Deeper Reflection
ONE KEY REASON WHY CERTAIN THESSALONIAN BELIEVERS were not working but “walking in idleness” (v.6) has to do with “the institution of patronage that was pervasive in the ancient world”⁵. It was like this: “Clients depended on their rich patrons, receiving benefits from them such as food, money and representation, while the patrons enjoyed the public honour that accrued to their account for having so many clients. In this relationship, the patron was under social obligation to continue the economic and social support of his or her clients. To cut a client off would place the patron in a relationship of enmity with the client.”⁶ This patron-client relationship was one of mutual benefit.Paul is telling the Thessalonian believers who were clients not to depend on their patrons (believers or unbelievers) for their support, and Christian patrons not to be obliged to continue supporting those in the church who simply did not want to change their status as client and work.⁷ However, Paul encouraged the Christian patrons to continue as benefactors to those who were in true need (2 Thess 3:13).⁸We may find ourselves in a kind of “patron-client” relationship when we seek to find favour with people who are well-to-do, well-known, influential and powerful, for personal benefits. Or we may seek association with such people to make ourselves feel and look important and significant. Or we may show favour to certain people for self-serving reasons. But Scripture teaches us to seek no favour from man (Gal 1:10) and to show no favouritism (Jas 2:1).

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⁵ Gene L. Green, The Letters to the Thessalonians, The Pillar New Testament Commentary (Apollos, 2002), 342 ⁶ Gene L. Green, 342 ⁷ Gene L. Green, 342 ⁸ Gene L. Green, 342