Commentary on Philippians, Colossians, and Thessalonians

Comm on Phil, Col, Thes
2 Thessalonians 3:6-10
6. Now we command you, brethren, in the 6. Praecipimus autem vobis, fratres in nomine
name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye withdraw Domini nostri Iesu Christi, ut vos subducatis ab
yourselves from every brother that walketh omni fratre, qui inordinate ambulet, et non iuxta
disorderly, and not after the tradition which he institutionem, quam accepit a nobis.
received of us.
7. For yourselves know how ye ought to 7. Ipsi enim scitis, quomodo oporteat nos
follow us: for we behaved not ourselves imitari, quia non inordinate egimus inter vos:
disorderly among you;
8. Neither did we eat any man’s bread for 8. Neque gratis panem comedimus a
nought; but wrought with labour and travail night quoquam, sed cum labore et sudore nocte dieque
and day, that we might not be chargeable to any facientes opus, ne cui vestrum graves essemus.
of you:
9. Not because we have not power, but to 9. Non quod non habeamus potestatem, sed
make ourselves an ensample unto you to follow ut nos ipsos exemplar proponeremus vobis ad
us.
imitandum vos.
10. For even when we were with you, this we 10. Etenim quum essemus apud vos, hoc
commanded you, that if any would not work, vobis praecepimus, ut, qui laborare non vult, is
neither should he eat.
neque comedat.
He now proceeds to the correcting of a particular fault. As there were some indolent, and at the
same time curious and prattling persons, who, in order that they might scrape together a living at
the expense of others, wandered about from house to house, he forbids that their indolence should
be encouraged by indulgence, 700 and teaches that those live holily who procure for themselves the
necessaries of life by honorable and useful labor. And in the first place, he applies the appellation
of disorderly persons, not to those that are of a dissolute life, or to those whose characters are
stained by flagrant crimes, but to indolent and worthless persons, who employ themselves in no
honorable and useful occupation. For this truly is ἀταξία, (disorder, 701 ) — not considering for
what purpose we were made, and regulating our life with a view to that end, while it is only when
we live according to the rule prescribed to us by God that this life is duly regulated. Let this order
be set aside, and there is nothing but confusion in human life. This, also, is worthy to be noticed,
lest any one should take pleasure in exercising himself apart from a legitimate call from God: for
God has distinguished in such a manner the life of men, in order that every one may lay himself
out for the advantage of others. He, therefore, who lives to himself alone, so as to be profitable in
no way to the human race, nay more, is a burden to others, giving help to no one, is on good grounds
reckoned to be ἄτακτος, (disorderly.) Hence Paul declares that such persons must be put away from
the society of believers, that they may not bring dishonor upon the Church.
700 “Il defend aux Thessaloniciens d’entretenir par leur liberalite ou dissimulation l’oisiuete de telles gens;” — “He prohibits
the Thessalonians from encouraging by their liberality or dissimulation the indolence of such persons.”
701 “Desordre et grande confusion;” — “Disorder and great confusion.”
219
John Calvin