THE SECOND EPISTLE TO THE THESSALONIANS - Chapter 3 - Verse 11

Verse 11. 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 Barnes "2 Th 3:6".

But are busybodies. Comp. See Barnes "1 Ti 5:13"; See Barnes "1 Pe 4:15".

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 this when he was in Thessalonica, and hence he had commanded them to "do their own business," 1 Th 4:11. The injunction, it seems, had availed little, for there is no class of persons who will so little heed good counsel as those who have a propensity to meddle 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 to do but to look after the affairs of his neighbours. 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 1 Ti 5:13. Comp. See Barnes "Php 2:4".

{f} "busy-bodies" 1 Ti 5:13; 1 Pe 4:15