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George Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary

2 Thessalonians 3

2 Thessalonians 3:2

_From troublesome, or importunate men. In the Greek, is signified men who act unreasonably, absurdly, &c. (Witham) --- For all men have not faith. Faith is a gift of God, which he is not obliged to give but to whom he will. St. Paul here assures us that he finds nothing but obstacles in his great wo... [ Continue Reading ]

2 Thessalonians 3:6

_Charge, or declare; or by the Greek, we command. --- In the name of our Lord. This may signify a separation by excommunication. (Witham) --- That you withdraw, &c. St. John Chrysostom upon this place, St. Augustine, Theophylactus, and others understand St. Paul as speaking of a kind of excommunicat... [ Continue Reading ]

2 Thessalonians 3:9

If I, to whom you are indebted for the preaching of the gospel, have yielded my claims, unwilling to receive any thing from you, and even labouring with my own hands for the necessaries of life, how are those to be borne with who do nothing, and yet will be supported at another's expense? for St. Pa... [ Continue Reading ]

2 Thessalonians 3:10

_Not work. By prying with curiosity into other men's actions. He that is idle, saith St. John Chrysostom, will be given to curiosity. (Witham) --- The apostles, like our Lord, were fond of introducing popular saying or axioms. Another, and not unlike the former, is found in one of the Jewish rabbies... [ Continue Reading ]

2 Thessalonians 3:14

Here the apostle teaches that our pastors must be obeyed, and not only secular princes; and with respect to such as will not be obedient to their spiritual governors, the apostle, (as St. Augustine affirmeth) ordains that they be corrected by admonition, by degradation, or excommunication. (Cont. Do... [ Continue Reading ]

2 Thessalonians 3:15

_Do not regard him as an enemy. A necessary introduction for those whom Providence has placed over others, to admonish and correct them, but with charity and peace; so that we neither be, nor give them occasion to thin we are their enemies. (Witham) --- He is your brother; compassionate his weakness... [ Continue Reading ]

2 Thessalonians 3:17

_The salvation of, &c. The apostle gives them his caution, for fear the faithful might be deceived by fictitious letters. For they had already received one of this kind, which had terrified them, by foretelling that the day of judgment was at hand. This deception he is here anxious to remove, signin... [ Continue Reading ]

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