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Selected Verse: 2 Thessalonians 3:11 - King James
Verse |
Translation |
Text |
2Th 3:11 |
King James |
For we hear that there are some which walk among you disorderly, working not at all, but are busybodies. |
Summary Of Commentaries Associated With The Selected Verse
A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882] |
busy bodies--In the Greek the similarity of sound marks the antithesis, "Doing none of their own business, yet overdoing in the business of others." Busy about everyone's business but their own. "Nature abhors a vacuum"; so if not doing one's own business, one is apt to meddle with his neighbor's business. Idleness is the parent of busybodies (Ti1 5:13). Contrast Th1 4:11. |
Notes on the Bible, by Albert Barnes, [1834] |
For we hear - It is not known in what way this was made known to Paul, whether by Timothy, or by some other one. He had no doubt of its truth, and he seems to have been prepared to believe it the more readily from what he saw when he was among them.
Which walk disorderly - See the notes, Th2 3:6.
But are busy-bodies - Compare the Ti1 5:13 note; Pe1 4:15 note. That is, they meddled with the affairs of others - a thing which they who have nothing of their own to busy themselves about will be very likely to do. The apostle had seen that there was a tendency to his when he was in Thessalonica, and hence he had commanded them to "do their own business;" Th1 4:11. The injunction, it seems, had availed little, for there is no class of persons who will heed good counsel so little as those who have a propensity to intermeddle with the affairs of others. One of the indispensable things to check this is, that each one should have enough to do himself; and one of the most pestiferous of all persons is he who has nothing to do but to look after the affairs of his neighbors. In times of affliction and want, we should be ready to lend our aid. At other times, we should feel that he can manage his own affairs as well as we can do it for him; or if he cannot, it is his business, not ours. The Greek word used occurs only here, and in Ti1 5:13; compare the notes on Phi 2:4. |
Vincent's Word Studies, by Marvin R. Vincent [1886] |
Working not at all - busybodies (μηδὲν ἐργαζομένους - περιεργαζομένους)
One of Paul's frequent wordplays. See on reprobate mind, Rom 1:28. Not busy, but busybodies. Περιεργάζεσθαι (N.T.o.) is to bustle about a thing: here, to be officious in others' affairs. See on τὰ περίεργα curious arts, Act 19:19, and see on Ti1 5:13. |
Explanatory Notes on the Whole Bible, by John Wesley [1754-65] |
Doing nothing, but being busybodies - To which idleness naturally disposes. |
Adam Clarke Commentary on the Whole Bible - Published 1810-1826 |
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 - Ατακτως· Out of their rank - not keeping their own place.
Working not at all - Either lounging at home, or becoming religious gossips; μηδεν εργαζομενους, doing nothing.
Busybodies - Περιεργαζομενους· 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 neighborhood where they live, and a pest to religious society. There is a fine paronomasia in the above words, and evidently intended by the apostle. |
11 And that ye study to be quiet, and to do your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you;
13 And withal they learn to be idle, wandering about from house to house; and not only idle, but tattlers also and busybodies, speaking things which they ought not.
4 Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.
13 And withal they learn to be idle, wandering about from house to house; and not only idle, but tattlers also and busybodies, speaking things which they ought not.
11 And that ye study to be quiet, and to do your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you;
15 But let none of you suffer as a murderer, or as a thief, or as an evildoer, or as a busybody in other men's matters.
13 And withal they learn to be idle, wandering about from house to house; and not only idle, but tattlers also and busybodies, speaking things which they ought not.
6 Now we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye withdraw yourselves from every brother that walketh disorderly, and not after the tradition which he received of us.
13 And withal they learn to be idle, wandering about from house to house; and not only idle, but tattlers also and busybodies, speaking things which they ought not.
19 Many of them also which used curious arts brought their books together, and burned them before all men: and they counted the price of them, and found it fifty thousand pieces of silver.
28 And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient;