2 Thessalonians 3:14

14 and if any one refuses to obey these our written instructions, mark that man and hold no communication with him--so that he may be made to feel ashamed.

2 Thessalonians 3:14 Meaning and Commentary

2 Thessalonians 3:14

And if any man obey not our word
Of command, to work quietly, and eat his own bread, now signified "by this epistle", particularly in ( 2 Thessalonians 3:12 ) ,

note that man;
some read this clause in connection with the preceding phrase, "by this epistle", or by an epistle; and so the Ethiopic version, "show", or "signify him by an epistle"; that is, give us notice of it by an epistle, that we may take him under our cognizance, and severely chastise him, according to the power and authority given us by Christ; but that phrase rather belongs to the preceding words: and the clause here respects the notice the church should take of such a person; not in a private way, or merely by way of admonition and reproof, such as is given before rejection from communion; but by the black mark of excommunication; lay him under censure, exclude him from your communion, put a brand upon him as a scabbed sheep, and separate him from the flock; and so the Syriac version renders it, (vrpty) , "let him be separated from you" and this sense is confirmed by what follows,

and have no company with him;
as little as can be in common and civil conversation, lest he should take encouragement from thence to continue in his sin, and lest others should think it is connived at; and much less at the Lord's table, or in a sacred and religious conversation, or in a way of church fellowship and communion:

that he may be ashamed;
that he may have his eyes turned in him, as the word signifies, and he may be brought to a sight and sense of his sin, and be filled with shame for it, and loath it, and himself on the account of it, and truly repent of it, and forsake it; and this is the end of excommunication, at least one end, and a principal end of it, to recover persons out of the snare of the devil, and return them from the error of their ways: so the Jews say ^F19,

``in matters of heaven (of God or religion), if a man does not return privately, (Nymylkm) , they "put him to shame" publicly; and publish his sin, and reproach him to his face, and despise and set him at nought until he returns to do well.''

---

FOOTNOTES:

F19 Maimon, Hilch. Deyot, c. 6. sect. 8.

2 Thessalonians 3:14 In-Context

12 To persons of that sort our injunction--and our command by the authority of the Lord Jesus Christ--is that they are to work quietly and eat their own honestly-earned bread.

13 But you, brethren, must not grow weary in the path of duty;

14 and if any one refuses to obey these our written instructions, mark that man and hold no communication with him--so that he may be made to feel ashamed.

15 And yet do not regard him as an enemy, but caution him as a brother.

16 And may the Lord of peace Himself continually grant you peace in every sense. The Lord be with you all.