2 Thessalonians 3:12 (LSB)

Passage

Now such persons we command and exhort in the Lord Jesus Christ, that working with quietness, they eat their own bread.

Nearby Context

2 Thessalonians 3:10 For even when we were with you, we used to command this to you: if anyone is not willing to work, neither let him eat.

2 Thessalonians 3:11 For we hear that some among you are walking in an unruly manner, doing no work at all, but acting like busybodies.

2 Thessalonians 3:12 Now such persons we command and exhort in the Lord Jesus Christ, that working with quietness, they eat their own bread.

2 Thessalonians 3:13 But as for you, brothers, do not lose heart in doing good.

2 Thessalonians 3:14 And if anyone does not obey our word in this letter, take special note of that person to not associate with him, so that he will be put to shame.

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "such", "persons", "command", "exhort", "lord", "jesus", "christ", and "working". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "such" and "persons", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 11's "For we hear that some among you..." into verse 13's "But as for you brothers do not...", so "such" and "persons" belong inside that flow. In 2 Thessalonians context, the local focus is Christ, faith, and discipleship.

A plain takeaway is to answer the verse's own emphasis on "such" and "persons" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.