Make it your ambition (5389)(philotimeomai from philos = friend, loved + time = honor) means literally to be fond of honour, to be actuated by love of honor and hence to strive or seek for honour and hence to be ambitious. In later Greek it came to denote restless eagerness in any pursuit, hence, "to strive eagerly, to be zealous."
Findlay holds that even in the latter sense
there clings to it the connotation of some desire to shine or pursuit of eminence. (The Epistles of Paul the Apostle to the Thessalonians)
Hiebert comments that...
It is not certain just which sense Paul intended the term to have here. If he meant "and to be ambitious, to be quiet" (Rotherham)" he urges that the restless energy and activity associated with ambition for eminence be channeled into the task of living a quiet and calm life.
More probably, in harmony with later usage, it has the meaning "to seek earnestly to be quiet" (Darby), urging them to be zealously active in endeavoring to live quiet lives. In either case the advice is paradoxical. (Hiebert, D. Edmond: 1 & 2 Thessalonians: BMH Book. 1996)
Philotimeomai thus evolved to picture one who was to earnestly aspire to something, implying strong ambition for the goal in view. The idea in the present context is to be zealous, strive eagerly and even consider it an honor to do so. The emphasis is on yearning that a particular thing will be accomplished and fully give oneself to do the task.
Paul says to continually (present tense) aspire or direct your hopes or ambitions towards minding your own business and working.
In his second epistle Paul gives us a clue as to why he addresses this issue writing...
For we hear that some among you are leading an undisciplined life, doing no work at all, but acting like busybodies. Now such persons we command and exhort in the Lord Jesus Christ to work in quiet fashion and eat their own bread. (2Thes 3:11-12)
BDAG explains the etymology of this word and how it relates to the Greek word for honor noting that...
special honor (time) was accorded persons who rendered exceptional service to the state or other institutions, and many wealthy persons endeavored to outdo one another in philanthropic public service...have as one’s ambition, consider it an honor, aspire, with focus on idea of rendering service.
There are only 3 NT uses all by Paul...
Romans 15:20 (note) And thus I aspired to preach the gospel, not where Christ was already named, that I might not build upon another man's foundation
2 Corinthians 5:9 Therefore also we have as our ambition, whether at home or absent, to be pleasing to Him.
Moulton and Milligan explain that philotimeomai...
in all three (NT) passages seems to have lost its original idea of emulating (“am ambitious”), and to mean little more than “am zealous,” “strive eagerly”, in accordance with its usage in late Greek ("remember how zealous you were at Tristomos to remain with me” )
A quiet life -
One hand full of rest is better than two fists full of labor and striving after wind. (Eccl 4:6)
Now such persons we command and exhort in the Lord Jesus Christ to work in quiet fashion and eat their own bread. (2Thes 3:12)
First of all, then, I urge that entreaties and prayers, petitions and thanksgivings, be made on behalf of all men, 2 for kings and all who are in authority, in order that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity. (1 Ti 2:1-2)
To lead a quiet life - Hiebert comments that this exhortation...
implies that there was a spirit of restlessness in the young church. It was due, apparently, not to political influences, but rather to the new religious experiences and hopes that had gripped their minds. Although there is nothing to prove that this restlessness was caused by their excited anticipation of the impending return of Christ, such a connection, nevertheless, seems probable. The inspiring expectation of Christ's return, whereby earthly interests were reduced in importance in their eyes, had become the center of their excited interest. This connection seems justified from the fact that Paul immediately follows this exhortation with his treatment of the second advent, thereupon to return to further practical exhortations concerning daily living. Paul urges that this "eschatological restlessness" be turned into the proper channel. Instead of allowing their excited expectation to lead them to neglect their daily duties, let them use this enthusiasm faithfully to fulfill those duties. (Hiebert, D. Edmond: 1 & 2 Thessalonians: BMH Book. 1996)
F F Bruce favors the view that the restlessness was due to undue eschatological excitement, and comments
The frequency with which this sort of' thing has happened over the centuries, makes it quite probable that it could happen in Thessalonica around A.D. 50. (Bruce, F F: 1 and 2 Thessalonians. Word Biblical Commentary. Dallas: Word, Incorporated. 1982 or Logos)
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Greek Word Studies ( - )
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