I Thessalonians 2:9

labour and travail--The Greek for "labor" means hardship in bearing; that for "travail," hardship in doing; the former, toil with the utmost solicitude; the latter, the being wearied with fatigue [GROTIUS]. ZANCHIUS refers the former to spiritual (see Th1 3:5), the latter to manual labor. I would translate, "weariness (so the Greek is translated, Co2 11:27) and travail" (hard labor, toil). for--omitted in the oldest manuscripts. labouring--Greek, "working," namely, at tent-making (Act 18:3). night and day--The Jews reckoned the day from sunset to sunset, so that "night" is put before "day" (compare Act 20:31). Their labors with their hands for a scanty livelihood had to be engaged in not only by day, but by night also, in the intervals between spiritual labors. because we would not be chargeable--Greek, "with a view to not burdening any of you" (Co2 11:9-10). preached unto you--Greek, "unto and among you." Though but "three Sabbaths" are mentioned, Act 17:2, these refer merely to the time of his preaching to the Jews in the synagogue. When rejected by them as a body, after having converted a few Jews, he turned to the Gentiles; of these (whom he preached to in a place distinct from the synagogue) "a great multitude believed" (Act 17:4, where the oldest manuscripts read, "of the devout [proselytes] and Greeks a great multitude"); then after he had, by labors continued among the Gentiles for some time, gathered in many converts, the Jews, provoked by his success, assaulted Jason's house, and drove him away. His receiving "once and again" supplies from Philippi, implies a longer stay at Thessalonica than three weeks (Phi 4:16).

In this chapter the apostle puts the Thessalonians in mind of the manner of his preaching among them (Th1 2:1-6). Then of the manner of his conversation among them (Th1 2:7-12). Afterwards of the success of his ministry, with the effects both on himself and on them (Th1 2:13-16), and then apologizes for his absence (Th1 2:17-20).

2:9 Paul and his associates engaged in manual labor to support themselves while in the city (cp. Acts 18:1-4; 1 Cor 9:12-18) as an example to the Thessalonians (2 Thes 3:8-9) and to avoid becoming an economic burden to them.