And yet do not regard that person as an enemy, but admonish that one as a brother or sister.
Parallel translations
- WEB Don’t count him as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother.
- KJV Yet count him not 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.
- 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 3:10Avoid a factious man after a first and second warning,
- 1 Th 5:14We exhort you, brothers, admonish the disorderly, encourage the faint-hearted, support the weak, be patient toward all.
- 1 Cor 5:5are to deliver such a one to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.
- 1 Cor 4:14I don’t write these things to shame you, but to admonish you as my beloved children.
- Gal 6:1Brothers, even if a man is caught in some fault, you who are spiritual must restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness; looking to yourself so that you also aren’t tempted.
- Prov 9:9Instruct a wise man, and he will be still wiser. Teach a righteous 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 to an obedient ear.
- Matt 18:15“If your brother sins against you, go, show him his fault between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained back your brother.
- 2 Cor 13:10For this cause I write these things while absent, that I may not deal sharply when present, according to the authority which the Lord gave me for building up, and not for tearing down.
- 2 Cor 2:6–10This punishment which was inflicted by the many is sufficient for such a one;
- 2 Cor 10:8For though I should boast somewhat abundantly concerning our authority, (which the Lord gave for building you up, and not for casting you down) I will not be disappointed,
- Jas 5:19–20Brothers, if any among you wanders from the truth and someone turns him back,
- Jude 1:22–23On some have compassion, making a distinction,
- Lev 19:17–18“‘You shall not hate your brother in your heart. You shall surely rebuke your neighbor, and not bear sin because of him.
- Ps 141:5Let the righteous strike me, it is kindness; let him reprove me, it is like oil on the head; don’t let my head refuse it; Yet my prayer is always against evil deeds.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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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
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Greek word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.