SEV Biblia, Chapter 3:11
Porque oímos que andan algunos entre vosotros fuera de orden, no trabajando en nada, sino ocupados en curiosear.
Clarke's Bible Commentary - 2 Thessalonians 3:11
Verse 11. For we hear that there are some] It is very likely that St. Paul kept up some sort of correspondence with the Thessalonian Church; for he had heard every thing that concerned their state, and it was from this information that he wrote his second epistle. Disorderly] ataktwv? Out of their rank - not keeping their own place.
Working not at all] Either lounging at home, or becoming religious gossips; mhden ergazomenouv, doing nothing.
Busybodies.] periergazomenouv? Doing every thing they should not do - impertinent meddlers with other people's business; prying into other people's circumstances and domestic affairs; magnifying or minifying, mistaking or underrating, every thing; newsmongers and telltales; an abominable race, the curse of every neighbourhood where they live, and a pest to religious society. There is a fine paronomasia in the above words, and evidently intended by the apostle.
John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 11. For we hear that there are some , &c.] This is the reason of the order or command given in ( 2 Thessalonians 3:6) for withdrawing from disorderly persons. When the apostle was with them, he observed that there were idle persons among them, and therefore gave orders then, that if they would not work, they should not eat; and in his former epistle, having intelligence that there were still such persons among them, he exhorts them to their duty, and puts the church upon admonishing them; and still information is given him, that there were some such persons yet among them; for as the apostle had the care of all the churches upon him, so he kept a correspondence with them, and by one means or another, by sending messengers to them, or by receiving letters from those he corresponded with, he learned the state of them; and his information was generally good, and what might be depended upon; (see 1 Corinthians 1:11) as it was in this case relating to some persons: which walk among you disorderly; and who they were, and which also explains ( 2 Thessalonians 3:6), are immediately observed: working not at all; at their callings, trades, and businesses in which they were brought up, but lived an idle and lazy life: and this was walking disorderly indeed, even contrary to the order of things before the fall, when man was in a state of innocence; for before sin entered into the world, Adam was put into the garden of Eden to keep and dress it; man was created an active creature, and made for work and business; and to live without, is contrary to the order of creation, as well as to the order of civil societies, and of religious ones, or churches, and even what irrational creatures do not. But are busy bodies ; though they work not at all at their own business, yet are very busy in other men's matters, and have the affairs of kingdoms, and cities, and towns, and neighbourhoods, and churches, and families, upon their hands; which they thrust themselves into, and intermeddle with, though they have no business at all with them: these wander from house to house, and curiously inquire into personal and family affairs, are tattlers, full of prate and talk, and, like the Athenians, spend all their time in telling or hearing new things; and they also speak things which they should not; they carry tales from one to another, and privately whisper things to the disadvantage of their fellow creatures and Christians, and backbite and slander them. These are the pests of nations and neighbourhoods, the plagues of churches, and the scandal of human nature; (see 1 Timothy 5:13 1 Peter 4:15).
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 6-15 - Those who have received the gospel, are to live according to the gospel. Such as could work, and would not, were not to be maintained i idleness. Christianity is not to countenance slothfulness, which woul consume what is meant to encourage the industrious, and to support the sick and afflicted. Industry in our callings as men, is a duty require by our calling as Christians. But some expected to be maintained i idleness, and indulged a curious and conceited temper. They meddle with the concerns of others, and did much harm. It is a great error an abuse of religion, to make it a cloak for idleness or any other sin The servant who waits for the coming of his Lord aright, must be working as his Lord has commanded. If we are idle, the devil and corrupt heart will soon find us somewhat to do. The mind of man is busy thing; if it is not employed in doing good, it will be doing evil It is an excellent, but rare union, to be active in our own business yet quiet as to other people's. If any refused to labour with quietness, they were to note him with censure, and to separate from his company, yet they were to seek his good by loving admonitions. The Lords is with you while you are with him. Hold on your way, and hold of to the end. We must never give over, or tire in our work. It will be time enough to rest when we come to heaven.
Greek Textus Receptus
ακουομεν 191 5719 γαρ 1063 τινας 5100 περιπατουντας 4043 5723 εν 1722 υμιν 5213 ατακτως 814 μηδεν 3367 εργαζομενους 2038 5740 αλλα 235 περιεργαζομενους 4020 5740
Vincent's NT Word Studies
11. Working not at all - busybodies (mhden ergazomenouv - periergazomenouv). One of Paul's frequent wordplays. See on reprobate mind, Rom. i. 28. Not busy, but busybodies. Periergazesqai (N.T.o .) is to bustle about a thing: here, to be officious in others' affairs. See on ta perierga curious arts, Acts xix. 19, and 1 Tim. v. 13.
Robertson's NT Word Studies
3:11 {For we hear} (akouomen gar). Fresh news from Thessalonica evidently. For the present tense compare #1Co 11:18. The accusative and the participle is a regular idiom for indirect discourse with this verb (Robertson, _Grammar_, pp. 1040-2). Three picturesque present participles, the first a general description, peripatountas ataktws, the other two specifying with a vivid word-play, {that work not at all, but are busy-bodies} (meden ergazomenous alla periergazomenous). Literally, {doing nothing but doing around}. Ellicott suggests, {doing no business but being busy bodies}. "The first persecution at Thessalonica had been fostered by a number of fanatical loungers (#Ac 17:5)" (Moffatt). These theological dead-beats were too pious to work, but perfectly willing to eat at the hands of their neighbors while they piddled and frittered away the time in idleness.
