Do Not Fellowship with the Disobedient

Second Thessalonians 3:6 says, "But we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you withdraw from every brother who walks disorderly and not according to the tradition which he received from us." The Greek verb translated "we command" (v. 6a) is emphatic. It is an order, not a mere suggestion. The authority upon which this command is issued is "in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ" (v. 6a). In the name of Jesus, you are to follow this command because it comes from Him!

The command of the Lord is to "withdraw from" (v. 6b) or "keep away from" (NASB) "every brother who walks disorderly and not according to the tradition which he received from us" (v. 6b). "Withdraw" (v. 6b) or "keep away" (NASB) means "to avoid, shun, or pull back from." You are to keep away from, or separate yourself from, those who are herein described. Who are these people we are to avoid?

"Walks disorderly" (v. 6b) can be translated "leads an unruly life" (NASB), and is here defined as he who does not live "according to the tradition" (v. 6b) received from Paul. "Tradition" (v. 6b) literally means "something handed down." It refers to divine revelation, or literally to the Word of God as given them through the apostles. "Disorderly" (v. 6b) or "unruly" (NASB) is a military term and means "being out of rank, out of line, or out of order." It was also used in the Greek writings of that day to refer to "apprentices being truant from work" (William Barclay, The Letters to the Philippians, Colossians, and Thessalonians, rev. ed. [Louisville, Kentucky: Westminster, 1975], 217–18). In verse 11, Paul specifically describes the "disorderly" (v. 6b) or "unruly" (NASB) as those who are "not working at all, but are busybodies."

So we are to avoid fellow believers who are deliberately disobedient to the Word of God, who are not working even though they are able, and who are "busy-bodies" (v. 11), those who are into everyone else's business without cause. We are to separate from them because they have rejected the Word of God. Such discipline is always intended to bring repentance and restoration to the fellowship. It is intended to restore our fellowship with them by restoring their walk with God and His Word. Amen.