2 Thessalonians 3:11

For we hear thatthere are some which walk among you disorderly Rather, we hear of some walking, &c. It was not simply that the Apostle heard that there were such people at Thessalonica; he knew about them, who they were, and how they were behaving. Further news had come since he wrote the First Epistle, in which he touched briefly, in mild and general terms, upon the subject (1 Thessalonians 4:11-12; 1 Thessalonians 5:14). Now he is compelled to single out the offenders and to address them with pointed censure. For similar allusions to reports from a distant Church, comp. 1Co 1:11; 1 Corinthians 10:18.

He writes, "some which walk among youdisorderly" (not "some among youwhich walk," &c.), which implies that their public conduct and relations with the rest of the Church were irregular.

On "walk disorderly," see note to 2 Thessalonians 3:6.

This disorder was not merely negative, consisting in refusal to work: mischief and idleness are proverbially companions; and we are not surprised to find the Apostle adding the further condemnation, that work not at all, but are busybodies (R.V.).

There is a play of words in the Greek, which gives to this reproach a keener edge, whose one business is to be busybodies; or rendered still more freely, minding everybody's business but their own, idly busywith the concerns of others. These mischief-makers the Apostle had already bidden to "study to be quiet and to do their own work" (1 Thessalonians 4:11); comp. the extended note on 2 Thessalonians 3:8 above. For the same disposition St Paul in 1 Timothy 5:13 reproves certain "younger widows" "not only idlers, but tattlers also and busybodies."

For similar examples of paronomasia in St Paul, see 2 Thessalonians 3:2 ("faith … faithful"), Romans 1:20 ("The unseen … clearly seen"); Introd.p. 33.