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The Bible · 1119 of 1189

2 Thessalonians 3

1.Finally, brethren, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may have free course, and be glorified, even as it is with you: 2. And that we may be delivered from unreasonable and wicked men: for all men have not faith. 3. But the Lord is faithful, who shall stablish you, and keep you from evil. 4. And we have confidence in the Lord touching you, that ye both do and will do the things which we command you. 5. And the Lord direct your hearts into the love of God, and into the patient waiting for Christ.

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.

Asked of Guide

Why does Paul tell the Thessalonians to shun the disorderly brothers?

Paul says the disorderly are those “working not at all, but are busybodies” and commands the community to withdraw from them so the church won’t become burdened by idleness. He frames refusal to work as a moral failing that harms the group’s stability and witness, and he and his companions set an example by laboring so they would be “not chargeable to any of you.”

The exclusion aims to correct behavior through social pressure: Paul wants the person to be “ashamed” and then admonished “as a brother,” not treated as an enemy. This fits Paul’s practical ethic in 1 Thessalonians and echoes Proverbs’ discipline through communal shame as a means of restoration.

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