2 Thessalonians 3:11

Verse

Yet we hear that some of you are leading undisciplined lives and accomplishing nothing but being busybodies.

American Standard Version (1901)

For we hear of some that walk among you disorderly, that work not at all, but are busybodies.

For it has come to our ears that there are some among you whose behaviour is uncontrolled, who do no work at all, but are over-interested in the business of others.

Douay-Rheims 1899

For we have heard there are some among you who walk disorderly, working not at all, but curiously meddling.

Free Bible Version

But now we hear that there are some lazy busybodies among you who don't work at all.

Geneva Bible 1599

For we heare, that there are some which walke among you inordinately, and worke not at all, but are busie bodies.

King James (Authorized) Version

For we hear that there are some which walk among you disorderly, working not at all, but are busybodies.

Plain English Version

You see, somebody told us that there are some lazy people there with you that never want to do any work. They just go around talking about people in a bad way and messing up other people’s lives.

Translation for Translators

We are commanding the same thing again now, because someone has told us that some of you are lazy and not working at all, just interfering with what other people are doing!

Unlocked Literal Bible

For we hear that some walk idly among you. They do not work but are instead meddlers.

Noah Webster Bible

For we hear that there are some who walk among you disorderly, working not at all, but are busy-bodies.

World English Bible

For we hear of some who walk among you in rebellion, who don’t work at all, but are busybodies.

Young's Literal Translation

for we hear of certain walking among you disorderly, nothing working, but over working,

Context

A Warning against Idleness

¹⁰For even while we were with you, we gave you this command: “If anyone is unwilling to work, he shall not eat.”¹¹Yet we hear that some of you are leading undisciplined lives and accomplishing nothing but being busybodies.¹²We command and urge such people by our Lord Jesus Christ to begin working quietly to earn their own living.

Sermons

Discipline in the Church

William MacDonald

1 Peter 4:15

John Gill

Dangerous and Scandalous Association With Maidens

Clement of Rome

Summary

In this verse, the apostle Paul addresses the issue of idleness and irresponsibility among the Thessalonian believers. He admonishes those who are not working but are instead meddling in other people's affairs. Paul emphasizes the importance of working diligently and earning a living rather than being dependent on others. This instruction serves as a reminder for Christians to be productive, responsible, and to contribute positively to society, reflecting the values of hard work and self-sufficiency.

Commentary

Adam Clarke
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
John Gill

Adam Clarke Bible Commentary

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.

John Gill Bible Commentary

For we hear that there are some,.... This is the reason of the order or command given in Th2 3:6 for withdrawing from disorderly persons. When the apostle was with them, he observed that there were idle persons among them, and therefore gave orders then, that if they would not work, they should not eat; and in his former epistle, having intelligence that there were still such persons among them, he exhorts them to their duty, and puts the church upon admonishing them; and still information is given him, that there were some such persons yet among them; for as the apostle had the care of all the churches upon him, so he kept a correspondence with them, and by one means or another, by sending messengers to them, or by receiving letters from those he corresponded with, he learned the state of them; and his information was generally good, and what might be depended upon; see Co1 1:11 as it was in this case relating to some persons: which walk among you disorderly; and who they were, and which also explains Th2 3:6, are immediately observed: working not at all; at their callings, trades, and businesses in which they were brought up, but lived an idle and lazy life: and this was walking disorderly indeed, even contrary to the order of things before the fall, when man was in a state of innocence; for before sin entered into the world, Adam was put into the garden of Eden to keep and dress it; man was created an active creature, and made for work and business; and to live without, is contrary to the order of creation, as well as to the order of civil societies, and of religious ones, or churches, and even what irrational creatures do not. But are busy bodies; though they work not at all at their own business, yet are very busy in other men's matters, and have the affairs of kingdoms, and cities, and towns, and neighbourhoods, and churches, and families, upon their hands; which they thrust themselves into, and intermeddle with, though they have no business at all with them: these wander from house to house, and curiously inquire into personal and family affairs, are tattlers, full of prate and talk, and, like the Athenians, spend all their time in telling or hearing new things; and they also speak things which they should not; they carry tales from one to another, and privately whisper things to the disadvantage of their fellow creatures and Christians, and backbite and slander them. These are the pests of nations and neighbourhoods, the plagues of churches, and the scandal of human nature; see Ti1 5:13.

2 Thessalonians 3:11

A Warning against Idleness

Scripture
Sermons
Commentary

Berean Standard Bible

Yet we hear that some of you are leading undisciplined lives and accomplishing nothing but being busybodies.

American Standard Version (1901)

For we hear of some that walk among you disorderly, that work not at all, but are busybodies.

Bible in Basic English

For it has come to our ears that there are some among you whose behaviour is uncontrolled, who do no work at all, but are over-interested in the business of others.

Douay-Rheims 1899

For we have heard there are some among you who walk disorderly, working not at all, but curiously meddling.

Free Bible Version

But now we hear that there are some lazy busybodies among you who don't work at all.

Geneva Bible 1599

For we heare, that there are some which walke among you inordinately, and worke not at all, but are busie bodies.

King James (Authorized) Version

For we hear that there are some which walk among you disorderly, working not at all, but are busybodies.

Plain English Version

You see, somebody told us that there are some lazy people there with you that never want to do any work. They just go around talking about people in a bad way and messing up other people’s lives.

Translation for Translators

We are commanding the same thing again now, because someone has told us that some of you are lazy and not working at all, just interfering with what other people are doing!

Unlocked Literal Bible

For we hear that some walk idly among you. They do not work but are instead meddlers.

Noah Webster Bible

For we hear that there are some who walk among you disorderly, working not at all, but are busy-bodies.

World English Bible

For we hear of some who walk among you in rebellion, who don’t work at all, but are busybodies.

Young's Literal Translation

for we hear of certain walking among you disorderly, nothing working, but over working,

Adam Clarke
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
John Gill

Adam Clarke Bible Commentary

John Gill Bible Commentary

2 Thessalonians 3:11

Verse

Context

A Warning against Idleness

Sermons

Summary

Commentary

Adam Clarke Bible Commentary

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

John Gill Bible Commentary

2 Thessalonians 3:11

A Warning against Idleness

Discipline in the Church

1 Peter 4:15

Dangerous and Scandalous Association With Maidens

Adam Clarke Bible Commentary

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

John Gill Bible Commentary