4:11a

and to aspire to live quietly: In the Greek text, as in the Berean Standard Bible, this is not a new sentence. It is the second thing that Paul was urging the Thessalonians to do. If it would be helpful to begin a new sentence here, you could make the connection with 4:10b clearer by beginning the verse with “We also urge you to….”

to aspire: This means “to try hard to do something, to do your best to do something.” Use whatever verb is most natural and forceful to translate this.

to live quietly: Another way to say to live quietly is to say “avoid causing trouble for other people.”

4:11b

to attend to your own matters: Paul was not saying that the Thessalonians should not help one another. He was saying that they should not gossip and meddle in other people’s affairs. It is possible that this part of the verse is a restatement of 4:11a. But most English versions treat it as a second item in the list of things Paul was instructing, and it is recommended that you do the same.

4:11c

and to work with your own hands: Paul was not telling the Thessalonians specifically to do manual work. He was really telling them not to be lazy. He wanted them to work in order to get money or food to support themselves and their families. They should not expect their fellow believers to care for them.

4:11d

as we instructed you: Paul was reminding the Thessalonians that this was not something new. It was what he had already taught them while he was in Thessalonica. He was not here referring to the instructions in this particular letter.

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All Scripture quotations in this publication, unless otherwise indicated, are from The Holy Bible, Berean Standard Bible. BSB is produced in cooperation with Bible Hub, Discovery Bible, OpenBible.com, and the Berean Bible Translation Committee.