2 Thessalonians 3:15

15 Yet do not regard them as an enemy, but warn them as you would a fellow believer.

2 Thessalonians 3:15 in Other Translations

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

15 Do not regard him as an enemy, but warn him as a brother.

15 Don’t think of them as enemies, but warn them as you would a brother or sister.

15 But don't treat him as an enemy. Sit him down and talk about the problem as someone who cares.

15 And [yet] count him not as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother.

15 Yet, don't treat them like enemies, but instruct them like brothers and sisters.

15 Yet don't treat him as an enemy, but warn him as a brother.

15 But don't think of him as an enemy. Instead, warn him as a brother or sister.

2 Thessalonians 3:15 Meaning and Commentary

2 Thessalonians 3:15

Yet count him not as an enemy
As an enemy of Christ, and the Christian religion, as the Jews and Pagans were; or as an enemy of all righteousness, as Elymas the sorcerer was; as one that has an implacable hatred to good men, and a persecutor of them, and has an utter aversion to them and their principles; nor deal with him in an hostile, fierce, furious, and passionate manner, as if you were seeking his destruction, and not his restoration. This seems to be levelled against the Jews, who allowed of hatred to incorrigible persons: they say ^F20,

``an hater that is spoken of in the law, is not of the nations of the world, but of Israel; but how shall an Israelite hate an Israelite? does not the Scripture say, "thou shall not hate thy brother in thine heart?" the wise men say, when a man sees him alone, who has committed a transgression, and he admonishes him, and he does not return, lo, it is (wanwvl hwum) , "a commandment to hate him" until he repents and turns from his wickedness.''

But admonish,
or "reprove" him

as a brother;
as one that has been called a brother, and a member of the church, and who, though criminal, has no bitterness in him against the church, or against the name of Christ, and the doctrines of Christ; and therefore should not be treated in a virulent manner, but with a brotherly affection, meekness, compassion, and tenderness; and who indeed is to be reckoned as a brother, while the censure is passing, and the sentence of excommunication is executing on him; for till it is finished he stands in such a relation: though this also may have respect, as to the manner of excommunicating persons, so to the conduct of the church to such afterwards; who are not to neglect them, and much less to treat them as enemies, in a cruel and uncompassionate manner; but should inquire, and diligently observe, what effect the ordinance of excommunication has upon them, and renew their admonitions and friendly reproofs, if possible, to recover them.

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FOOTNOTES:

F20 Maimon. Hilchot Rotzeach, c. 13. sect. 14.

2 Thessalonians 3:15 In-Context

13 And as for you, brothers and sisters, never tire of doing what is good.

14 Take special note of anyone who does not obey our instruction in this letter. Do not associate with them, in order that they may feel ashamed.

15 Yet do not regard them as an enemy, but warn them as you would a fellow believer.

16 Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times and in every way. The Lord be with all of you.

17 I, Paul, write this greeting in my own hand, which is the distinguishing mark in all my letters. This is how I write.

Cross References

• 1. Galatians 6:1; 1 Thessalonians 5:14; Philemon 16