Cambridge Greek Testament for Schools and Colleges - 2 Thessalonians 3:10 - 3:10

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Cambridge Greek Testament for Schools and Colleges - 2 Thessalonians 3:10 - 3:10


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10. καὶ γὰρ ὅτε ἦμεν πρὸς ὑμᾶς, τοῦτο παρηγγέλλομεν ὑμῖν. For indeed when we were with you, we used to give you this charge: cf. 1Th 4:11. Καὶ γάρ is parallel to the γάρ of 2Th 3:7; it sets the Apostolic παραγγελία side by side with the Apostolic τύπος in the matter of ἐργάζεσθαι καὶ ἐσθίειν (cf. γάρ … καὶ γάρ in 1Th 4:9 f.): together these constitute ἡ παράδοσις of 2Th 3:6. This sentence almost repeats 1Th 3:4, only substituting τοῦτο παρηγγέλλομεν (after 2Th 3:6) for προελέγομεν. On the use of πρός, see note to 1Th 3:4; 1Th 2:5 above.

ὅτι εἴ τις οὐ θέλει ἐργάζεσθαι μηδὲ ἐσθιέτω. ‘If any one refuses (nonvult, Vulg.) to work, neither shall he eat!’ a Jewish proverb, based upon Gen 3:19. For the apodosis, thrown into the lively imperative mood, cf. 1Co 11:6. For the ὅτι recitative of direct narration, cf. Gal 1:23, Act 14:22; and see Winer-Moulton, p. 683, note. For τοῦτο … ὄτι, cf. 1Th 2:13; 1Th 4:15. Οὐ θέλω is not the mere contradictory, but the contrary of θέλω—“if any one won’t work”—not a negative supposition (εἰ μή), but the supposition of a negative: see Winer-Moulton, pp. 597, 599; cf. Rom 7:19 f., 1Co 7:9, 1Ti 3:5, &c., and 2Th 3:14 below. “Nolle, vitium est” (Bengel). Note the present of continuous action (habit or rule) in the verbs: cf. for the last verb, 1Co 10:18; 1Co 10:25, &c., 1Co 11:22-34. The neglect of this stern but necessary rule makes charity demoralizing. This law of Christ touches the idle rich as well as the poor; it makes that a disgrace which one hears spoken of as though it were a privilege and the mark of a gentleman,—“to live upon one’s means,” fruges consumere natus: see 2Th 3:11. This rule is forcibly applied in the following direction of the Didaché, xii. 2–5: εἰ θέλει [παρόδιος ὁ ἐρχόμενος] πρὸς ὑμᾶς καθίσαι, τεχνίτης ὤν, ἐργαζέσθω καὶ φαγέτω· εἰ δὲ οὐκ ἔχει τέχνην, κατὰ τὴν σύνεσιν ὑμῶν προνοήσατε πῶς μὴ ἀργὸς μεθʼ ὑμῶν ζήσεται Χριστιανός· εἰ δὲ οὐ θέλει οὔτω ποιεῖν, χριστέμπορός ἐστιν· προσέχετε ἀπὸ τῶν τοιούτων. Cf. the quotation cited below, on 2Th 3:12.