2 Thessalonians 3 KJV
Warning Against Idleness
2 Thessalonians Chapter 3: Warning Against Idleness
The warning against idleness likely counters a specific misunderstanding of Paul's eschatological teaching from 1 Thessalonians, where some believers interpreted the imminent parousia as justification for abandoning work, reframing labor instead as faithful stewardship until Christ's return.
1inally, brethren, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may have free course, and be glorified, even as it is with you:
2 And that we may be delivered from unreasonable and wicked men: for all men have not faith.
3 But the Lord is faithful, who shall stablish you, and keep you from evil.
4 And we have confidence in the Lord touching you, that ye both do and will do the things which we command you.
5 And the Lord direct your hearts into the love of God, and into the patient waiting for Christ.
6 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.
7 For yourselves know how ye ought to follow us: for we behaved not ourselves disorderly among you;
8 Neither did we eat any manโs bread for nought; but wrought with labour and travail night and day, that we might not be chargeable to any of you:
9 Not because we have not power, but to make ourselves an ensample unto you to follow us.
10 For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat.
11 For we hear that there are some which walk among you disorderly, working not at all, but are busybodies.
12 Now them that are such we command and exhort by our Lord Jesus Christ, that with quietness they work, and eat their own bread.
13 But ye, brethren, be not weary in well doing.
14 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.
15 Yet count him not as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother.
16 Now the Lord of peace himself give you peace always by all means. The Lord be with you all.
17 The salutation of Paul with mine own hand, which is the token in every epistle: so I write.
18 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.
โ โ arrow keys to navigate chapters ยท spacebar to play/pause audio
Did You Know?
The warning against idleness likely counters a specific misunderstanding of Paul's eschatological teaching from 1 Thessalonians, where some believers interpreted the imminent parousia as justification for abandoning work, reframing labor instead as faithful stewardship until Christ's return.
Paul's self-description of working 'night and day' (v. 8) deliberately mirrors his earlier account in 1 Thessalonians 2:9, creating an intertextual link that models apostolic self-support as both missional strategy and ethical imitation for new converts.
The Greek term 'ataktoi' (disorderly) carries military connotations of soldiers breaking rank, suggesting Paul frames idleness not merely as laziness but as a communal failure to maintain proper order within the body of Christ amid persecution.
Verses 6 and 14 prescribe a form of social avoidance that stops short of full excommunication, instructing believers to withdraw fellowship while still admonishing the idle 'as a brother' (v. 15), illustrating an early, restorative model of church discipline distinct from later penitential systems.
The autograph reference in verse 17, invoking Paul's distinctive handwriting as proof against forgeries mentioned in 2:2, underscores the letter's role in establishing verifiable apostolic authority during a period when pseudepigraphic writings threatened emerging Christian communities.
Commentary & Study Notes Jamieson-Fausset-Brown (1871) ยท Public Domain Finally โ literally, "As to what remains." may have free course โ literally, "may run"; spread rapidly without a drag on the wheels of its course. That the new-creating word may "rโฆ
Classic verse-by-verse commentary on 2 Thessalonians 3 from Jamieson, Fausset & Brown (1871). Covers: He asks their prayers: his confidence in them: prayer for them: charges against disorderly idle conduct; His own example: concluding prayer and salutation.
- 1
- Finally โ literally, "As to what remains." may have free course โ literally, "may run"; spread rapidly without a drag on the wheels of its course. That the new-creating word may "run," as "swiftly" as the creative word at the first (Ps 147:15). The opposite is the word of God being "bound" (2Ti 2:9). glorified โ by sinners accepting it (Ac 13:48; Ga 1:23, 24). Contrast "evil spoken of" (1Pe 4:14). as it is with you โ (1Th 1:6; 4:10; 5:11).
- 2
- that we... be delivered from unreasonable... men โ literally, men out of place, inept, unseemly: out of the way bad: more than ordinarily bad. An undesigned coincidence with Ac 18:5-9. Paul was now at Corinth, where the JEWS "opposed themselves" to his preaching: in answer to his prayers and those of his converts at Thessalonica and elsewhere, "the Lord, in vision," assured him of exemption from "the hurt," and of success in bringing in "much people." On the unreasonable, out-of-the way perversity of the Jews, as known to the Thessalonians, see 1Th 2:15,
Read all 19 notes on 2 Thessalonians 3 โ