2 Thessalonians 3:9Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

Here he says nothing of the kind, but: "If anyone will not work, neither shall he eat." Indeed, if Paul, who had no necessity and had the right not to work, undertook such a great work and still labored, then much more ought others to do so. He not only labored, but labored night and day, so that he could even give help to others. After saying, "If anyone will not work, neither shall he eat," he feared that they might perish from hunger. Therefore he added: "But you, brethren, do not grow weary in doing good" (2 Thess 3:13). Scripture sends the sluggard to the ant, saying: "Go to the ant, O sluggard; consider its ways and be wise" (Prov 6:6). You do not wish, it says, to understand from Scripture that work is a good thing, and that one who does not work should not eat. You do not wish to hear this from teachers, so learn from irrational creatures. We do the same in our own homes. When elders, or those considered better, commit some fault, we often tell them to look at diligent children. We say: see, he is younger than you, yet how zealous and careful he is. So you also should receive from the ant the greatest lesson in love of labor. Marvel at your Lord, not only because He created the sun and heaven, but because He created the ant. Though this creature is small, it gives great proof of God's wisdom. Consider how intelligent it is, and marvel that God could place such untiring zeal for labor in so small a body. Learn diligence from the ant, and from the bee learn love for purity, labor, and neighbor. It works daily, and it labors not so much for itself as for us. It belongs especially to a Christian to seek benefit not for himself, but for others. As the bee flies over all the meadows to prepare a table for another, so you also must act, O man. If you have amassed money, use it for others. If you have words of edification, do not bury them, but offer them to those in need. If you have any other abundance, be useful to the one who needs the fruits of your labors. Many often conduct strict inquiries into the needy. They ask about their homeland, manner of life, character, occupations, and bodily health. They rebuke them and demand many explanations about their health. For this reason many of the poor present themselves as bodily maimed, so that by the sight of this misfortune they may bend our cruelty and inhumanity. To reproach them for this in summer is cruel, though not so much so. But in winter, during the cold, to be such a merciless and inhuman judge is the height of cruelty. Is it not so, when we show them no indulgence because they do nothing? Why then, you will say, did Paul give the Thessalonians this law: "If anyone will not work, neither shall he eat"? So that, when you hear this, you may apply Paul's words not only to the poor man, but also to yourself. For Paul's commandments concern not only the poor, but us as well. I will say something hard and unpleasant. I know that you will be angry, yet I will say it. I speak not to offend you, but to correct you. We reproach the poor for idleness, which often deserves excuse. Yet we ourselves often do things worse than any idleness. Therefore, when you say, "What then shall we say to Paul?" say this not only to the poor, but also to yourself. On the other hand, read not only his threat, but also his condescension. For after saying, "If anyone will not work, neither shall he eat," the Apostle added: "But you, brethren, do not grow weary in doing good" (2 Thess 3:13).

Therefore Paul also said, 'You yourselves know how you ought to imitate us.' For a teacher must teach more by life than by word. Let no one think that the Apostle said this because he wished immoderately to praise himself. Necessity compelled him to say it, and for the common benefit." According to the explanation of Blessed Theodoret, the Apostle spoke as though saying: "Having brought the Gospel to you, we took nothing from anyone. Rather, we spent day and night in labors, so that by this means we might obtain what was necessary for sustenance." "In the Epistles to the Corinthians the Apostle indicates the motive for this: fear of hindering the success of the preaching. Here, however, he points to the delicacy of his fatherly feeling. He brings it forward with the special purpose of marking more sharply the disgrace of idleness. As St. Chrysostom notes, he wished to impress this lesson: if I, a preacher of the word's teaching, feared to burden you, then much more should the one who brings no benefit at all" (Bishop Theophan).

In this respect, example could indeed act more powerfully than any word. St. Paul's manner of life could not fail to trouble the conscience of idle sluggards and dispose them toward diligence. "For if," as St. Chrysostom observes, "St. Paul, who had no need to labor, and who, on the contrary, had the possibility of freeing himself from such occupations, nevertheless labored after taking upon himself so great a work, and not simply labored, but labored night and day, so that he could also help others, then others ought much more to do the same."