Berean BlueApp preview

John Calvin on 2 Thessalonians 3:13

Commentaries. Browse this work.

2 Thessalonians3:13

13 And you, brethren. Ambrose is of opinion that this is added lest the rich should, in a niggardly spirit, refuse to lend their aid to the poor, because he had exhorted them to eat every one his own bread. And, unquestionably, we see how many are unbefittingly ingenious in catching at a pretext for inhumanity. “Enuers les poures;” — “Towards the poor.” Chrysostom explains it thus — that indolent persons, however justly they may be condemned, must nevertheless be assisted when in want. I am simply of opinion, that Paul had it in view to provide against an occasion of offense, which might arise from the indolence of a few. For it usually happens, that those that are otherwise particularly ready and on the alert for beneficence, become cool on seeing that they have thrown away their favors by misdirecting them. Hence Paul admonishes us, that, although there are many that are undeserving, “Ne meritent point qu’on leur face du bien;” — “Do not deserve that any should do them good.” while others abuse our liberality, we must not on this account leave off helping those that need our aid. Here we have a statement worthy of being observed — that however ingratitude, moroseness, pride, arrogance, and other unseemly dispositions on the part of the poor, may have a tendency to annoy us, or to dispirit us, from a feeling of weariness, we must strive, nevertheless, never to leave off aiming at doing good.

2 Thessalonians 3:14-18

14. And if any man obey not our word by this epistle, note that man, and have no company with him, that he may be ashamed.

14. Si quis autem non obedit sermoni nostro per epistolam, hunc notate: et ne commisceamini illi, “N’obeit a nostre parolle, marquez-le par lettres, et ne conuersez point, or, ni obeit a nostre parolle par ces lettres, marquez—le, et ne conversez;” — “Does not obey our word, mark him by letters, and keep no company with him; or, does not obey our word by these letters, mark him and keep no company.” ut pudefiat:

15. Yet count him not as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother.

15. Et ne tanquam inimicum sentiatis, sed admonete tanquam fratrem.

16. Now the Lord of peace himself give you peace always by all means. The Lord be with you all.

16. Ipse autem Deus pacis det vobis pacem semper omnibus modis. Dominus sit cum omnibus vobis.

17. The salutation of Paul with mine own hand, which is the token in every epistle: so I write.

17. Salutatio, mea manu Pauli: quod est signum in omni epistola.

18. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.

18. Gratia Domini nostri Iesu Christi cum omnibus vobis. Amen.

The second epistle to the Thessalonians was written from Athens.

Ad Thessalonicenses secunda missa fuit ex Athenis.

John Calvin, Commentaries, 2 Thessalonians 3:13. Public domain.

Permanent link. Source edition.

Read 2 Thessalonians 3. Compare commentaries on this chapter.

Source and publication rights

Public domain. Public Domain. Source edition.

Berean Blue opens December 1, 2026. Explore this passage in the app preview.