2Th 3:6, 11 | JFB | STEP | 6. we command you —Hereby he puts to a particular test their obedience in general to his commands, which obedience he had recognized in . withdraw —literally, "to furl the sails"; as we say, to steer clear of (compare ). Some had given up labor as though the Lord's day was immediately coming. He had enjoined mild censure of such in , " Warn . . . the unruly"; but now that the mischief had become more confirmed, he enjoins stricter discipline, namely, withdrawal from their company (compare ): not a formal sentence of excommunication, such as was subsequently passed on more heinous offenders (as in ). He says "brother," that is, professing Christian; for in the case of unprofessing heathen, believers needed not be so strict ( ). disorderly —Paul plainly would not have sanctioned the order of Mendicant Friars, who reduce such a "disorderly" and lazy life to a system. Call it not an order, but a burden to the community (BENGEL , alluding to the Greek, , for "be chargeable," literally, "be a burden"). the tradition —the oral instruction which he had given to them when present ( ), and subsequently committed to writing ( ). which he received of us —Some oldest manuscripts read, " ye received"; others, " they received." The English Version reading has no very old authority.

2 Thessalonians 3:6

6. we command you—Hereby he puts to a particular test their obedience in general to his commands, which obedience he had recognized in 2Th 3:4.

withdraw—literally, "to furl the sails"; as we say, to steer clear of (compare 2Th 3:14). Some had given up labor as though the Lord's day was immediately coming. He had enjoined mild censure of such in 1Th 5:14, "Warn . . . the unruly"; but now that the mischief had become more confirmed, he enjoins stricter discipline, namely, withdrawal from their company (compare 1Co 5:11; 2Jo 10, 11): not a formal sentence of excommunication, such as was subsequently passed on more heinous offenders (as in 1Co 5:5; 1Ti 1:20). He says "brother," that is, professing Christian; for in the case of unprofessing heathen, believers needed not be so strict (1Co 5:10-13).

disorderly—Paul plainly would not have sanctioned the order of Mendicant Friars, who reduce such a "disorderly" and lazy life to a system. Call it not an order, but a burden to the community (BENGEL, alluding to the Greek, 2Th 3:8, for "be chargeable," literally, "be a burden").

the tradition—the oral instruction which he had given to them when present (2Th 3:10), and subsequently committed to writing (1Th 4:11, 12).

which he received of us—Some oldest manuscripts read, "ye received"; others, "they received." The English Version reading has no very old authority.

2 Thessalonians 3:11

11. 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 (1Ti 5:13). Contrast 1Th 4:11.