2 Thessalonians 3:10

For even when we were with you, this we commanded you Better, For also: St Paul's present charge on the subject repeats and reinforces what he said in his oral teaching; this we used to charge you same verbas in 2 Thessalonians 3:4; 2 Thessalonians 3:6(see note), and same tenseas in ch. 2 Thessalonians 2:5 ("I was wont to tell you"), and 1 Thessalonians 3:4 (see note). To this original "charge" the Apostle referred in 1 Thessalonians 4:11, touching the same point; it formed part of "the tradition" which he and his fellow-missionaries "delivered" to the Thessalonians (2 Thessalonians 3:6, ch. 2 Thessalonians 2:15).

that if any would not work, neither should he eat In the Greek this is put vividly in direct narration: If any will not work, neither let him eat. A stem, but necessary and merciful rule, the neglect of which makes charity demoralising. But this law of St Paul's touches the idle rich, as well as the poor; it makes that a discredit which one hears spoken of as if it were a privilege and the mark of a gentleman, to "live upon one's means," to live without settled occupation and service to the community "natus consumere fruges."

The form of the Greek implies in this case a positive refusal to labour: the man wont work(Latin nonvult operari). Then it is God's law that he shall starve.