Paul's Exhortations to the Thessalonian Church 2nd Letter Volume 23

Paul Warns them Against Idleness Part 5

2 Thessalonians 3:14-15 And if any man obey not our word by this epistle, note that man, and have no company with him, that he may be ashamed. Yet count him not as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother. KJV

Now as the Apostle completely concludes his warning to the brothers and sisters in the Church @ Thessalonica who are behaving as busybodies and meddlers in the lives and affairs of others; while at the same time encouraging those believers who are conducting, comporting, and carrying themselves in the same manner as the Apostle Paul did, he writes these final words of command to them concerning this matter, "And if any man obey not our word by this epistle, note that man, and have no company with him, that he may be ashamed." (2 Thessalonians 3:14) (KJV). Paul uses the English word 'obey' which is translated by the Greek word hupakouo which simply means by implication to heed or conform to a command or authority. The English word 'note' is translated by the Greek word semeioo used this one time only in the entire New Testament and it means to distinguish, that is, mark (for avoidance). The English phrase 'have no company' is translated by one Greek word sunanamignumi meaning to mix up together, that is, (figuratively) associate with: - keep company with as a close friend.

In other words, the idea behind these final words of Paul to the brothers and sisters who were not conducting themselves as he, Silas, and Timothy had done so during their time with them eating their own bread (2 Thessalonians 3:12) were to be marked out as nuisances, that is, bothersome and annoying other believers. These believers (if they did not obey these commands written in this epistle or letter from Paul) were to be avoided by the obedient believers and not associated with as close friends, but instead they were to ostracize or shun them in order that they would come to their senses and see the error of their behavior feeling a sense of dishonor, discredit, and disgrace causing them to turn and repent mending their behavior among all the other believers.

This was the exact method declared by our Lord, Master, and Savior Jesus Christ in dealing with a sinning brother or sister when he said, "If your brother wrongs you, go and show him his fault, between you and him privately. If he listens to you, you have won back your brother. But if he does not listen, take along with you one or two others, so that every word may be confirmed {and} upheld by the testimony of two or three witnesses. If he pays no attention to them [refusing to listen and obey], tell it to the Church; and if he refuses to listen even to the Church, let him be to you as a pagan and a tax collector." (Matthew 18:15-17) (Amplified Bible).

Paul wants the obedient brethren to allow God the Holy Spirit only to bring conviction to these believers, for it is not their job to do so, only to avoid rewarding their bad behavior, so he writes these words to them, "Yet count him not as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother." (2 Thessalonians 3:15) (KJV). Paul does not want to see some become judge, jury, and executioner treating these believers as some hateful people that need to feel the wrath of God upon them and they should be His instrument of execution. Instead Paul uses the English word 'admonish' them which is translated by the Greek word noutheteo which means to put in mind, that is, (by implication) to caution or reprove gently: - admonish, warn. In other words, they were to tell them exactly of the reason why they were shunning or avoiding them, with love and not with hate or detest. The desire of Paul in writing these words was that the wayward brothers and sisters would turn around and not that they would be ground into submission by other believers.

Paul had delt such with the Corinthian Church when he wrote these words to them, "For even though I did grieve you with my letter, I do not regret [it now], though I did regret it; for I see that that letter did pain you, though only for a little while; Yet I am glad now, not because you were pained, but because you were pained into repentance [and so turned back to God]; for you felt a grief such as God meant you to feel, so that in nothing you might suffer loss through us {or} harm for what we did. For godly grief {and} the pain God is permitted to direct, produce a repentance that leads {and} contributes to salvation {and} deliverance from evil, and it never brings regret; but worldly grief (the hopeless sorrow that is characteristic of the pagan world) is deadly [breeding and ending in death]." (2 Corinthians 7:8-10) (Amplified Bible).

"They had disobeyed his word in the first epistle, and the Church still continued to bear with them; now he tells the Church, if they still continue to disregard what is said to them, and particularly his word by this second epistle, they are to mark them as being totally incorrigible, and have no fellowship with them." Adam Clarke

"In earthly families there arises disputes, disagreements, and differences, however, the blood bond cannot ever be broken, for as long as you live they will always be family by virtue of birth, in like manner spiritually every born again man or woman has a spiritual bond by virtue of God the Holy Spirit which can never be broken, so just as in good earthly families differences are put right or made right by love, so more should it be in God the Father's Eternal family, for love is the fullfilling of the Law of God." Clifford D. Tate, Sr.

"This shows the true spirit in which discipline is to be administered in the Christian Church. We are not to deal with a man as an adversary over whom we are to seek to gain a victory, but as an erring brother - a brother still, though he errs. There was necessity for this caution. There is great danger that when we undertake the work of discipline we shall forget that he who is the subject of it is a brother, and that we shall regard and treat him as an enemy. Such is human nature. We set ourselves in array against him. We cut him off as one who is unworthy to walk with us. We triumph over him, and consider him at once as an enemy of the Church, and as having lost all claim to its sympathies. We abandon him to the tender mercies of a cold and unfeeling world, and let him take his course. Perhaps we follow him with anathemas, and hold him up as unworthy the confidence of mankind. Now all this is entirely unlike the method and aim of discipline as the New Testament requires. There is a kind, and gentle, though firm way; the offender is a man and a brother still; he is to be followed with tender sympathy and prayer, and the hearts and the arms of the Christian brotherhood are to be open to receive him again when he gives any evidence of repenting." Albert Barnes

If you do not know the Lord Jesus Christ and His amazing healing power, pray this from your heart to the Lord Jesus Christ (you speaking directly to Him), Dear Lord Jesus, I confess to You that I am a sinner and I need Your forgiveness. I believe You shed Your Blood and died for my sins. I believe that You rose from the dead proving that You alone are God. I repent of my sins. I want to turn from my sins. I ask You Dear Lord Jesus to come into my heart and take control of my life. I want You to be my Lord, Savior, and my God. Amen...

Sincerely in Christ,

Clifford D. Tate, Sr.
Author of “Silent Assassins of the Soul - Are you Broken by Pornography and Masturbation? You can be Restored by the Lord Jesus Christ and brought into Deliverance, Freedom, and Victory! A Guide for Men and Women in the Enemy’s Crosshairs” e-book available now @ Amazon Kindle, @ Apple I Bookstore for IPod, Barnes and Noble for Nook, Reader Store for Sony Reade, Kobo, Copia, Gardners, Baker and Taylor, and eBookPie…