About the text: The Second Letter to the Thessalonians is one of Paul’s earlier letters and seems to have been written to correct a wrong opinion about the day of the Lord. A letter falsely claiming to have been written by Paul told the Thessalonians that the day of the Lord was upon them; perhaps for this reason, some members of the community saw no reason to continue working and instead spent their time gossipping around the community. In this passage, Paul reminds them to stop being busybodies and get their bodies busy. Afterall, idleness is the devil’s playground.
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6 Now we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you keep away from any brother who is living in idleness and not in accord with the tradition that you received from us. 7 For you yourselves know how you ought to imitate us; we were not idle when we were with you, 8 we did not eat any one’s bread without paying, but with toil and labor we worked night and day, that we might not burden any of you. 9 It was not because we have not that right, but to give you in our conduct an example to imitate. 10 For even when we were with you, we gave you this command: If any one will not work, let him not eat. 11 For we hear that some of you are living in idleness, mere busybodies, not doing any work. 12 Now such persons we command and exhort in the Lord Jesus Christ to do their work in quietness and to earn their own living. 13 Brethren, do not be weary in well-doing.
14 If any one refuses to obey what we say in this letter, note that man, and have nothing to do with him, that he may be ashamed. 15 Do not look on him as an enemy, but warn him as a brother.
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Taken from The Catholic Edition of the Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright © 1965, 1966 National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
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