2 Thessalonians 3:11

For we hear. It would appear that Paul had received recent news from Thessalonica and was writing about a situation that was actually then in existence.

Some … among you. While the apostle makes the Thessalonians responsible for the situation in their church, he does not include them all in his condemnation, but recognizes that the trouble is limited to a few.

Disorderly. Gr. ataktōs (see on 1 Thess. 5:14).

Working not … busybodies. In the Greek there is an evident play upon words, which may be conveyed as, “not busy, but busybodies” (Wordsworth). Busybodies are busy in unimportant things, in those things which do not concern them, in everybody’s business but their own. Honest toil is the best cure for such people; for those who are conscientious in the discharge of their own duties will not find time, nor have the inclination, to be meddling in the affairs of others (cf. on 1 Thess. 4:11; 1 Tim. 5:13, 14; 1 Peter 4:15). Tattling and evilspeaking are the stock in trade of busybodies. A double curse follows, falling more heavily upon the gossiper than upon those he maligns.