SEV Biblia, Chapter 4:12
y que andis honestamente para con los extraos, y que nada de ninguno deseis.
Clarke's Bible Commentary - 1 Thessalonians 4:12
Verse 12. That ye may walk honestly] euschmonwv? Becomingly, decently, respectably; as is consistent with the purity, holiness, gravity, and usefulness of your Christian calling. Them that are without] The unconverted Gentiles and Jews. See this expression explained at large on Col. iv. 5.
That ye may have lack of nothing.] That ye may be able to get your bread by honest labour, which God will ever bless; and be chargeable to no man.
He that is dependent on another is necessarily in bondage; and he who is able to get his own bread by the sweat of his brow, should not be under obligation even to a king.
I do not recollect whether, in any other part of this work, I have given the following story from the Hatem Tai Nameh. Hatem Tai was an Arabian nobleman, who flourished some time before the Mahommedan era; he was reputed the most generous and liberal man in all the east. One day he slew one hundred camels, and made a feast, to which all the Arabian lords and all the peasantry in the district were invited. About the time of the feast he took a walk towards a neighbouring wood, to see if he could find any person whom he might invite to partake of the entertainment which he had then provided. Walking along the skirt of the wood, he espied an old man coming out of it, laden with a burden of faggots; he accosted him and asked if he had not heard of the entertainment made that day by Hatem Tai. The old man answered in the affirmative. He asked him why he did not attend and partake with the rest. The old man answered: "He that is able to gain his bread even by collecting faggots in the wood, should not be beholden even to Hatem Tai." This is a noble saying, and has long been a rule of conduct to the writer of this note.
John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 12. That ye may walk honestly , etc.] Decently, in good credit and reputation, providing things honest in the sight of all men, for themselves and families, and honestly paying every man his own; on which account it became them to mind their own business, and work at their trades; otherwise their walk and conversation would be scandalous, and not honest and honourable: toward them that are without : the men of the world, who were without the church; (see 1 Corinthians 5:12) profane sinners, unconverted Gentiles, that were without Christ and hope, and God in the world, and were aliens and strangers; and yet care should be taken that no occasion be given to such to reproach the name of God, the ways of Christ, and the doctrines of the Gospel: and that ye may have lack of nothing ; but have wherewith to supply the necessaries of life, and give to them also that stand in need, which is more blessed and honourable than to receive; or might not need any such instruction and exhortation, or any reproof for sloth and idleness; or not stand in need of any man, as the Syriac version renders it; of the help and assistance of any, of any of those that are without, which would be dishonourable; or of them that are within, of the church, which might be burdensome. The Vulgate Latin version renders it, that ye may not desire anything of anyone; as the slothful man covets greedily all the day long what is another's, and this desire kills him, ( Proverbs 21:25,26) he covets an evil covetousness, and craves in a scandalous way the bread of others; when it would be more honourable for him to work with quietness, and eat his own bread got by honest labour, and not be beholden to another.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 9-12 - We should notice in others what is good, to their praise, that we ma engage them to abound therein more and more. All who are savingl taught of God, are taught to love one another. The teaching of the Spirit exceeds the teachings of men; and men's teaching is vain an useless, unless God teach. Those remarkable for this or any othe grace, need to increase therein, as well as to persevere to the end. It is very desirable to have a calm and quiet temper, and to be of peaceable and quiet behaviour. Satan is busy to trouble us; and we have in our hearts what disposes us to be unquiet; therefore let us study to be quiet. Those who are busy-bodies, meddling in other men's matters have little quiet in their own minds, and cause great disturbance among their neighbours. They seldom mind the other exhortation, to be diligent in their own calling, to work with their own hands Christianity does not take us from the work and duty of our particula callings, but teaches us to be diligent therein. People often by slothfulness reduce themselves to great straits, and are liable to man wants; while such as are diligent in their own business, earn their ow bread, and have great pleasure in so doing.
Greek Textus Receptus
ινα 2443 περιπατητε 4043 5725 ευσχημονως 2156 προς 4314 τους 3588 εξω 1854 και 2532 μηδενος 3367 χρειαν 5532 εχητε 2192 5725
Vincent's NT Word Studies
12. Honestly (euschmonwv). P o . Better, seemly. From euj well and schma figure or fashion. The literal sense is suggested by the familiar phrase in good form. The contrast appears in ajtaktwv disorderly, 2 Thessalonians iii. 6. Paul has in view the impression to be made by his readers on those outside of the church. See on Rom. xiii. 13, and comp. 1 Corinthians xiv. 40.
Of nothing (mhdenov). Either neuter, of nothing, or masculine, of no man. In the latter case it would refer to depending upon others for their support, which some, in view of the immediately expected parousia, were disposed to do, neglecting their own business.
Robertson's NT Word Studies
4:12 {That ye may walk honestly} (hina peripatete euscemonws). Present subjunctive (linear action). Old adverb from euscemwn (eu, scema, Latin _habitus_, graceful figure), becomingly, decently. In N.T. only here and #Ro 13:13. this idea includes honest financial transactions, but a good deal more. People outside the churches have a right to watch the conduct of professing Christians in business, domestic life, social life, politics.
