Cambridge Greek Testament Commentary

2 Thessalonians 3:9

οὐχ ὅτι οὐκ ἔχομεν ἐξουσίαν, not that we are without right (to act otherwise, to claim our maintenance: scil. ἐξουσίαν τοῦ δωρεὰν ἄρτον φαγεῖν· τοῦ φαγεῖν καὶ πεῖν, τοῦ μὴ ἐργάζεσθαι—see 1 Corinthians 9:4; 1 Corinthians 9:6. For this elliptical, corrective use of οὐχ ὅτι (non quasi, Vulg.; rather non quod, Beza)—“it is not the case that,” or “I do not mean that”—cf. 2 Corinthians 1:24; Philippians 3:12; Philippians 4:11, &c. T his ἐξουσία St Paul carefully demonstrates, on behalf of the ministry of the Gospel, in 1 Corinthians 9:3-14, tracing it back to the Lord’s ordinance (Luke 10:7); cf. also Hebrews 13:10. Ἐξουσία is moral power, right, authority (jus, Beza correctly; not potestatem, as in Vulg.), in distinction from δύναμις (2 Thessalonians 1:7; 2 Thessalonians 1:11; 2 Thessalonians 2:9), actual power, force.

ἀλλʼ ἵνα ἑαυτοὺς τύπον δῶμεν ὑμῖν εἰς τὸ μιμεῖσθαι ἡμᾶς, but (we did this—ἐν κόπῳ κ.τ.λ.… εἰργαζόμεθα, 2 Thessalonians 3:8; or, we waived this right—τῇ ἐξουσίᾳ οὐκ ἐχρησάμεθα, 1 Corinthians 9:15), that we might give ourselves to you by way of example, so that you might imitate us. The ellipsis after ἀλλά resembles that following ὅτι in 2 Thessalonians 2:3, or μόνον in 2 Thessalonians 2:7 (see notes). Ἑαυτούς (for its use in 1st person, see 1 Thessalonians 2:8) is thrown forward with emphasis—the writers would themselves exemplify the life they preach; from the first they impressed their message on the Thessalonians in this living, practical fashion (1 Thessalonians 1:6): cf. 1 Corinthians 4:17; Philippians 3:17, where τύπος appears in the same connexion—for this word, see note on 1 Thessalonians 1:7. To “give oneself (as) an example” is more than to “make oneself an example” (as though δίδωμι had the twofold sense of Heb. נָתַן); it implies sacrifice, self-surrender, resembling μεταδοῦναι … τὰς ἑαυτῶν ψυχάς, 1 Thessalonians 2:8 : cf. ὁ δοὺς ἑαυτὸν�, 1 Timothy 2:6; Ephesians 1:22; Ephesians 5:2; Romans 6:16. On εἰς τό with infinitive, see 1 Thessalonians 2:12 : the εἰς τό clause (of issue) is consecutive to the ἵνα clause (of purpose), as in 1 Thessalonians 2:16; the consecution of 2 Thessalonians 2:11 f. above was the reverse of this (εἰς τό …, ἴνα).

In 2 Thessalonians 3:8-9 the Apostles give two reasons for their practice of manual labour,—the former alone stated in 1 Thessalonians 2:9. The second reason—less complimentary to the readers, but on which the conduct of the ἄτακτοι now compels insistence—was however half implied in the context of the parallel passage (Ep. I.), scil. in μεταδοῦναι … τὰς ἐαυτῶν ψυχάς (2 Thessalonians 2:8) and ὡς … δικαίως … ὑμῖν … ἐγενήθημεν, … ὡς πατὴρ τέκνα ἑαυτοῦ … μαρτυρόμενοι κ.τ.λ. (2 Thessalonians 3:10 f.): cf. 2 Corinthians 11:11 f., 2 Corinthians 12:14 f. (St Paul an example of self-denial); see note on 1 Thessalonians 2:9 above.

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2 Thessalonians 3:9

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