2 Thessalonians 3:11-18

11: For we hear that some among you are leading an undisciplined life, doing no work at all, but acting like busybodies.
12: Now such persons we command and exhort in the Lord Jesus Christ to work in quiet fashion and eat their own bread.
13: But as for you, brethren, do not grow weary of doing good.

14: If anyone does not obey our instruction in this letter, take special note of that person and do not associate with him, so that he will be put to shame.
15: Yet do not regard him as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother.

16: Now may the Lord of peace Himself continually grant you peace in every circumstance. The Lord be with you all!
17: I, Paul, write this greeting with my own hand, and this is a distinguishing mark in every letter; this is the way I write. 
18: The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all.

*** 

Paul explained why he mentioned the unruly—those not willing to work for their own support—and described them in a bit more detail. They were “leading an undisciplined life, doing no work at all, but acting like busybodies.” Rather than taking care of their own affairs they were getting into everyone else’s business. Paul spoke directly to them to, “command and exhort,” them in the Lord Jesus Christ to work in quiet fashion and eat their own bread. In other words, to put aside their restless intermeddling into everyone else’s business and quietly take care of their own, providing food for themselves, instead of burdening others.

Paul encouraged the Thessalonians not to grow weary of doing good, of living the right way, patiently and courageously taking care of their duties and calling. Yet again he said not to associate with those who wouldn’t follow this instruction so he would be ashamed. He said not to consider him an enemy, but to instruct him as to why he was being treated this way. The hope was to keep him as a brother, for him to realize his wrong, and do the right thing.

Paul prayed for peace to be with them all, in every circumstance. He was not trying to cause division, but to give them the mind of the Lord regarding the behavior of the unruly ones. He closed the letter by pointing out his distinguishing mark so they could use it to determine the genuineness of any letter they received in his name, so they would not be deceived as was already discussed. As was common for Paul, he closed by sending grace.


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