At Thessalonica Paul had met those who refused to work with their hands. It was of this class that he afterward wrote: "There are some which walk among you disorderly, working not at all, but are busybodies. Now them that are such we command and exhort by our Lord Jesus Christ, that 348 with quietness they work, and eat their own bread." While laboring in Thessalonica, Paul had been careful to set before such ones a right example. "Even when we were with you," he wrote, "this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat." Verses 11, 12, 10.

Paulus havde i Tessalonika truffet nogle, der nægtede at arbejde med deres hænder. Det var om denne slags mennesker, at han senere skrev: "Vi hører nemlig, at nogle vandrer uskikkeligt iblandt jer og ikke arbejder, men giver sig af med, hvad der ikke kommer dem ved. Sådanne mennesker byder og fomaner vi i Herren Jesus Kristus, at de skal arbejde stilfærdigt og selv tjene til føden." Mens Paulus virkede i Tessalonika, havde han været omhyggelig for at foregå den slags mennesker med et godt eksempel. "Thi allerede, da vi var hos jer," skrev han, "indskærpede vi jer, at den, der ikke vil arbejde, skal heller ikke have føden." 2Tess. 3,11-12. og 10.