2 Thessalonians 3:15

“And yet count him not as an enemy, but admonish him as. brother”

“And yet”: The Bible is always quick to "check" us from falling into extremes. “Count him not as an enemy”: Morris notes, “He is eager to see to it that what is done to him is from the best of motives. The enforcement of discipline is. difficult matter. It is easy for men to become censorious and unnecessarily harsh in the process. It is the rebuke of. friend. It is most appropriate here with its combination of the two ideas of. steady refusal to have any truck with the evil thing, and. genuine concern for the well-being of the wrongdoer” (p. 259). Such statements remind us we always need to be careful when we seek to correct others (Galatians 6:1). Barclay notes, “The discipline which is given by. man who stands above the sinner and who contemptuously looks down upon him seldom amends. It is more likely to produce resentment than reformation. When Christian discipline is necessary it is to be given as by. brother to. brother” (p. 253). This last statement reminds us that the purpose for such withdrawal is to save the sinner and not to destroy him.

Stott notes, 'Paul betrays no personal pique or anger, and no petty arrogance” (p. 195).

“Admonish him as. brother”: “But caution him as you would. brother” (TCNT). “Correcting him like” (Knox). This should remind us that the sin is not down-played or overlooked. Real concern is expressed towards the eternal welfare of the wayward brother. That you give it your best effort when you try to bring back. fallen Christian.