Yet count him not as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother.
Parallel translations
- WEB Don’t count him as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother.
- BSB Yet do not regard him as an enemy, but warn him as a brother.
- NKJV Yet do not count him as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother.
- NASB And yet do not regard that person as an enemy, but admonish that one as a brother or sister.
- NLT Don’t think of them as enemies, but warn them as you would a brother or sister.
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
Even so, they must not treat such a person as an enemy but admonish him as a brother. Discipline is to be carried out in love, with restoration in view.
Overview
Paul carefully guards the spirit of the discipline: the disobedient member remains a "brother" to be warned, not an enemy to be hated. This keeps the church from harshness or rejection and keeps the door open to repentance. The verse beautifully balances firmness toward sin with love toward the sinner, mirroring God's own dealings with his people.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 15
- Titus 3:10A man that is an heretick after the first and second admonition reject;
- 1 Th 5:14Now we exhort you, brethren, warn them that are unruly, comfort the feebleminded, support the weak, be patient toward all men.
- 1 Cor 5:5To deliver such an one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.
- 1 Cor 4:14I write not these things to shame you, but as my beloved sons I warn you.
- Gal 6:1Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted.
- Prov 9:9Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be yet wiser: teach a just man, and he will increase in learning.
- Prov 25:12As an earring of gold, and an ornament of fine gold, so is a wise reprover upon an obedient ear.
- Matt 18:15Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother.
- 2 Cor 13:10Therefore I write these things being absent, lest being present I should use sharpness, according to the power which the Lord hath given me to edification, and not to destruction.
- 2 Cor 2:6–10Sufficient to such a man is this punishment, which was inflicted of many.
- 2 Cor 10:8For though I should boast somewhat more of our authority, which the Lord hath given us for edification, and not for your destruction, I should not be ashamed:
- Jas 5:19–20Brethren, if any of you do err from the truth, and one convert him;
- Jude 1:22–23And of some have compassion, making a difference:
- Lev 19:17–18Thou shalt not hate thy brother in thine heart: thou shalt in any wise rebuke thy neighbour, and not suffer sin upon him.
- Ps 141:5Let the righteous smite me; it shall be a kindness: and let him reprove me; it shall be an excellent oil, which shall not break my head: for yet my prayer also shall be in their calamities.
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Christ at the center
Christ will be revealed from heaven in flaming fire, glorified in his saints, overthrowing the lawless one — the certain hope that steadies the suffering church.
How 2 Thessalonians 3:15 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
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