The Example of the Apostle Himself as a Support to His Command
2 Thessalonians 3:7-10
For yourselves know how you ought to follow us: for we behaved not ourselves disorderly among you;…


I. THE APOSTLE'S EXAMPLE. "For we were not disorderly among you, nor did we eat bread for nought from any one, but in toil and weariness, working night and day." Though there were rich people in the Church, he accepted no gift from them, but laboured at his craft assiduously to earn a living for himself.

1. His refusal of support from his converts did not invalidate his right to it. "Not because we have not authority" - an authority which he fully expounds in 1 Corinthians 9. - for "the labourer is worthy of his hire," and has he not "a right to forbear working"?

2. It was based upon a supreme regard to Thessalonian interests.

(1) "That we might not be a burden to any one of you,"

(2) and "that we might give ourselves for a pattern unto you to imitate us." The apostle had evidently in view the extravagances of conduct that were beginning at an early period to spring from misunderstandings respecting the time of the Lord's coming. He was not ashamed of his handicraft. No Christian man ought ever to be ashamed of honest labour.

II. THE APOSTLE'S INJUNCTION TO THE DISORDERLY. "For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any one will not work, neither let him eat."

1. This does not apply to those who cannot work, but to those who will not. The command does not touch cases of charity.

2. It is a command based on the original law of Eden. "In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread" (Genesis 3:19). Work is a Divine order, not repealed by Christianity but lifted up to higher blessing and dignity. The idle man ought, therefore, to be allowed to suffer the effects of his idleness.

3. It is a command which, when obeyed, will introduce tranquillity into life, and at the same time conduce to an honest self-respect. "That working with quietness they eat their own bread."

(1) They would thus be eating their own bread, not the bread earned by others' toil, nor that reserved by the same toil for the use of the really destitute and poor.

(2) They would thus carry more quietness into their own lives as well as those of their neighbours, for there would be no time for intermeddling with other people's concerns. We should live "quiet and peaceable lives in all godliness and honesty" (1 Timothy 2:2). - T.C.



Parallel Verses
KJV: For yourselves know how ye ought to follow us: for we behaved not ourselves disorderly among you;

WEB: For you know how you ought to imitate us. For we didn't behave ourselves rebelliously among you,




Apostolic Example and Precept Concerning Industry
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