Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary 2 Thessalonians 3:15

"And [yet] count him not as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother." — 2 Thessalonians 3:15 (ASV)

Paul now describes specifically how the Thessalonian Christians should deal with loafers who disobey his instructions. First, they are urged to keep on “doing what is right.” “Tire” (GK 1591) implies the possibility of their losing heart in struggling with their idle brothers. Exemplary conduct serves as a constant reprimand to wrongdoers and is an incentive for them to turn from their delinquency. Included in doing right is generosity toward those in need. Yet to keep on supporting those who have nothing because they refuse to work is wrong (v.10).

So the Thessalonians must deal firmly yet charitably with the mistakes of their fellow Christians. They were not to “associate” (GK 5264) with anyone refusing to comply with the work ethic set out in this letter, so that they might be ashamed of their behavior. Such people were not to be expelled from the church like the sinning brother referred to in 1Colossians 5. In Corinth the offense was so flagrant as to bring disrepute on the whole church. In Thessalonica, however, the lapse was not yet so aggravated as to bring the reproach of the pagans on the church. The erring people were allowed to continue in the meetings, but probably were denied participation in such things as the love feast and the Lord’s Supper. Certainly they were not to be given food, because this would make the community appear to condone the offense.

To sum up, any recalcitrant idler was not to be treated as an enemy, cut off from all contacts, but was allowed to continue in a brotherly status. So lines of communication were kept open for continued warnings about his behavior.