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.
Parallel translations
- WEB If any man doesn’t obey our word in this letter, note that man, that you have no company with him, to the end that he may be ashamed.
- BSB Take note of anyone who does not obey the instructions we have given in this letter. Do not associate with him, so that he may be ashamed.
- NKJV And if anyone does not obey our word in this epistle, note that person and do not keep company with him, that he may be ashamed.
- NASB If anyone does not obey our instruction in this letter, take special note of that person so as not to associate with him, so that he will be put to shame.
- NLT Take note of those who refuse to obey what we say in this letter. Stay away from them so they will be ashamed.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
If anyone refuses to obey this letter, the church should mark that person and withhold fellowship so he feels shame and repents. Discipline aims at restorative shame, not rejection.
Overview
Paul calls for a deliberate, communal response to persistent disobedience, distancing fellowship so the offender recognizes his fault. The goal "that he may be ashamed" is corrective, seeking a change of heart rather than punishment for its own sake. This reflects the loving, redemptive purpose of all biblical church discipline (Matthew 18:15-17).
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 25
- Titus 3:10A man that is an heretick after the first and second admonition reject;
- 1 Cor 5:11But now I have written unto you not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such an one no not to eat.
- 2 Th 3:6Now 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.
- Ps 83:16Fill their faces with shame; that they may seek thy name, O LORD.
- 1 Th 4:8He therefore that despiseth, despiseth not man, but God, who hath also given unto us his holy Spirit.
- Jer 6:15Were they ashamed when they had committed abomination? nay, they were not at all ashamed, neither could they blush: therefore they shall fall among them that fall: at the time that I visit them they shall be cast down, saith the LORD.
- Prov 5:13And have not obeyed the voice of my teachers, nor inclined mine ear to them that instructed me!
- Phlm 1:21Having confidence in thy obedience I wrote unto thee, knowing that thou wilt also do more than I say.
- Rom 16:17Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them.
- 1 Cor 5:9I wrote unto you in an epistle not to company with fornicators:
- Zeph 3:2She obeyed not the voice; she received not correction; she trusted not in the LORD; she drew not near to her God.
- 2 Cor 10:6And having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled.
- Deut 16:12And thou shalt remember that thou wast a bondman in Egypt: and thou shalt observe and do these statutes.
- Ezek 16:61–63Then thou shalt remember thy ways, and be ashamed, when thou shalt receive thy sisters, thine elder and thy younger: and I will give them unto thee for daughters, but not by thy covenant.
- 2 Cor 2:9For to this end also did I write, that I might know the proof of you, whether ye be obedient in all things.
- Num 12:14And the LORD said unto Moses, If her father had but spit in her face, should she not be ashamed seven days? let her be shut out from the camp seven days, and after that let her be received in again.
- Matt 18:17And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church: but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a publican.
- 2 Cor 7:15And his inward affection is more abundant toward you, whilst he remembereth the obedience of you all, how with fear and trembling ye received him.
- Luke 15:18–21I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee,
- Heb 13:17Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you.
- Ezek 36:31–32Then shall ye remember your own evil ways, and your doings that were not good, and shall lothe yourselves in your own sight for your iniquities and for your abominations.
- Ezra 9:6And said, O my God, I am ashamed and blush to lift up my face to thee, my God: for our iniquities are increased over our head, and our trespass is grown up unto the heavens.
- Jer 3:3Therefore the showers have been withholden, and there hath been no latter rain; and thou hadst a whore’s forehead, thou refusedst to be ashamed.
- Jer 31:18–20I have surely heard Ephraim bemoaning himself thus; Thou hast chastised me, and I was chastised, as a bullock unaccustomed to the yoke: turn thou me, and I shall be turned; for thou art the LORD my God.
- Phil 2:12Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.
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