2 Aug. Paul calls out those who refuse to work
"And now, brothers and sisters, pray for us that the Lord's teaching will continue to spread quickly and that people will give honour to that teaching, just as you did. And pray that we will be protected from stubborn and evil people, because not all people believe..."
"Brothers and sisters, by the authority of our Lord Jesus Christ we command you to stay away from any believer who refuses to work and does not follow the teaching we gave you. You yourselves know that you should live as we live. We were not lazy when we were with you. And when we ate another person's food, we always paid for it."
"We worked very hard night and day so we would not be an expense to any of you. We had the right to ask you to help us, but we worked to take care of ourselves so we would be an example for you to follow. When we were with you, we gave you this rule: 'Anyone who refuses to work should not eat.'"
"We hear that some people in your group [at Thessalonica] refuse to work. They do nothing but busy themselves in other people's lives. We command those people and beg them in the Lord Jesus Christ to work quietly and earn their own food. But you, brothers and sisters, never become tired of doing good..."
"Now may the Lord of peace give you peace at all times and in every way. The Lord be with all of you."
"I, Paul, end this letter now in my own hand-writing. All my letters have this to show they are from me. This is the way I write."
"The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all."
(2 Thessalonians 3:1-18)
Paul closes his Second Letter to the Thessalonians by asking the believers to pray for him – that he will be protected from wicked and evil people.
Paul (who is currently working as a tentmaker with Aquila and Priscilla in Corinth – see Acts 18:3) reminds them of their obligation to earn a decent living so they are not dependent on the goodwill of other believers.
Paul then sends a final greeting to the believers and concludes, “I, Paul, end this letter now in my own handwriting” (as the rest of the letter is dictated) (2 Thessalonians 3:17). This is to show the believers that the letter is really from Paul.
He ends with his usual benediction: “The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all” (2 Thessalonians 3:18).
The photo shows the 4th century Church of Saint Demetrios at Thessalonica (by Andrew Zorin).
You can read the whole of Paul's Second Letter to the Thessalonians starting @ https://www.thebiblejourney.org/…/pauls-2nd-letter-to-thes…/