodies. …

Disputed Questions on Evangelical Perfection, Question 2 ↗