Now them that are such we command and exhort by our Lord Jesus Christ, that with quietness they work, and eat their own bread.

Now them that are such we command and exhort in the Lord Jesus Christ, that with quietness they work, and eat their own bread.

Now we charge them that are such, and beseech them by the Lord Jesus Christ, that, working with silence, they would eat their own bread.

Now such we enjoin and exhort in the Lord Jesus Christ, that working quietly they eat their own bread.

and such we command and exhort through our Lord Jesus Christ, that with quietness working, their own bread they may eat;

To persons of that sort our injunction - and our command by the authority of the Lord Jesus Christ - is that they are to work quietly and eat their own honestly-earned bread.

Now to such we give orders and make request in the Lord Jesus, that, working quietly, they get their living.

Now we charge those who act in this way, and we beg them in the Lord Jesus Christ, that they work in silence and eat their own bread.

All such people we beg, and implore, in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, to attend quietly to their business, and earn their own living.

Now we command such. He corrects both of the faults of which he had made mention -- a blustering restlessness, and retirement from useful employment. He accordingly exhorts them, in the first place, to cultivate repose -- that is, to keep themselves quietly within the limits of their calling, or, as we commonly say, "sans faire bruit," (without making a noise.) For the truth is this: those are the most peaceable of all, that exercise themselves in lawful employments; [1] while those that have nothing to do give trouble both to themselves and to others. Further, he subjoins another precept -- that they should labor, that is, that they should be intent upon their calling, and devote themselves to lawful and honorable employments, without which the life of man is of a wandering nature. Hence, also, there follows this third injunction -- that they should eat their own bread; by which he means, that they should be satisfied with what belongs to them, that they may not be oppressive or unreasonable to others. Drink water, says Solomon, from thine own fountains, and let the streams flow down to neighbors. (Proverbs 5:15.) This is the first law of equity, that no one make use of what belongs to another, but only use what he can properly call his own. The second is, that no one swallow up, like some abyss, what belongs to him, but that he be beneficent to neighbors, and that he may relieve their indigence by his abundance. [2] In the same manner, the Apostle exhorts those who had been formerly idle to labor, not merely that they may gain for themselves a livelihood, but that they may also be helpful to the necessities of their brethren, as he also teaches elsewhere. (Ephesians 4:28.)

Footnotes

1 - "Ceux qui s'exercent a bon escient en quelque labeur licite;" -- "Those that exercise themselves in good earnest in any lawful employment."

2 - See Calvin on the Corinthians; [65]vol. 2, p. 286.

Now them that are such we command and exhort by our Lord Jesus - A more solemn command and appeal to do what he had before enjoined on all of them; 1-Thessalonians 4:11; see the notes on that verse.

With quietness they work - Μετα ἡσυχιας· With silence; leaving their tale-bearing and officious intermeddling. Less noise and more work!
That - they work, and eat their own bread - Their own bread, because earned by their own honest industry. What a degrading thing to live on the bounty or mercy of another, while a man is able to acquire his own livelihood! He who can submit to this has lost the spirit of independence; and has in him a beggar's heart, and is capable of nothing but base and beggarly actions. Witness the great mass of the people of England, who by their dependence on the poor rates are, from being laborious, independent, and respect able, become idle, profligate, and knavish; the propagators and perpetrators of crime; a discredit to the nation, and a curse to society. The apostle's command is a cure for such; and the Church of God should discountenance such, and disown them.

(9) Now them that are such we command and exhort by our Lord Jesus Christ, that with quietness they work, and eat their own bread.
(9) The Lord commands and the apostles pray in the name of Christ, first, that no man be idle, and next, that every man quietly and carefully sees to do his duty in that office and calling in which the Lord has placed him.

Now them that are such,.... For this was not the case and character of them all. Did such practices generally obtain, no community, civil or religious, could subsist. And the apostle wisely distinguishes them from others, that the innocent might not be involved in the charge.
We command and exhort by our Lord Jesus Christ; using both authority and entreaty; taking every way to reclaim them, commanding in the name of Christ and beseeching for the sake of Christ
that with quietness they work: with their own hands, at their proper callings, and so support themselves, provide for their families, and have something to give to them that are in need; by which means they will live peaceable and quiet lives, in godliness and honesty, and not disturb the peace of neighbourhoods, churches, and families:
and eat their own bread; got by their own labour, and bought with their money, and not the bread of others, or that of idleness.

by--The oldest manuscripts read, "IN the Lord Jesus." So the Greek, 1-Thessalonians 4:1, implying the sphere wherein such conduct is appropriate and consistent. "We exhort you thus, as ministers IN Christ, exhorting our people IN Christ."
with quietness--quiet industry; laying aside restless, bustling, intermeddling officiousness (2-Thessalonians 3:11).
their own--bread earned by themselves, not another's bread (2-Thessalonians 3:8).

Work quietly - Letting the concerns of other people alone.