12. ἵναπεριπατῆτεκτλ.] The purpose of the foregoing παράκλησις. By avoiding undue interference with the affairs of others, and paying diligent attention to their own work, the Thessalonians would not only present a decorous appearance to their unbelieving neighbours, but themselves enjoy an honourable independence. Εὐσχημόνως, ‘ decorously,’ ‘ becomingly,’ corresponding to the old Eng. ‘ honestly’ (Vg. honeste) of the A.V. here and in Romans 13:13, is found combined with κατὰτάξιν in 1 Corinthians 14:40 to express the beauty and harmony that result in the Church from every member’ s keeping his own place: cf. Aristeas 284 τὰτοῦβίουμετʼ εὐσχημοσύνηςκαὶκαταστολῆςγινόμενα, and especially the use of the adj. to denote the Egyptian magistrates who had charge of public morals, e.g. B.G.U. 147, 1 (2.– 3./a.d.) ἀρχεφόδοιςκαὶεὐσχήμοσικώμης, and Wilcken Ostraka no. 1153 (Rom.) πέμψατετοὺςεὐσχήμοναςτοὺςἐπὶτῶνπαρολκημάτων (where see note). Πρὸςτοὺςἔξω a phrase derived from the Rabbinical δΗηΔιφεΙπΔιρ (cf. Schφttgen on 1 Corinthians 5:12), and embracing all outside the Christian community whether Gentiles or unbelieving Jews, cf. Mark 4:11, 1 Corinthians 5:12 f., Colossians 4:5, 1 Timothy 3:7 (ἀπὸτῶνἒξωθεν). ‘ It is characteristic of St Paul to ask, “ What will the Gentiles say of us?” a part of the Christian prudence, which was one of the great features of his life’ (Jowett). For a similar exhortation with the same end in view cf. 1 Peter 2:11 ff. Chrys. thus applies the reproof to his own age: εἰγὰροἱπαρʼ ἡμῖνσκανδαλίζονταιτούτοις, πολλῷμᾶλλονοἱἔξωθεν ... διοκαὶχριστεμπόρουςκαλοῦσινἡμᾶς.καὶμηδενόςκτλ.] Μηδενός may be either masc. or neut. The former in view of the context yields good sense (Wycl. of no mannes e desire ony thing): cf. Hieron. in. Galatians 2. c. 3. ‘ They are sharply censured because they go round idly from house to house, expecting food from others, while they try to make themselves agreeable to this person and that (singulis).’ On the other hand the use of χρείανἔχειν elsewhere with the gen. of the thing (e.g. Matthew 6:8, Luke 10:42, Hebrews 5:12; cf. Revelation 3:17 οὐδὲνχρείανἔχω) points rather to the rendering ‘ have need of nothing’ (Beza et nullius indigeatis): by their own work they would be placed in a position of αὐτάρκεια, cf. 2 Thessalonians 3:8; 2 Thessalonians 3:12.