2 Thessalonians 3:11

For we hear (akouomen gar). 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, peripatounta ataktw, the other two specifying with a vivid word-play, that work not at all, but are busy-bodies (mhden ergazomenou alla periergazomenou). 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.