2 Thessalonians 3:8
“Neither did we eat any man’s bread for nought; but wrought with labour and travail night and day, that we might not be chargeable to any of you:”
King James Version (KJV)
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Read Full Chapter →Paul did not take anyone's food without paying, but worked hard night and day so as not to be a burden to any of them.
What Does 2 Thessalonians 3:8 Mean?
Paul describes his own diligence in vivid detail. He did not eat anyone's "bread for nought," living off others without paying his way. Instead he "wrought with labour and travail night and day," working hard at his trade through long hours, specifically so he would "not be chargeable," not a financial burden, to the church.
The two words "labour and travail" stress real toil and weariness; this was no light effort. Paul chose to support himself, even amid the demands of ministry, so that no one could accuse him of preaching for profit and so that he could model honest work. His self-denial flowed from love for the church and zeal for the gospel's reputation. The verse rebukes idleness not with mere words but with the memory of an apostle laboring late into the night. It dignifies ordinary work and shows that genuine love often expresses itself in carrying our own weight for the sake of others.