Note 19 at 1 Th. 4:11: The word "study" in this passage (Gk. PHILOTIMEOMAI) "?does not refer to study in the sense of opening books or reading; it means 'to desire', or 'to determine'. A possibly clearer translation would be, 'aspire to live quietly and take care of your own affairs while you work with your hands as we instructed you'" (Liberty Bible Commentary [LBC], Vol. 2, p. 612).

Work should never be despised by Christians. God ordained it as a part of life before the fall. "And the LORD God took the man, and put him into the garden of Eden to dress it and to keep it" (Gen. 2:15). It is a responsibility given to man. "Six days shall work be done: but the seventh day is the sabbath of rest..." (Lev. 23:3). It causes one to prosper. "Wealth gotten by vanity shall be diminished: but he that gathereth by labour shall increase" (Prov. 13:11). "In all labour there is profit: but talk of the lips tendeth only to penury (i.e. poverty)" (Prov. 14:23). It is a deterrent to crime. "Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth" (Eph. 4:28). It is a command of the Lord Jesus. "Now them that are such we command and exhort by our Lord Jesus Christ, that with quietness they work, and eat their own bread" (2 Th. 3:12).

Paul elaborates on this point in his second letter to the Thessalonians when he said, "?if any would not work, neither should he eat" (2 Th. 3:10).