“Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth.”
Anyone who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work doing something useful with their own hands, that they may have something to share with those in need — the thief must cease pleonexia ('stealing,' taking more than one's share) and instead ergazō ('work') ergon agathon ('good work') with chersin ('hands'), accumulating to metadidōmi ('share with') those in need.
Church Fathers on Ephesians 4:28
“Let him that stole,” says he, “steal no more.” Do you see what are the members of the old man? Falsehood, revenge, theft. Why said he not, “Let him that stole” be punished, be tortured, be racked; but, “let him steal no more”? “But rather let him labor, working with his hands the thing that is good, that he may have whereof to give to him that has need.” Where are they which are called pure; they that are full of all defilement, and yet dare to give themselves a name like…
Nicene & Post-Nicene / Ante-Nicene Fathers translations · public domain
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