2Thessalonians 3: 6 – 18

October 14, 2022

6 Now we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye withdraw yourselves from every brother that walketh disorderly, and not after the tradition which he received of us.

7 For yourselves know how ye ought to follow us: for we behaved not ourselves disorderly among you;

8 Neither did we eat any man’s bread for nought; but wrought with labour and travail night and day, that we might not be chargeable to any of you:

9 Not because we have not power, but to make ourselves an ensample unto you to follow us.

10 For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat.

11 For we hear that there are some which walk among you disorderly, working not at all, but are busybodies.

12 Now them that are such we command and exhort by our Lord Jesus Christ, that with quietness they work, and eat their own bread.

13 But ye, brethren, be not weary in well doing.

14 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.

15 Yet count him not as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother.

16 Now the Lord of peace himself give you peace always by all means. The Lord be with you all.

17 The salutation of Paul with mine own hand, which is the token in every epistle: so I write.

18 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen. (The second epistle to the Thessalonians was written from Athens.)

Disorderly. Oxford Languages Dictionary online defines it as (second definition) “involving or contributing to a breakdown of peaceful and law-abiding behavior.” Whether the behavior is at church, at home, or in the common course of a day, step away from disorder – it has no part with the Christian. Verse 15 states ‘admonish him as brother’; in today’s vernacular, we’d say ‘see if you can correct the thing that is disordered by talking to the confused (disordered) person about that which is disordered. That’s really all we can do – a word here, a word there. But I think we often have to remember, “Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast ye your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn again and rend you.” (Matt 7:6)

There are some who will listen, but more that won’t. All we can do is pray that they come to a better understanding.

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