2 Thessalonians 3:14-15

Text (2 Thessalonians 3:14-15)

14 And if any man obeyeth not our word by this epistle, note that man, that ye have no company with him, to the end that he may be ashamed. 15 And yet count him not as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother.

Translation and Paraphrase

14.

But if anyone (will) not obey our word (which we send) through (this) epistle, take not of this (person, and then be careful) not to keep company with (or get mixed up together with) him, so that he may be ashamed (and repent).

15.

But (even while shunning him) do not consider him as (if he were) an enemy, but keep exhorting him as a brother (for such he still is, even though an erring one).

Notes (2 Thessalonians 3:14-15)

1.

Some people are just too stubborn and willful to be treated gently. They do not appreciate nor respond to kindness. But few people can bear the test of being left severely alone. Therefore Paul tells us that if any church member will not obey the instructions in this letter that his Christian brothers are to take notice of him and have no company with him. If he will not repent because the apostles of Christ have spoken, he must be made ashamed of his course by seeing that it is repudiated by the church.

2.

Christians never should shun one of their sinning brethren because they desire to make him a laughing-stock, but so that, feeling ashamed, he may quickly make himself right with God and his brethren.

3.

For a list of evil which are not to be tolerated, and from which we should withdraw, see notes on 2 Thessalonians 3:6, par. 5.

4.

The command, Have no company with him, (Gr., sunanamignumi) means not to get mixed up together with him, nor to keep company or be intimate with him.

5.

The object of all church discipline is to save and not to punish. We leave all punishing strictly in the hands of God. Note that even in 1 Corinthians 5:5, where Paul told the church to put out the incestuous man, that this was done so that his fleshly instincts would be destroyed and his spirit saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.

6.

We are not to hate the offending brother nor consider him as our enemy. Rather we should weep over him. Leviticus 19:17: Thou shalt not hate thy brother in thy heart; thou shalt surely rebuke thy neighbor, and not bear sin because of him. (Amer, Stan. Vers.)