Online Resource Library
Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.com | DownloadMatthew Poole Commentary - 2 Thessalonians 3:11 - 3:11
(Show All Books | Show All Chapters)
This Chapter Verse Commentaries:
For we hear: the apostle gives the reason of this discourse he fell into about disorder, and commends, yea, commands, a remedy against it. He had heard of this disorderly walking, else his discourse might have been esteemed vain and needless. Reports are to obtain credit according to the quality of the person that makes them, his end therein, and probability of truth. He took notice of reports brought to him about the divisions that were at Corinth, 1Co_11:18.
That there are some among you: and the persons that he here chargeth the report upon, are not all, but some only, and he nameth none; for as to the body of the church, he had confidence they did, and would do, the things he commanded, 2Th_3:4. And he requires them to withdraw from the disorderly.
Which walk among you disorderly, working not at all: and the disorder he chargeth upon these some is:
1. Mhden ergazomenouv, that they worked not at all, at least not the work of their own place, as it follows.
2. But are busybodies; busy, and yet idle, and not working; periergazomenouv curieusement, French Bible; as the curious arts of sorcerers are called perierga, Act_19:19. The word signifies working about, and denotes either vain curiosity, meddling in matters that they ought not, or going round their proper work, but not falling or fixing upon it. The same the apostle speaks of younger widows, 1Ti_5:13, who learnt to be idle, and yet were busybodies; and such are called allotrioepiskopoi, 1Pe_4:15. And the one follows from the other; for they that are idle and neglect their own business will be apt to intermeddle in another’s: and they that are not keepers at home, will be gadders abroad, and so not eat their own, but others’ bread, which the apostle here reproves, as dishonourable to the Christian profession; and, as a further remedy, doth with much earnestness address his speech particularly to them.