2 Thessalonians 3:8

2 Thessalonians 3:8 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)Neither did we eat any man’s bread for nought; but wrought with labour and travail night and day, that we might not be chargeable to any of you:
• New International Version (NIV)nor did we eat anyone’s food without paying for it. On the contrary, we worked night and day, laboring and toiling so that we would not be a burden to any of you.
• New King James Version (NKJV)nor did we eat anyone’s bread free of charge, but worked with labor and toil night and day, that we might not be a burden to any of you,
• New Living Translation (NLT)We never accepted food from anyone without paying for it. We worked hard day and night so we would not be a burden to any of you.

Context of 2 Thessalonians 3:8

6Now we command you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you keep away from any brother who is walking in idleness and not in accord with the tradition that you received from us. 7For you yourselves know how you ought to imitate us, because we were not idle when we were with you, nor did we eat anyone's bread without paying for it, but with toil and labor we worked night and day, that we might not be a burden to any of you. 9It was not because we do not have that right, but to give you in ourselves an example to imitate. 10For even when we were with you, we would give you this command: If anyone is not willing to work, let him not eat.

2 Thessalonians 3:8 word by word

οὐδὲ δωρεὰν ἄρτον ἐφάγομεν παρά τινος, ἀλλ᾽ ἐν κόπῳ καὶ μόχθῳ νυκτὸς καὶ ἡμέρας ἐργαζόμενοι πρὸς τὸ μὴ ἐπιβαρῆσαί τινα ὑμῶν·Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• ·ὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• Neitherοὐδέoude · norG3761
• did we eatφαγεῖνphagō · to eatG5315
• any man’sτιςtis · oneG5100
• breadἄρτοςartos · breadG740
• for noughtδωρεάνdōrean · freelyG1432
• butἀλλάalla · butG235
• wroughtἐργάζομαιergazomai · to workG2038
• withἐνen · in/on/amongG1722
• labourκόποςkopos · laborG2873
• andκαίkai · andG2532
• travailμόχθοςmochthos · toilG3449
• nightνύξnux · nightG3571
• dayἡμέραhēmera · dayG2250
• thatπρόςpros · to/withG4314
• we mightἐπιβαρέωepibareō · to burdenG1912
• notμήmē · notG3361
• of youσύsu · youG4771
• ·παράpara · from/with/besideG3844

Cross-references for 2 Thessalonians 3:8

• 2 Thessalonians 3:12Now such persons we command and encourage in the Lord Jesus Christ to do their work quietly and to earn their own living.
• Proverbs 31:27She looks well to the ways of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness.
• Matthew 6:11Give us this day our daily bread,
• Acts 18:3and because he was of the same trade he stayed with them and worked, for they were tentmakers by trade.
• Acts 20:34You yourselves know that these hands ministered to my necessities and to those who were with me.
• 1 Corinthians 4:12and we labor, working with our own hands. When reviled, we bless; when persecuted, we endure;
• 2 Corinthians 11:9And when I was with you and was in need, I did not burden anyone, for the brothers who came from Macedonia supplied my need. So I refrained and will refrain from burdening you in any way.
• 1 Thessalonians 4:11and to aspire to live quietly, and to mind your own affairs, and to work with your hands, as we instructed you,
• 1 Thessalonians 2:9For you remember, brothers, our labor and toil: we worked night and day, that we might not be a burden to any of you, while we proclaimed to you the gospel of God.

Commentaries on 2 Thessalonians 3:8

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 8Neither did we eat any man's bread for naught - We paid for what we bought, and worked with our hands that we might have money to buy what was necessary. Labour and travail night and day - We were incessantly employed, either in preaching the Gospel, visiting from house to house, or working at our calling. As it is very evident that the Church at Thessalonica was very pious, and most affectionately attached to the apostle, they must have been very poor…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 8Neither did we eat any man‘s bread for nought - We were not supported in idleness at the expense of others. We gave a fair equivalent for all that we received, and, in fact, labored for our own support; see the notes on 1 Thessalonians 2:9.Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 6-15Verses 6-15 Those who have received the gospel, are to live according to the gospel. Such as could work, and would not, were not to be maintained in idleness. Christianity is not to countenance slothfulness, which would consume what is meant to encourage the industrious, and to support the sick and afflicted. Industry in our callings as men, is a duty required by our calling as Christians. But some expected to be maintained in idleness, and indulged a…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 8without paying for it: Paul taught that workers in the Christian church could receive pay for their labor (3:9; see Matthew 10:10; 1 Corinthians 9:7–14; 1 Timothy 5:17–18). However, he did not use that privilege (1 Thessalonians 2:9; 2 Thessalonians 3:6–10).Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 88. eat any man's bread--Greek, "eat bread from any man," that is, live at anyone's expense. Contrast 2Th 3:12, "eat THEIR OWN bread." wrought--(Ac 20:34). In both Epistles they state they maintained themselves by labor; but in this second Epistle they do so in order to offer themselves herein as an example to the idle; whereas, in the first, their object in doing so is to vindicate themselves from all imputation of mercenary motives in preaching the…Read the comment

Topics related to 2 Thessalonians 3:8

• Commandments
• Example
• Industry
• Labor
• Minister, Christian
• Paul
• Unselfishness
• Zeal, Religious

In the dictionaries

• Admonish
• Disorderly
• Lord
• Philippians, Epistle to
• Poor
• Labor
• Nought
• Scribes
• Thessalonica
• Travail

Commentaries on 2 Thessalonians 3

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Calvin’s Commentaries
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Illustrated New Testament
• Burkitt’s Expository Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Family Bible Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• The People’s New Testament
• Robertson’s Word Pictures
• Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings