1 Thessalonians 4:11Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

Here he indicates how many evils idleness causes, and, conversely, how many goods come from love of labor. He explains this by referring to what happens among us.

He often does this, and very prudently, because people are more easily instructed in this way than by speculations. The duty of love toward neighbors consists not in receiving from them, but in giving to them.

Notice his prudence. Intending to instruct and exhort them, he begins to speak of what he sees as good in them. In this way they would be encouraged after the previous exhortations and the rebuke expressed in the words, "Therefore he who rejects this rejects not man, but God."

A stop may be made here, a pause in reading the text, and then one may read from a new beginning: "that you live quietly." Or: "and that you make it your ambition to live quietly and attend to your own affairs."

By these words he shows that they are lazy, occupied with what they should not be, and restless. But by saying, "and to work with your own hands," the Apostle puts to shame those who abandon bodily labors and seek spiritual ones.

Tell me, senseless men, does anyone perform a fast with his hands? Or lying on the bare ground? No. Yet he speaks of bodily labor, which is rather spiritual labor.

One should not be concerned with elegance in clothing or footwear. This is vanity. To satisfy bodily needs one should use inexpensive things. Nothing should be spent beyond necessity or for splendor. This is misuse. One should not seek honor or strive for first place. Each must prefer everyone to himself. One should not be disobedient. A person able to work should not eat bread in idleness. Rather, having undertaken the fulfillment of something to the glory of Christ, he must compel himself to zeal in the work according to his strength.

And that you may know how to act, I write to you in my absence as we commanded you when present.

The Apostle showed the greatness of the honor. As the Master Himself ascended on a radiant cloud, so those who have believed in Him, both those raised from the dead and those still living, will be borne upon clouds.

They will meet the Judge of the universe and will remain with Him for the endless age. The Lord also taught this in the Holy Gospel: "There will be two on one bed; one will be taken and the other left.

"Two women will be grinding together; one will be taken and the other left. Two will be in the field; one will be taken and the other left" (Lk 17:34-36).

By the bed He indicated a life of abundance. By the mill, He indicated slavery and hired service. By the field, He indicated agricultural life.

“And earnestly to strive to be quiet,” ἡσυχάζειν, that is, to live quietly. A modest, quiet life, without offense to outsiders, without quarrels among one’s own, and spent in labor and brotherly love: such should be the life of Christians. “To do your own things and work with your own hands” is the best means of avoiding many vices and deficiencies. This expression could serve both as counsel warning against idleness and as a rebuke to idle people who feed not by their own labors, but by alms. The Apostle fittingly joined this remark with the commandment of brotherly love, wishing to show that one must not abuse either brotherly love or the condescension of neighbors.

Here is a rebuke for those who, imagining that the kingdom of Antichrist has come or that the glorious coming of Christ has drawn near, do not want to attend to earthly affairs. They abandon their homes, leave the cultivation of fields, and give themselves to inactivity. The day of the Lord must find us not in idleness, but in the labor appointed to each by the Lord.

In the moral and dogmatic section, the holy Apostle Paul offers the Thessalonians various instructions according to Timothy's report about their moral state. Then he reasons with them about the lot of those who died before the Lord's second coming. Finally, he prevents possible moral failings among the Thessalonians and heals actual ones.

The Apostle gives instruction that the will of God is our sanctification. Therefore the Thessalonians must abstain from fornication, knowing how to keep their vessel, the body, in holiness and honor.

He also instructs them not to act unlawfully or covetously toward their brother in anything. On the contrary, they are to live quietly, attend to their own affairs, work with their own hands, and be in need of nothing (1 Thess 4:1-12).

The third apostolic lesson concerns love of labor and the peaceful life inseparably bound to it. The Apostle commands them to work with their own hands.

In this he sees the chief pledge of a life free from want, decorous, and in accord with the common good opinions of the Gentiles. No decent person can condemn peaceful laborers, and good people will even approve them.

St John Chrysostom says, "Here the Apostle indicates how many evils idleness causes and, conversely, how many goods love of labor brings.

"The duty of love consists not in receiving from them, but in giving to them. This depends on love of labor, so as not to live in idleness, but to give to others by laboring.

Then, turning again to the shortcomings observed in the life of the Thessalonians, the Apostle exhorts them to live quietly and attend to their own work. He also urges them not to trouble the Gentiles by their conduct. This instruction was all the more necessary for the Thessalonians because many of them, in view of the nearness of Christ’s coming and the manifestation of His glorious kingdom, had completely abandoned their occupations. They began to wander idly through the city, provoking complaints among the Gentiles against Christianity in general. See 2 Thess 3:9.

Saint Paul mentioned brotherly love as if in passing, only to say to them: abound in it more and more. Now he again continues speaking about those matters in which some among the Thessalonians were deficient.

The Apostle learned that some among them were restless and loved wandering about the marketplaces. To such he prescribes quietness and staying at home.

Others neglected their own affairs. To such he commands: attend to your own business. Others did not wish to work. They were idle and ate what belonged to others, and they could not even help anyone else. To them he says: work with your own hands.