Withdraw from the Disorderly 2 Thessalonians 3:6

Paul the apostle had “confidence in the Lord” that the Thessalonian church members would “do and will do the things” which he and his traveling companions “commanded” them rather than follow after “unreasonable and wicked men”. In chapter three and verse six of this second letter to the Thessalonians, Paul tells them to “withdraw from every brother that walks disorderly” where we read:

Now we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you withdraw yourselves from every brother that walks disorderly, and not after the tradition which he received of us.

The verse begins, “Now we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you withdraw yourselves from every brother that walks disorderly,...” Paul began with the words, “Now we command you” or “transmit a message alone from one to another, declare, announce, order and charge” “brethren” which refers to “a brother, whether born of the same two parents or only of the same father or mother and a fellow believer who is united to another by the bond of affection” “in the name” or “rank, authority, interests, pleasure, command, excellences and deeds” “of our Lord” which refers to “he to whom a person or thing belongs, about which he has power of deciding; master and the title give to God the Messiah” “Jesus” whose name means “Jehovah is Salvation” and is “the Son of God, the Savior of mankind and God incarnate” “Christ” which means “the anointed One” and is “the Messiah and the Son of God” “that you withdraw yourselves from” which means “abstain from associating, avoid and separate from” “every brother” or “each, every, any, all, the whole and everyone who is “a brother, whether born of the same two parents or only of the same father or mother and a fellow believer who is united to another by the bond of affection” “that walks” which means “makes his way, progresses, lives and conducts himself” “disorderly” or “out of ranks, irregular, inordinate and deviating from the prescribed order of rule”. Paul “commanded” the Thessalonians that they avoid people who lived their lives in opposition and resistance to the doctrine he and his companions taught to them.

The verse goes on to say, “...and not after the tradition which he received of us.” Paul continued, “and not after” or “not down from, through out, according to, toward and along” “the tradition” which means “giving over which is done by word of mouth or in writing such as instruction, narrative and precept” “which he received” or “accepted or acknowledged to be such as he professes to be” “of us” which refers to Paul and his traveling companions. Paul and his companions gave “instructions” or “doctrine” of Jesus Christ to the Thessalonian church members, and they received it from him. However, there were those among them who later opposed Paul's teachings and the remaining church members were to avoid them.

When we consider these words of Paul, we may be able to relate to those who oppose the gospel of Jesus Christ. Perhaps at one time they followed the teachings of Jesus, but now they have heard other ideas, precepts and thoughts which have given them over to their own philosophy or way of living. Paul told the Thessalonians to “withdraw” from these people, and although they may promote their “new way of living” or “new philosophy and doctrine”, we are to continue in the word of God which is presented in the Bible. Let us be aware. False teachers and doctrines will continually attempt to sway people to their way of thinking, but there is no compromise to the gospel of Jesus Christ. May He give us the wisdom to know when others are attempting to persuade us otherwise, and may we be wise enough to “withdraw” from them.

Next time Paul tells the Thessalonians to “follow” he and his companions, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

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