1 Thessalonians 4:12 - Exposition

That ye walk honestly ; that is, honorably ; seemly. Toward them that are without ; without the pale of the Christian Church, toward those who are not Christians, whether Jews or Gentiles, the unbelieving world. So also, in another Epistle, the apostle says, "Walk in wisdom toward them that are without" ( Colossians 4:5 ). That ye may have lack of nothing ; either neuter, of no thing; or perhaps rather masculine, of no man ; that ye be under no necessity of asking assistance either from heathens or from fellow-Christians; inasmuch as working with your hands will put you in possession of what is necessary for life; whereas idleness necessarily involves poverty and dependence on others.