Introduction This passage addresses an ongoing problem in the Thessalonian church: some community members refuse to work, relying instead on others in the congregation for support. Paul had already briefly addressed this issue in 1 Thess 4:11-12 and 5:14, but the problem had persisted. In 1 Thess 5:14, he had urged the community to warn their own “disorderly/disruptive”   ( ataktous ) members. He uses a form of that term ( ataktōs ) again in this passage in vv. 6 and 11 and its related verbal...

Verses 1-22 Thessalonians begins almost identically to 1 Thessalonians.[1] Both letters are co-sent from Paul, Silvanus (aka Silas), and...