For we hear

(ακουομεν γαρ). Fresh news from Thessalonica evidently. For the present tense compare 1 Corinthians 11:18. The accusative and the participle is a regular idiom for indirect discourse with this verb (Robertson, Grammar, pp. 1040-2). Three picturesque present participles, the first a general description, περιπατουντας ατακτως, the other two specifying with a vivid word-play,that work not at all, but are busy-bodies

(μηδεν εργαζομενους αλλα περιεργαζομενους). Literally,doing nothing but doing around

. Ellicott suggests,doing no business but being busy bodies

. "The first persecution at Thessalonica had been fostered by a number of fanatical loungers (Acts 17:5)" (Moffatt). These theological dead-beats were too pious to work, but perfectly willing to eat at the hands of their neighbours while they piddled and frittered away the time in idleness.

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Old Testament