2 Thessalonians 3:8-11

3:8 and we did not eat anyone’s food without paying. ¹  Instead, in toil and drudgery we worked ²  night and day in order not to burden any of you. 3:9 It was not because we do not have that right, but to give ourselves as an example for you to imitate. ³  3:10 For even when we were with you, we used to give you this command: “If anyone is not willing to work, neither should he eat.” 3:11 For we hear that some among you are living an undisciplined life, ⁴  not doing their own work but meddling in the work of others. ⁵ 

[3:8]  ¹ tn Grk “we did not eat bread freely from anyone.”

[3:8]  ² tn Grk “but working,” as a continuation of the previous sentence. Because of the length and complexity of the Greek sentence, a new sentence was started with the word “Instead” in the translation.

[3:9]  ³ tn Grk “an example for you to imitate us.”

[3:11]  ⁴ tn Grk “walking in an undisciplined way” (“walking” is a common NT idiom for one’s way of life or conduct).

[3:11]  ⁵ tn There is a play on words in the Greek: “working at nothing, but working around,” “not keeping busy but being busybodies.”