1 Thessalonians 2:9

“For ye remember brethren, our labour and travail, etc.] The great pains they took, even to weariness. The Vulgate Latin version renders the last word, “weariness”; and the Arabic version, “anxiety”; and the Ethiopic version, “affliction”; it is to be understood both of corporeal and spiritual labour, working with their hands and preaching the Gospel; this could not but be remembered by them, since it was not a year ago they were with them: for labouring night and day; at our handicraft, or “at the work of our hands”, as the Syriac version renders it; which they continually attended to, even night and day, when they were not preaching the Gospel, or disputing with the Jews, or praying and…”

“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…”

“Ye remember, brethren, our labour - Doubtless in the occupation of a tent-maker; Acts 20:34 note; 1 Corinthians 4:12 note. And travail - see the notes on 2 Corinthians 11:27. The word means “wearisome labor.” For labouring night and day - That is, when he was not engaged in preaching the gospel. He appears to have labored through the week and to have preached on the Sabbath; or if engaged in preaching in the day time during the week, he made it up by night labor. We preached unto you the gospel of God - That is, I supported myself when I preached among you. No one, therefore, could say that I was disposed to live in idleness; no one that I sought to make myself rich at the expense of others.…”

“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.”

“our: Th1 1:3; Act 18:3, Act 20:34, Act 20:35; Co1 4:12, Co1 9:6, Co1 9:15; Co2 6:5; Th2 3:7-9; Ti1 4:10 night: Th1 3:10; Psa 32:4, Psa 88:1; Jer 9:1; Luk 2:37, Luk 18:7; Act 20:31; Ti1 5:5; Ti2 1:3 chargeable: Th1 2:6; Neh 5:15, Neh 5:18; Co1 9:7, Co1 9:18; Co2 11:9, Co2 12:13, Co2 12:14 the gospel: Th1 2:2; Act 20:24; Rom 1:1, Rom 15:16, Rom 15:19; Ti1 1:11 1 Thessalonians 2:10”