1 Thessalonians 4:11 Meaning and Explanation
“And that ye study to be quiet, and to do your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you;”
King James Version (KJV)
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Read Full Chapter →Paul urges them to aim for a quiet life, mind their own affairs, and work with their hands.
What Does 1 Thessalonians 4:11 Mean?
Paul gives a strikingly down-to-earth charge. He tells them to 'study to be quiet,' to make it their ambition to live a peaceable, settled life; to 'do your own business,' tending their own responsibilities rather than meddling; and to 'work with your own hands,' earning their bread through honest labor. This he had already 'commanded' them.
There is quiet wisdom in this counsel. A faith fixed on the Lord's return might tempt some to idleness or restlessness, but Paul points them to faithful ordinary living. To pursue quietness, to mind one's own affairs, and to work honestly is itself a form of godliness. It is striking that Paul makes calmness an ambition, when the world makes ambition anything but calm. The Christian need not chase noise or notoriety; a peaceable, diligent, self-supporting life honors God and blesses others. In the steady rhythm of daily work and minded responsibilities, holiness takes a humble and beautiful form.
1 Thessalonians 4:11 in the Original Language
hesychazo (ἡσυχάζω), 'be quiet' -- to be still, calm, and at rest, leading a peaceable and settled life.
Frequently Asked Questions About 1 Thessalonians 4:11
What does 1 Thessalonians 4:11 mean?
Paul urges them to aim for a quiet life, mind their own affairs, and work with their hands.