1 Thessalonians 4:11-12

Text (1 Thessalonians 4:11-12)

11 and that ye study to be quiet, and to do your own business, and to work with your hands, even as we charged you; 12 that ye may walk becomingly toward them that are without, and may have need of nothing.

Translation and Paraphrase

11.

And (we beseech you) to make it your goal (because of your love of honor) to lead a quiet (settled) life, and to keep busy with your own affairs, and to work with your own hands, just as we commanded you;

12.

So that (by thus working) you may walk (or live) in a manner that will present a good appearance to those (who are) outside (of the kingdom of Christ), and (so that) you may have a lack of none (of the necessities of life).

Notes (1 Thessalonians 4:11-12)

1.

There is nothing that some people dread as much as being quiet. They delight in a row, and if one is not in progress, they stir one up.

2.

The Greeks were naturally mercurial and restless. (McGarvey.) Note how the Athenians sought only to hear some new thing. Acts 17:21.

3.

We must study to be quiet. This means to make it our ambition to live a quiet settled life. A peaceful spirit cannot be attained without studied effort. The word study (Gr., philotimeomai) means to be fond of honor. to be ambitious, to strive earnestly, to make it one's aim. (Thayer)

4.

Being quiet (Gr., esuchadzo) means to lead a quiet life, rest, keep quiet. It describes those who are not running hither and thither, but staying at home and minding their business.

It is very hard to live quietly in our age with its blare, honking horns, hurry, clatter, rush, activities, TV, etc. How can we be quiet? We grant that it is not easy, but its rewards are great.

5.

The exhortation to Study to be quiet, is repeated as a command with greater force in 2 Thessalonians 3:12. Obviously they did not heed Paul's exhortation to work in this letter. So a stronger approach was used.

6.

We should be ambitious to work at our own business and not meddle in other people's business. The Greeks were a restless people, often given to intermeddling in the business of other people.

7.

Every fool will be meddling. Proverbs 20:3. Christians do their own business and leave other people's business alone. Be not eavesdroppers, or news droppers. Wide ears and wide tongues dwell together. (Jewell)

8.

Supporting ourselves by working with our own hands is definitely commanded in God's word, See Ephesians 4:28. Paul's own hands often supported him. Acts 20:34. He left us an example, and Paul's example of a gentleman is not one whose hands are too dainty for work.

Many people make it their life's pattern to do just as little work as they can get by with, and then to depend upon unemployment compensation, or state, county, or federal welfare to care for them. Such people need the nobly independent attitude of Paul.

9.

Many Bible interpreters have speculated that the Thessalonians were loafing and living off their Christian brethren, because they expected Christ to come at any moment. There is utterly no hint in the Scriptures that this was the case. Nothing in the Scriptures connects any false ideas about Christ's return with the people not minding their own business.

10.

Paul gives two reasons why they should be quiet, and mind their own business, and work:

(1)

To present an honorable appearance to outsiders.

(2)

To lack none of the necessities of life.

11.

1 Thessalonians 4:12 brings out the stern reality that people on the outside of the church view our manner of living as being more important than what we teach, and that idleness and parasitic behavior are especially reprehensible to them. Human nature is more impressed by appearances than by doctrines.

12.

A spirit of quietness, combined with honest labor, brings to us a satisfying independence, causing us to have need of nothing. (The Revised Standard Version renders nothing as nobody. This is a permissible rendering, as the word may be either neuter or masculine. We should have need of nothing, and have to depend on nobody.)

13.

With the close of 1 Thessalonians 4:12, we end, the section 1 Thessalonians 4:1-12, which is entitled The Walk of the Christian. Notice again, and memorize the six points in this section:

(1)

Abound according to the apostles-' teaching; 1 Thessalonians 4:1-2

(2)

Abstain from fornication; 1 Thessalonians 4:3-8

(3)

Practice brotherly love; 1 Thessalonians 4:9-10

(4)

Study to be quiet; 1 Thessalonians 4:11

(5)

Do your own business; 1 Thessalonians 4:11

(6)

Work with your own hands; 1 Thessalonians 4:11-12

STUDY SUGGESTION

Turn now to the Did You Learn? questions at the close of chapter four [see Chapter Comments], and see if you can answer questions 1 to 26.