"If anyone is not willing to work, neither let him eat." 2 Thessalonians 3:10b
What does this verse mean? What is the proper biblical context for these words? In fact, what is the proper biblical context for the entire chapter? The entire book?
The caveat: Do not continue reading if you are a worshiper of the organized institutional church and/or are faint of heart.
You all know how the theologians have interpreted this verse and this passage. You are familiar with their eisegesis and lies. Even John MacArthur's method of "Unleashing God's Truth, One Verse at a Time" gives you a false interpretation here. As much as I respect MacArthur, even his ministry with his teachings and interpretations misses the mark entirely. His motto should be changed to, "Obscuring God's Truth, One Verse at a Time," because he certainly is not unleashing anything except error and misinformation.
Verse-by-verse teaching accomplishes nothing and hinders much when you do not have a clue why the book or letter was written in the first place, and what exactly it is dealing with and saying. Second Thessalonians was Paul's third letter, arguably the third or fourth book of the New Testament. None of the other books/letters existed yet. This letter was written very shortly after 1 Thessalonians, within about 5 months. Why?
After Paul had written his first letter to the Thessalonians, some of the extremely zealous Thessalonians had overshot the mark, believing that Jesus would return very soon, and had stopped working. They would show up at the houses of brothers who were still working, expecting to be fed. They were taking advantage of their brotherly love and being free-loaders and mooches. Second Thessalonians was an adjustment letter. The point of the letter can be summed up in a single sentence―"If anyone is not willing to work, neither let him eat."
How many commentaries have you read that reveal these facts? I am willing to bet you have never discovered this in a single commentary. Why? Because the theologians do not understand the New Testament any more than anyone else, and all they are doing with their commentaries is giving their opinions or the opinions of those whom they basically worship. Example: John Calvin copycatted Augustine on a number of beliefs, including contradicting the Lord Jesus concerning turning the other cheek. Other Reformed commentaries copycat Calvin's beliefs from his commentaries. There is extremely little original thought happening, and a complete lack of critical, logical, and objective thinking.
Do not become pompous and proud thinking this is only true of "Calvinists." This is true of every denomination and the unworthy men they have elevated to the status of "Pope." Catholics, Lutherans, Anglicans, Anabaptists, Presbyterians, Baptists, Episcopalians, Methodists, Pentecostals, etc. are guilty of the same.
For the past 1800 years, no one has understood the New Testament. How could they? It is bound in a chaotic manner that is not chronological. You need background history of the Roman Empire, the nation of Israel, and the Congregation in order to understand why each book/letter was written. You are reading a one-sided telephone conversation. What led to Paul's writing Galatians, arguably the very first letter of the New Testament? (Some say James was written first, possibly even second.) In the eight years between the writings of Galatians and Romans (Paul's sixth letter), what occurred in the Roman Empire, Israel, and the Congregation that prompted Paul to write Romans?
None of the New Testament books/letters are theological treatises. This is a lie that the theologians have fed you, claiming special status as the official interpreters of Scripture. They go to Seminary in order to be trained to be "wise and educated" concerning the Scriptures, and in their "wisdom" God has "hidden these things from the wise and intelligent" and "chosen the foolish things of the world to shame the wise." Most people coming out of Seminary come out as arrogant, prideful, theological thugs who think they have all the answers. However, as I have repeatedly numerous times over the past 10+ years, education merely serves to teach you how to think and believe the way your professors think and believe; never how to think critically, logically, rationally, objectively, or even for yourself.
We need Bible publishers to start ordering the Bible in its correct chronology so that when people read it they can understand it. What is the fascination with holding to a godless tradition of continuing to print them in they way they were first bound? We are 1700 years later and these people still cling to poor binding of the Scriptures. Why?
A proper "study" Bible should give you the historical information that led to the writing of each book/letter―not verse-by-verse opinions that completely miss the mark. The book of Acts gives us some (limited) background information as to what was happening at the times that each letter was written. (Some letters were written well after the book of Acts ends.) Learn where in the book of Acts these letters were written, what was happening in the Roman Empire, the nation of Israel, and the Congregation at the time each letter was written, and you will understand your New Testament like never before. You will understand your New Testament better than any theologian!
Yahweh has "hidden [the truth] from the wise and intelligent and [has] revealed [it] to infants." Intellectual "babes" can understand matters of the kingdom better than cerebral academics. Do not allow theologians to attempt to bully you with their useless credentials. If Yahweh "has chosen the foolish things of the world to shame the wise, and...the weak things of the world to shame the things which are strong," then what do you need to be afraid of? God is on your side. Lean on the understanding provided by the Holy Spirit, read God's Word in the correct chronological order, understand the historical context leading to each letter's writing, and apply these words to your own life and you will be just fine. Early Christianity was centered on the Lord Jesus and His kingdom, an obedient love-faith relationship with King Jesus, and bearing genuine fruit.
Go serve your King!