2 Thessalonians 3 in the early church

128 passages quote, allude to, or echo 2 Thessalonians 3, grouped by verse; passages on the same verse are in date order. Verse text from the Berean Standard Bible (public domain). References use the Protestant English Bible's numbering, with a writer's own numbering in brackets where it differs.

Verses: 1 · 2 · 3 · 5 · 6 · 7 · 8 · 9 · 10 · 11 · 12 · 13 · 14 · 15 · 16 · 17 · 18

2 Thessalonians 3:1

Finally, brothers, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may spread quickly and be held in honor, just as it was with you.
BSB

Reference	Passage	Kind	Date
2 Thess 3:1	Moral Rules (Moralia) 57 · Basil of Caesarea	quotation, high confidence	ca. 360-370
2 Thess 3:1–2	Commentary on 2 Thessalonians 3:2 · Ambrosiaster	quotation, high confidence	ca. 366–384
2 Thess 3:1	Theological Oration 5 (Or. 31), On the Holy Spirit 2 · Gregory of Nazianzus	allusion, medium confidence	380
2 Thess 3:1–2	Letter 217.27 · Augustine of Hippo	quotation, high confidence	ca. 386–430
2 Thess 3:1	Explanation of Twelve Psalms 43.49.2 · Ambrose	allusion, high confidence	ca. 387-397

2 Thessalonians 3:2

And pray that we may be delivered from wicked and evil men; for not everyone holds to the faith.
BSB

Reference	Passage	Kind	Date
2 Thess 3:2	Miscellanies 5.3.17 · Clement of Alexandria	quotation, high confidence	ca. 198–203
2 Thess 3:2	On Christ and Antichrist 1 · Hippolytus of Rome	quotation, high confidence	ca. 200–215
2 Thess 3:2	Letter 199.48 · Augustine of Hippo	quotation, high confidence	ca. 386–430
2 Thess 3:2	Sermon 127.8 · Augustine of Hippo	quotation, high confidence	ca. 391-430
2 Thess 3:2	Sermon 175.1 · Augustine of Hippo	quotation, high confidence	ca. 391-430
2 Thess 3:2	Sermon 265.2 · Augustine of Hippo	allusion, medium confidence	ca. 391-430
2 Thess 3:2	On the Merits and Forgiveness of Sins 1.55 · Augustine of Hippo	quotation, high confidence	411–412
2 Thess 3:2	On Grace and Free Will 13 · Augustine of Hippo	quotation, high confidence	ca. 426
2 Thess 3:2	Chapter 6 · Prosper of Aquitaine	quotation, high confidence	ca. 426-428
2 Thess 3:2	On the Predestination of the Saints 5 · Augustine of Hippo	quotation, high confidence	ca. 428/429

2 Thessalonians 3:3

But the Lord is faithful, and He will strengthen you and guard you from the evil one.
BSB

Reference	Passage	Kind	Date
2 Thess 3:3–4	Commentary on 2 Thessalonians 3:3 · Ambrosiaster	quotation, high confidence	ca. 366–384

2 Thessalonians 3:5

May the Lord direct your hearts into God’s love and Christ’s perseverance.
BSB

Reference	Passage	Kind	Date
2 Thess 3:5	To the Romans 10.3 · Ignatius of Antioch	echo, medium confidence	ca. 110 (range ca. 105–135)
2 Thess 3:5	Commentary on 2 Thessalonians 3:5 · Ambrosiaster	quotation, high confidence	ca. 366–384
2 Thess 3:5	Question 97, section 18 · Ambrosiaster	quotation, high confidence	ca. 370–384
2 Thess 3:5	On the Holy Spirit 21.52 · Basil of Caesarea	quotation, high confidence	ca. 374–375
2 Thess 3:5	Chapter 4 · Nicetas, bishop of Remesiana	quotation, high confidence	ca. 380–414

2 Thessalonians 3:6

Now we command you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, to keep away from any brother who leads an undisciplined life that is not in keeping with the tradition you received from us.
BSB

Reference	Passage	Kind	Date
2 Thess 3:6	On Modesty 18 · Tertullian	allusion, high confidence	ca. 210–220
2 Thess 3:6	Homilies on Joshua 21.2 · Origen	quotation, high confidence	ca. 238–250 (Rufinus's translation ca. 400–410)
2 Thess 3:6	Homilies on Leviticus 5.12 · Origen	allusion, high confidence	ca. 238–250 (Rufinus's translation ca. 400–410)
2 Thess 3:6	Homilies on Leviticus 11.1 · Origen	allusion, high confidence	ca. 238–250 (Rufinus's translation ca. 400–410)
2 Thess 3:6	On the Singleness of Clerics 36 · Anonymous	quotation, high confidence	3rd cent. (disputed)
2 Thess 3:6	To Quirinus 3.68 · Cyprian of Carthage	quotation, high confidence	ca. 248–250 (book 3 perhaps later)
2 Thess 3:6	Letter 59.20 · Cyprian of Carthage	quotation, high confidence	249/250–258
2 Thess 3:6	On the Unity of the Catholic Church 23 · Cyprian of Carthage	quotation, high confidence	251
2 Thess 3:6	Apostolic Church Order 20 · Anonymous	allusion, medium confidence	ca. 300
2 Thess 3:6	On Not Agreeing with Heretics 9 · Lucifer of Cagliari	quotation, high confidence	ca. 356–361
2 Thess 3:6	Commentary on 2 Thessalonians 3:6 · Ambrosiaster	quotation, high confidence	ca. 366–384
2 Thess 3:6	Canons on the Letters of Paul 50 · Priscillian	allusion, high confidence	ca. 380–400
2 Thess 3:6	On Elijah and Fasting 82 · Ambrose	allusion, high confidence	ca. 387-390
2 Thess 3:6	On the Work of Monks 4 · Augustine of Hippo	quotation, high confidence	ca. 400–401
2 Thess 3:6	The Institutes 10.7 · John Cassian	quotation, high confidence	ca. 419–426
2 Thess 3:6	The Institutes 10.21 · John Cassian	quotation, high confidence	ca. 419–426

2 Thessalonians 3:7

For you yourselves know how you ought to imitate us, because we were not undisciplined among you,
BSB

Reference	Passage	Kind	Date
2 Thess 3:7–9	Commentary on 2 Thessalonians 3:7–9 · Ambrosiaster	quotation, high confidence	ca. 366–384
2 Thess 3:7	On the Work of Monks 4 · Augustine of Hippo	quotation, high confidence	ca. 400–401
2 Thess 3:7	The Institutes 10.7 · John Cassian	quotation, high confidence	ca. 419–426
2 Thess 3:7	The Institutes 10.8 · John Cassian	quotation, high confidence	ca. 419–426
2 Thess 3:7	The Conferences 24.11 · John Cassian	quotation, high confidence	ca. 426–429

2 Thessalonians 3:8

nor did we eat anyone’s food without paying for it. Instead, in labor and toil, we worked night and day so that we would not be a burden to any of you.
BSB

Reference	Passage	Kind	Date
2 Thess 3:8	Letter 14.2 · Cyprian of Carthage	quotation, high confidence	249/250–258
2 Thess 3:8	Life of Antony 50 · Athanasius of Alexandria	echo, low confidence	ca. 357–360
2 Thess 3:8	Letter 125.11 · Jerome	allusion, high confidence	ca. 370–419
2 Thess 3:8	Letter 157.38 · Augustine of Hippo	allusion, medium confidence	ca. 386–430
2 Thess 3:8	On the Catholic Way of Life and the Manichaean Way of Life 1.33 · Augustine of Hippo	allusion, medium confidence	ca. 387–389
2 Thess 3:8	Sermon 46.4 · Augustine of Hippo	allusion, high confidence	ca. 391-430
2 Thess 3:8	The Harmony of the Gospels 2.73 · Augustine of Hippo	allusion, high confidence	ca. 399–400
2 Thess 3:8	On the Work of Monks 4 · Augustine of Hippo	quotation, high confidence	ca. 400–401
2 Thess 3:8	On the Work of Monks 9 · Augustine of Hippo	quotation, high confidence	ca. 400–401
2 Thess 3:8	On the Work of Monks 15 · Augustine of Hippo	allusion, high confidence	ca. 400–401
2 Thess 3:8	The Institutes 1.5 · John Cassian	quotation, high confidence	ca. 419–426
2 Thess 3:8	The Institutes 10.8 · John Cassian	quotation, high confidence	ca. 419–426
2 Thess 3:8	The Institutes 10.9 · John Cassian	quotation, high confidence	ca. 419–426
2 Thess 3:8	The Conferences 18.11 · John Cassian	allusion, high confidence	ca. 426–429
2 Thess 3:8	The Conferences 23.5 · John Cassian	allusion, high confidence	ca. 426–429
2 Thess 3:8	The Conferences 24.11 · John Cassian	quotation, high confidence	ca. 426–429

2 Thessalonians 3:9

Not that we lack this right, but we wanted to offer ourselves as an example for you to imitate.
BSB

Reference	Passage	Kind	Date
2 Thess 3:9	On the Work of Monks 4 · Augustine of Hippo	quotation, high confidence	ca. 400–401
2 Thess 3:9	On the Work of Monks 9 · Augustine of Hippo	quotation, high confidence	ca. 400–401
2 Thess 3:9	The Institutes 10.10 · John Cassian	quotation, high confidence	ca. 419–426
2 Thess 3:9	The Conferences 24.11 · John Cassian	quotation, high confidence	ca. 426–429

2 Thessalonians 3:10

For even while we were with you, we gave you this command: “If anyone is unwilling to work, he shall not eat.”
BSB

Reference	Passage	Kind	Date
2 Thess 3:10	Didache 12.3 · Anonymous	allusion, medium confidence	ca. 50–150 (often ca. 100)
2 Thess 3:10	Against Marcion 5.16 · Tertullian	allusion, high confidence	207/208 (third edition, completed later)
2 Thess 3:10	Long recension, Magnesians 9 · Anonymous	quotation, high confidence	later 4th century (probable)
2 Thess 3:10	Long recension, Antiochians 11 · Anonymous	allusion, high confidence	later 4th century (probable)
2 Thess 3:10	Life of Antony 3 · Athanasius of Alexandria	quotation, high confidence	ca. 357–360
2 Thess 3:10	Letter 22 · Basil of Caesarea	allusion, high confidence	ca. 357–378
2 Thess 3:10	Moral Rules (Moralia) 47 · Basil of Caesarea	quotation, high confidence	ca. 360-370
2 Thess 3:10	Commentary on 1 Thessalonians 2:9 · Ambrosiaster	quotation, high confidence	ca. 366–384
2 Thess 3:10	Commentary on 2 Thessalonians 3:10 · Ambrosiaster	quotation, high confidence	ca. 366–384
2 Thess 3:10	Letter 17.2 · Jerome	quotation, high confidence	ca. 370–419
2 Thess 3:10	Letter 24.4 · Jerome	quotation, high confidence	ca. 370–419
2 Thess 3:10	Apostolic Constitutions 2.63.6 · Anonymous	quotation, high confidence	ca. 380
2 Thess 3:10	Homilies on Matthew 35.4 · John Chrysostom	quotation, high confidence	ca. 390
2 Thess 3:10	Life of Hilarion 5 · Jerome	quotation, high confidence	ca. 390–392
2 Thess 3:10	Letters 11.10 · Paulinus of Nola	allusion, high confidence	ca. 394–413
2 Thess 3:10	On the Work of Monks 1 · Augustine of Hippo	quotation, high confidence	ca. 400–401
2 Thess 3:10	On the Work of Monks 2 · Augustine of Hippo	quotation, high confidence	ca. 400–401
2 Thess 3:10	On the Work of Monks 3 · Augustine of Hippo	quotation, high confidence	ca. 400–401
2 Thess 3:10	On the Work of Monks 4 · Augustine of Hippo	quotation, high confidence	ca. 400–401
2 Thess 3:10	On the Work of Monks 33 · Augustine of Hippo	quotation, high confidence	ca. 400–401
2 Thess 3:10	The Institutes 1.5 · John Cassian	quotation, high confidence	ca. 419–426
2 Thess 3:10	The Institutes 10.11 · John Cassian	quotation, high confidence	ca. 419–426
2 Thess 3:10	The Institutes 10.12 · John Cassian	quotation, high confidence	ca. 419–426
2 Thess 3:10	The Institutes 10.19 · John Cassian	allusion, high confidence	ca. 419–426
2 Thess 3:10	Retractations 2.21 · Augustine of Hippo	allusion, high confidence	426-427
2 Thess 3:10	The Conferences 24.12 · John Cassian	quotation, high confidence	ca. 426–429
2 Thess 3:10	Part 1, chapter 5 · Quodvultdeus of Carthage	quotation, high confidence	ca. 445-450

2 Thessalonians 3:11

For we hear that some of you are leading undisciplined lives, accomplishing nothing, but being busybodies.
BSB

Reference	Passage	Kind	Date
2 Thess 3:11	Letters to Virgins 1.11.1 · Anonymous	allusion, high confidence	3rd century
2 Thess 3:11	Commentary on 2 Thessalonians 3:11 · Ambrosiaster	quotation, high confidence	ca. 366–384
2 Thess 3:11	On the Work of Monks 4 · Augustine of Hippo	quotation, high confidence	ca. 400–401
2 Thess 3:11	The Institutes 10.13 · John Cassian	quotation, high confidence	ca. 419–426
2 Thess 3:11	The Institutes 10.21 · John Cassian	quotation, high confidence	ca. 419–426

2 Thessalonians 3:12

We command and urge such people by our Lord Jesus Christ to begin working quietly to earn their own living.
BSB

Reference	Passage	Kind	Date
2 Thess 3:12–15	Commentary on 2 Thessalonians 3:12 · Ambrosiaster	quotation, high confidence	ca. 366–384
2 Thess 3:12	On Virginity 23 · Gregory of Nyssa	allusion, high confidence	ca. 370–371
2 Thess 3:12	On the Work of Monks 4 · Augustine of Hippo	quotation, high confidence	ca. 400–401
2 Thess 3:12	On the Work of Monks 16 · Augustine of Hippo	quotation, high confidence	ca. 400–401
2 Thess 3:12	On the Work of Monks 37 · Augustine of Hippo	quotation, high confidence	ca. 400–401
2 Thess 3:12	The Institutes 10.14 · John Cassian	quotation, high confidence	ca. 419–426

2 Thessalonians 3:13

But as for you, brothers, do not grow weary in well-doing.
BSB

Reference	Passage	Kind	Date
2 Thess 3:13	Homilies on Matthew 35.4 · John Chrysostom	quotation, high confidence	ca. 390
2 Thess 3:13	On the Work of Monks 16 · Augustine of Hippo	quotation, high confidence	ca. 400–401
2 Thess 3:13	On the Work of Monks 38 · Augustine of Hippo	allusion, high confidence	ca. 400–401
2 Thess 3:13	The Institutes 10.15 · John Cassian	quotation, high confidence	ca. 419–426

2 Thessalonians 3:14

Take note of anyone who does not obey the instructions we have given in this letter. Do not associate with him, so that he may be ashamed.
BSB

Reference	Passage	Kind	Date
2 Thess 3:14	On Modesty 13 · Tertullian	quotation, high confidence	ca. 210–220
2 Thess 3:14	Letter 287 · Basil of Caesarea	allusion, medium confidence	ca. 357–378
2 Thess 3:14	Letter 288 · Basil of Caesarea	allusion, high confidence	ca. 357–378
2 Thess 3:14–15	Moral Rules (Moralia) 52 · Basil of Caesarea	quotation, high confidence	ca. 360-370
2 Thess 3:14	Homilies on Matthew 60.1 · John Chrysostom	allusion, medium confidence	ca. 390
2 Thess 3:14	Sermon 64.4 · Augustine of Hippo	quotation, high confidence	ca. 391-430
2 Thess 3:14–16	Against the Letter of Parmenian 3.3 · Augustine of Hippo	quotation, high confidence	ca. 400
2 Thess 3:14	On Faith and Works 3 · Augustine of Hippo	quotation, high confidence	ca. 413
2 Thess 3:14	The Institutes 10.16 · John Cassian	quotation, high confidence	ca. 419–426

2 Thessalonians 3:15

Yet do not regard him as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother.
BSB

Reference	Passage	Kind	Date
2 Thess 3:15	To the Philippians 11.4 · Polycarp of Smyrna	allusion, high confidence	ca. 110–135
2 Thess 3:15	On Modesty 13 · Tertullian	quotation, high confidence	ca. 210–220
2 Thess 3:15	Commentary on Matthew 16.8 · Origen	quotation, high confidence	ca. 246–248
2 Thess 3:15	Demonstration 7.10 · Aphrahat	allusion, high confidence	337-345
2 Thess 3:15	Homilies on Matthew 35.4 · John Chrysostom	quotation, high confidence	ca. 390
2 Thess 3:15	Sermon 64.4 · Augustine of Hippo	quotation, high confidence	ca. 391-430
2 Thess 3:15	Against the Letter of Parmenian 3.13 · Augustine of Hippo	quotation, high confidence	ca. 400
2 Thess 3:15	On Faith and Works 3 · Augustine of Hippo	quotation, high confidence	ca. 413
2 Thess 3:15	The Institutes 10.16 · John Cassian	quotation, high confidence	ca. 419–426
2 Thess 3:15	Preface · Eutherius of Tyana	quotation, high confidence	ca. 431-440

2 Thessalonians 3:16

Now may the Lord of peace Himself give you peace at all times and in every way. The Lord be with all of you.
BSB

Reference	Passage	Kind	Date
2 Thess 3:16	Commentary on 2 Thessalonians 3:16 · Ambrosiaster	quotation, high confidence	ca. 366–384

2 Thessalonians 3:17

This greeting is in my own hand—Paul. This is my mark in every letter; it is the way I write.
BSB

Reference	Passage	Kind	Date
2 Thess 3:17	Commentary on 2 Thessalonians 3:17 · Ambrosiaster	quotation, high confidence	ca. 366–384
2 Thess 3:17	Commentary on 2 Timothy 4:17 · Ambrosiaster	allusion, medium confidence	ca. 366–384

2 Thessalonians 3:18

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with all of you.
BSB

Reference	Passage	Kind	Date
2 Thess 3:18	Oration III Against the Arians 51 · Athanasius of Alexandria	quotation, high confidence	ca. 339–346
2 Thess 3:18	Commentary on 2 Thessalonians 3:18 · Ambrosiaster	quotation, high confidence	ca. 366–384