Explanation of the Text 1 Thess 4 :11-12 Mind your own Business and Work
1Th 4:11 and to vie with one another in eagerness for peace, every one minding his own business and working with his hands, as we ordered you to do:
1Th 4:12 so as to live worthy lives in relation to outsiders, and not be a burden to any one.
1Th 4:12 so as to live worthy lives in relation to outsiders, and not be a burden to any one.
Notes:
to vie with one another in eagerness for peace WNT i.e. and make it your ambition to live peaceably [Shogren]; or that you study to be quiet KJV.
Be ambitious for this one thing; to be quiet and to live a quiet and peaceful life.
John Gill says , "To live peaceably in their own families, and to give no disturbance to other families, by tale-bearing, whispering, and backbiting; to behave with quietness in the neighbourhood, town, or city, they dwell in, and to seek the peace thereof; and to lead a quiet and peaceable life, in all godliness and honesty, in the commonwealth, and under the government to which they belong;"
- every one minding his own business and working with his hands, as we ordered you to do:
[ everyone having the habit of attending to one's own affairs RWP] Paul condemns all meddling in other's affairs. To attend to their own concerns, without interfering with the affairs of others;
The injunction here is one of the beautiful precepts of Christianity so well adapted to promote the good order and the happiness of society. It would prevent the impertinent and unauthorised prying into the affairs of others, to which many are so prone. Barnes Notes
The dignity of working with your hands |
- and working with his hands, as we ordered you to do:
Paul encouraged manual work for everyone. This gives real dignity to manual work by precept and example. The most content people are those who are out in the fields pick beans or chrops and being fruitful. What an example this is to others.
V.12 so as to live worthy lives in relation to outsiders, and not be a burden to any one.
Notes: worthy lives; from [euschemonos] becomingly or decently. This is someone who is honest in all business transactions and much more. Outsiders are watching how we live and conduct or lives as Christians
NIV so that your daily life will win the respect of outsiders and so that you will not be dependent on any body.
No bludgers here please.
No bludgers here please.
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