4:12a

you will behave: This refers to the way the Thessalonians lived every day.

properly toward outsiders: The word outsiders refers to those who did not believe in the Lord Jesus. Not everything that believers do will please non-believers. But Paul was saying that believers must behave and work in ways that everyone recognized as the correct way to behave. For example, no one would respect a lazy person, so the believers should make sure they were not lazy.

4:12b

without being dependent on anyone: This refers back to the phrase in 4:11c, “and to work with your hands.” Those who worked would not need to ask others for food and drink. Here Paul is describing a second result that will happen if the Thessalonians behave as he told them to behave in 4:10–11. (The first result is in 4:12a.)

on anyone: The commentators do not agree about what the Greek word mēdenos, “nobody, nothing,” means here. There are two possibilities:

(1) It means “no one.” The meaning of 4:12b therefore is “so that you will be dependent on no one”.

(Berean Standard Bible, New International Version (2011 Revision), Good News Translation, Revised Standard Version, New Jerusalem Bible, God’s Word, Contemporary English Version, New Century Version, New Living Translation (2004 Revision))

(2) It means “nothing.” The meaning of 4:12b therefore is “so that you may need nothing”.

(King James Version, Revised English Bible, New American Standard Bible)

It is recommended that you follow the first interpretation (1), as it fits the context better, especially 4:11c.

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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.