In 2 Thessalonians, St Paul writes:
2 Thessalonians 3:6-12: [6] Now we command you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you keep away from any brother who is walking in idleness and not in accord with the tradition that you received from us. [7] For you yourselves know how you ought to imitate us, because we were not idle when we were with you, [8] nor did we eat anyone’s bread without paying for it, but with toil and labor we worked night and day, that we might not be a burden to any of you. [9] It was not because we do not have that right, but to give you in ourselves an example to imitate. [10] For even when we were with you, we would give you this command: If anyone is not willing to work, let him not eat. [11] For we hear that some among you walk in idleness, not busy at work, but busybodies. [12] Now such persons we command and encourage in the Lord Jesus Christ to do their work quietly and to earn their own living.
I am interested to know who these idle Christians were, and how it was they were able to be idle?
For example, in modern times, we have the notion of the “dole bludger“ (an Australian slang term) who gets their living money from welfare without any attempt to seek gainful employment…. but in the ancient world, I’m not entirely sure that it was a thing - to be an able bodied poor person, not work and yet expect not to starve.
I doubt Paul would direct such a command to sick or crippled people who were unable to work.
Therefore who are these idle people? Are they ordinary people who have discovered they can get their food by sponging off the charity of their fellow Christians (broadly equivalent to modern people who live on welfare with no attempt to seek employment)… or are they wealthy people who had slaves and servants to do the work required (in an agrarian society) to live?