2 Thessalonians 3:13-15

Encouragement for the Faithful

Despite the fact that some had been lazy, Paul encouraged Christians to continue in all good works which were in accord with God's will. As Lipscomb says, "Nothing discourages giving to the needy like having the lazy and meddlesome seeking support." Those who are truly in need will still require help (2 Thessalonians 3:13; Galatians 6:10). The actions commanded in 2 Thessalonians 3:14 were not rash but came at the end of a carefully prepared strategy. All possible courses of action to restore the unruly to proper fellowship with the Lord would have been tried and, unfortunately, failed.

Paul taught them when he was in Thessalonica (3:10), taught them in the previous letter (1 Thessalonians 4:11), sent Timothy to teach them (1 Thessalonians 3:2; 1 Thessalonians 3:6), and taught them in this second epistle (3:6-12). If anyone continued to refuse to walk according to God's order after so much instruction, he would have needed swift and effective discipline. His fellow Christians were instructed to refuse him associations, in a social sense, in an effort to make him ashamed of his actions and move him to repentance. The faithful brethren were not to hate or act in a hostile manner toward such disorderly ones. Instead, they were to issue a warning based upon instruction that would exhibit the love of one brother for another. To follow Paul's instructions, it would not be necessary to break off all contact, just social association (2 Thessalonians 3:15).