2 Thessalonians 3:15

Yet counthim not as an enemy, but admonishhim as a brother Lit., And do not regard him as an enemy, &c. The R.V. retains "yet" in italics ("And yet"); but the contrast thus implied is not in St Paul's thought, any more than in his language. The measure which he directs to be taken in 2 Thessalonians 3:14 is a savingmeasure, designed to bring the intractable man to a better mind "that be may be ashamed." Hence there must be no unkind feeling towards him, no bitter expression. This would provoke him to sullenness instead of shame, defeating the Apostle's purpose. In its sympathy with St Paul the assembly might easily be stirred, on reading this letter, to some hostile demonstration that would cause a decisive rupture; this he deprecates.

The instruction of 2 Thessalonians 3:6 was general in its terms, and would apply to any sort of disorder; so the direction of 1 Thessalonians 5:14, "Admonish the unruly." Those two injunctions are here combined, and enforced in this specific instance. For in such a case the disorder takes the form of open and avowed disobedience to the Apostle, such as the Church is bound to deal with publicly and to put an end to. But even now expulsionis not so much as named.