Why does Paul “command”? (v6, 12)
- Here it is announcing, order, give a charge, command
- Note: Some Bible translations use disorderly (KJV) in place of rebellious
- Hence, May be interpreted as setting the right order / right way to do things
- Paul had a right to command, because of his call, ministry, relationship, and age
- However, he often choose to beg, entreat and exhort
- Not in this case though, as the issue needed to be fixed quickly?
- Paul asks Thessalonians (and Timothy) to exhort each other too
- However, he often choose to beg, entreat and exhort
What was the rebellion Paul was talking about? (v6-15, 1 Th 2:1-3, 1 Th 4:11-12, 1 Pet 4:15)
- Rebelling against what Paul taught them (1 Thess 2:1-3)
- Let no one deceive you about the coming of Lord Jesus
- Rebelling against imitating Paul – working (1 Thess 4:11-12)
- Thessalonian church seems to have some people who didn’t work/earn
- Paul taught that unless they are willing to work, they shouldn’t eat
- Paul asks them in 1st letter to work – so that they need nothing
- Paul didn’t eat for free – he wasn’t a burden to anyone
- Paul and his team were working day and night
- Not that Paul didn’t have a right as a minister of God
- Yet he choose to set an example
- Not that Paul didn’t have a right as a minister of God
- Paul and his team were working day and night
- These folks who didn’t work, ie were idle, were also busybodies in the church
- Paul says “Lead a quiet life and mind your own business?”
- Thessalonian church seems to have some people who didn’t work/earn
- Being a busybody seems to be connected to speaking what they should not?
How should the Church deal with this problem of rebellion? v6,10,12-16
- Withdraw from those who walk in rebellion
- Is that a Christian attitude?
- Paul commands and exhorts those who rebel to
- Work with quietness. Being peaceful.
- Eat what they earn / when they earn.
- Paul commands Thessalonians to
- Withdraw from those who walk in rebellion
- Is that a Christian attitude
- not be weary to do what is right
- What is “right” in the context here?
- Don’t be weary of working
- What is “right” in the context here?
- note who isn’t working and avoid their company
- That they may be ashamed and hopefully turn around
- Not treating them like enemies but as a brother / sister
- Withdraw from those who walk in rebellion
- Peace comes only from the Lord of Peace
- In the middle of rebellious people who are not being quiet
Conclusion
- Work heartily, as for the Lord, fearing God, knowing our reward is from the Lord
- Because, we serve the Lord Christ
- Avoid being disruptive / unruly / busybody / meddling in other people’s business
- Lets not get weary of doing what is right – even if are surrounded by those who don’t
- Ultimately, the Lord of Peace is our source of Peace
Main Passage 2 Thessalonians 3:6-17 – World English Bible (WEB)
6 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. 7 For you know how you ought to imitate us. For we didn’t behave ourselves rebelliously among you, 8 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, 9 not because we don’t have the right, but to make ourselves an example to you, that you should imitate us. 10 For even when we were with you, we commanded you this: “If anyone is not willing to work, don’t let him eat.” 11 For we hear of some who walk among you in rebellion, who don’t work at all, but are busybodies. 12 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.
13 But you, brothers, don’t be weary in doing what is right. 14 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. 15 Don’t count him as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother.
16 Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times in all ways. The Lord be with you all.
17 The greeting of me, Paul, with my own hand, which is the sign in every letter: this is how I write.
Notes / Cross References
Trivia: According to Oxford English Dictionary, first use of busybody was in Tyndale Bible (1526)
Vine’s Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words
Busybody – Περιεργάζομαι — periergazomai — per-ee-er-gad’-zom-ahee
lit., “to be working round about, instead of at one’s own business” (peri, “around,” ergon, “work”), signifies to take more pains than enough about a thing, to waste one’s labor, to be meddling with, or bustling about, other people’s matters. This is found in 2 Thessalonians 3:11 , where, following the verb ergazomai, “to work,” it forms a paronomasia. This may be produced in a free rendering: “some who are not busied in their own business, but are overbusied in that of others.”
Command – παραγγέλλω — parangello — par-ang-gel’-lo
“to announce beside” (para, “beside,” angello, “to announce”), “to pass on an announcement,” hence denotes “to give the word, order, give a charge, command,” e.g., Mark 6:8; Luke 8:29; 9:21; Acts 5:28; 2 Thessalonians 3:4,6,10,12
Philemon 8-9 8 Therefore though I have all boldness in Christ to command you that which is appropriate, 9 yet for love’s sake I rather beg, being such a one as Paul, the aged, but also a prisoner of Jesus Christ.
1 Thessalonians 2:5-7 5 For neither were we at any time found using words of flattery, as you know, nor a cloak of covetousness (God is witness), 6 nor seeking glory from men (neither from you nor from others), when we might have claimed authority as apostles of Christ. 7 But we were gentle among you, like a nursing mother cherishes her own children.
2 Thessalonians 2:1-3 2 Now, brothers, concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to him, we ask you 2 not to be quickly shaken in your mind, and not be troubled, either by spirit, or by word, or by letter as if from us, saying that the day of Christ has already come. 3 Let no one deceive you in any way. For it will not be, unless the rebellion comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of destruction,
1 Thessalonians 4:11-12 11 and that you make it your ambition to lead a quiet life, and to do your own business, and to work with your own hands, even as we instructed you; 12 that you may walk properly toward those who are outside, and may have need of nothing.
1 Timothy 5:13 Besides, they also learn to be idle, going about from house to house. Not only idle, but also gossips and busybodies, saying things which they ought not.
1 Peter 4:14-16 14 If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed; because the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you. On their part he is blasphemed, but on your part he is glorified. 15 For let none of you suffer as a murderer, or a thief, or an evil doer, or a meddler in other men’s matters. 16 But if one of you suffers for being a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God in this matter.
Colossians 3:22-24 Servants, obey in all things those who are your masters according to the flesh, not just when they are looking, as men pleasers, but in singleness of heart, fearing God. 23 And whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord, and not for men, 24 knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ.
1 Thessalonians 5:11 Therefore exhort one another, and build each other up, even as you also do.
1 Timothy 5:1-3 Don’t rebuke an older man, but exhort him as a father; the younger men as brothers; 2 the elder women as mothers; the younger as sisters, in all purity. 3 Honor widows who are widows indeed.
