Cambridge Greek Testament Commentary

2 Thessalonians 3:12

12. The Syrian text reads δια του for εν (κ. Ι. Χ.), after 1 Thessalonians 4:2.

12. τοῖς δὲ τοιούτοις παραγγέλλομεν καὶ παρακαλοῦμεν ἐν κυρίῳ Ἰησοῦ Χριστῷ. But those that are such we charge and exhort in the Lord Jesus Christ: the παραγγελία of 2 Thessalonians 3:6 was given to the Church respecting the offenders; now the Apostles turn to address, in the same authoritative and solemn manner, the ἄτακτοι and περιεργαζόμενοι themselves. With the definite τοῖς τοιούτοις—“the men of this sort,” “those who answer to the above description”—cf. Romans 16:18; 1 Corinthians 5:11; 1 Corinthians 16:16; 2 Corinthians 2:6; Galatians 5:23; Philippians 2:29; Titus 3:11 : it is the qualitative of τινές above (2 Thessalonians 3:11). The third instance of παραγγέλλω in this homily (2 Thessalonians 3:6; 2 Thessalonians 3:10). But παρακαλοῦμεν is added (see 1 Thessalonians 2:11 on the word) with a softening force; cf. the transition in Philemon 1:8 f., also the combinations of 1 Thessalonians 2:11; 1 Thessalonians 4:1, and 2 Timothy 4:2. For ἐν κυρίῳ Ἰ. X., see note on the threefold Name, 1 Thessalonians 1:1; also on ἐν ὀνόματι κ.τ.λ., 2 Thessalonians 3:6.

ἵνα μετὰ ἡσυχίας ἐργαζόμενοι τὸν ἑαυτῶν ἄρτον ἐσθίωσιν, that with quietness, keeping to their work, they eat their own bread: cf. 1 Thessalonians 4:11 (and notes), closely echoed here. Μετὰ ἡσυχίας (= ἡσυχάζοντες, 1 Thessalonians 4:11)—in contrast with περιεργαζόμενοι (2 Thessalonians 3:11)—appears to qualify the whole clause, while ἐργαζόμενοι stands in the same relation to ἐσθίωσιν as to ἐφάγομεν in 2 Thessalonians 3:8 : “that they eat their own bread quietly, by working,” not by going about in idleness and taxing the community. For τὸν ἑαυτῶν ἄρτον, see 2 Thessalonians 3:8—“their own bread,” not the bread of others received δωρεάν (2 Thessalonians 3:8); “a Rabbinical phrase” (Lightfoot). For the use of ἵνα after παρακαλέω and the like, see note on 1 Thessalonians 4:1. For μετά of the attendant disposition, cf. 1 Thessalonians 1:6; Ephesians 4:2; 1 Timothy 2:15, &c.; cf. ἐν ἡσυχίᾳ, 1 Timothy 2:11 f.

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Cambridge Greek Testament Commentary

2 Thessalonians 3:12

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