II Thessalonians 3:6 – Who are the brothers under consideration?

• II Thessalonians 1:1 – The audience of this letter was a church – those that had a common faith in Christ.

• II Thessalonians 3:14 – We are to keep away from those who continually fail to walk according to Christ’s commands.

II Thessalonians 3:15 – Is the withdrawn person still a brother? No, but we are to treat him with love as though he was still a brother.

• Figure of adjournment: a figure of speech in which something is described using a description that no longer applies.

  • Examples:

    • John 9:17 – Man described as a blind man after being healed from his blindness.

    • II Samuel 11:26 – Woman described as the “wife” of the dead man. She is no longer technically his wife since he is dead.

II Thessalonians 3:14 – This is a distributive action. Each person is to take not of the person being disciplined.

• Same idea here:

  • Matthew 18:17 – Treat the man as a Gentile or a tax collector.

  • I Corinthians 5:11

I Corinthians 5:4-5 – Assembled?

• Acts 4:26-27 – These groups were assembled in mind and purpose – not physically.

• Matthew 18:20, 16 – This is a requirement for witnesses when confronting a brother about his sin.

• If we want to be united with Jesus, we have to cut off those that are not walking in Christ.

• II Corinthians 2:6

Luke 10:27, 36

What about marriage?

• Matthew 19:5 – Withdrawing from a brother doesn’t sever the marriage relationship, thus those marital duties still apply.

What about the parent-child relationship?

• Deuteronomy 21:18-20 – In the Old Testament, rebellious children could be stoned to death!

• Proverbs 23:13-14 – It may be necessary to physically discipline a child to save him.

• These only apply while the child is at home under the control of the parents.

• Once a child leaves home, social company between parent and child is a privilege, not a duty.

I Corinthians 15:33; Proverbs 24:1

Matthew 19:5; I Corinthians 7:12-14

Matthew 18:11-14 – The purpose of withdrawing is to save a brother!

I Corinthians 5:5

II Corinthians 2:6

II Thessalonians 3:14-15; Revelation 3:18-20 – We are to put to shame those who are in sin so they can be saved.