2 Thessalonians 3:12 (WEB)

Passage

Now those who are that way, we command and exhort in the Lord Jesus Christ, that with quietness they work, and eat their own bread.

Nearby Context

2 Thessalonians 3:10 For even when we were with you, we commanded you this: “If anyone will not work, don’t let him eat.”

2 Thessalonians 3:11 For we hear of some who walk among you in rebellion, who don’t work at all, but are busybodies.

2 Thessalonians 3:12 Now those who are that way, we command and exhort in the Lord Jesus Christ, that with quietness they work, and eat their own bread.

2 Thessalonians 3:13 But you, brothers, don’t be weary in doing what is right.

2 Thessalonians 3:14 If any man doesn’t obey our word in this letter, note that man, that you have no company with him, to the end that he may be ashamed.

Study Lenses

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

The nearby context moves from verse 11's "For we hear of some who walk..." into verse 13's "But you brothers don t be weary...", so "command" and "exhort" 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 "command" and "exhort" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.