Paul the
apostle's desire for the Thessalonian church members to not “be
weary in well doing”, and in chapter three and verse fourteen
of his second letter to them, Paul told the church members to “have
no company” with “any man” who does not “obey”
he and his companions' letter. We read:
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.
The
verse begins, “And if any man obey not our word by this epistle,
note that man,...” Paul began with the words, “And”
which means “now, then, yet, yes, moreover, nevertheless, even and
for” “if any man” or “whoever, whether any and
whosoever” “obey not” which means “does not listen to,
harken to, submit to, heed or conform to” “our word”
which refers to Paul and his traveling companions' “account, speech
and sayings” “by this epistle” or “letter” “note”
which means “mark and distinguish” “that man” which
refers to “the individual or person”. The Thessalonians were to
“mark and distinguish” people who did not “submit to or heed”
the words Paul and his companions which were included in this letter.
The verse goes on to
say, “...and have no company with
him, that he may be ashamed.” Paul
added, “and have no company with”
which is the
Greek phrase “synanamignymi
mē synanamignymi”
which means “do not mix up together or be intimate with” “him”
which refers to “the disobedient person” “that
he” or
“the disobedient and unheeding person” “may
be ashamed”
which means “reverence, regard, be shamed, turn about and respect”.
The goal of not mixing with or becoming intimate with a person who
rejects the words of Paul and his companions was for them to “be
ashamed, turn about and respect” what they have not obeyed.
When
we think through Paul's words, we understand the seriousness of what
he has written to the Thessalonian church members. There were
“troublemakers” within the Thessalonian fellowship, and those who
“rejected” and would not “obey” the words of Paul were
identified as being so. The church members were not to associate with
them so these opposing ones might see the error of their ways.
Reconciliation was the goal and not simply isolation. The Lord Jesus
will help us through His Holy Spirit to distinguish between people
who do not understand and those who are defiantly resistant to
obeying God's words. We must follow not only Paul's directive to the
Thessalonians concerning “disobedient” persons, but also keep in
mind the motive for isolation should it become necessary. May the
Lord Jesus give us wisdom and discernment as we minister to people in
this important area of the church.
Next
time Paul tells the Thessalonians not to treat the person who doesn't
obey Paul's words “like an enemy, but admonish him”,
so read ahead, and we shall join together then.
Until
tomorrow…there is more…
Look
for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From
Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be
Married”, and the new devotional “One Year in the Sermon on the
Mount” in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com
; http://www.barnesandnobles.com
; download to e-books, and find it locally at
www.mrzlc.com/bookstore.
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