These honored servants of God conclude the Epistle by asking prayer for themselves that the Word of God might have free course and be glorified, even as it was with the Thessalonians, and that they might be delivered from unreasonable and wicked men, for all men had not faith. But the Lord was faithful, who would stablish them and keep them from evil. They had confidence, too, that He would direct their hearts into the love of God and the patience of Christ, a needful lesson as the gloom thickened. If the world waxes darker in its hatred to Christ, the way to meet it is with the love of God; if the church departs further and further away, the thing is to meet it with the patience of Christ. But to do so, our hearts must dwell in these things ourselves. God loves unchangeably above, Christ waits in patience looking forward to His coming; we are called into the communion of this and to manifest the same spirit here below.
Ver. 6-16 refer to disorderly or unruly walk amongst brethren. The extreme act of putting away is not in question here as in 1 Cor. 5. There is discipline to be exercised short of this, which might result in blessed restoration. Any disorderly walk contrary to what the Apostle had written them in these Epistles, they were to mark, and to withdraw themselves from the brothers that engaged in it. The Apostles had not behaved themselves disorderly amongst the saints; they had not eaten any man’s bread for naught, but had laboured and travailed night and day, that they might not be chargeable to any of the saints. Not because these servants had not the power, but to make themselves ensamples how the saints were to follow them. (Cp. 1 Thess. 2.) Some of the saints had evidently in their first zeal perhaps, given up everything in view of the Lord’s coming, and now without gift in service, were burdening the saints, and going about idly doing nothing. Now the Apostles had encouraged no such behavior, they had commanded that if a man did not work neither should he eat. They heard in fact that there were some amongst the saints who were walking disorderly, working not at all, but were busy-bodies. Now such they exhorted by the Lord, that with quietness they should work and eat their own bread. But as for the brethren they were not to be weary in well- doing.
Now if any would not obey the Apostle’s word by this Epistle, they should mark that man and keep no company with him, that he might be ashamed, yet not to count him as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother.
Thus were all these minor questions settled by the wisdom of God in the Apostle. The unruly, disorderly, were to be warned (1 Thess. 5:1414Now we exhort you, brethren, warn them that are unruly, comfort the feebleminded, support the weak, be patient toward all men. (1 Thessalonians 5:14)) admonished, withdrawn from, marked; yet not counted as enemies, that being made ashamed, they might judge themselves and communion with their brethren be restored. Such wholesome discipline is very important amongst young saints. Sad it is if any take sides with the disorderly and hinder the action of the Spirit of God.
It is most needful for saints to understand things that differ in matters of discipline. All discipline is not a matter of excommunication. The object of all kinds of discipline is restoration, even in the case of putting away.
Putting away is treated of in 1 Cor. 5. This is as to moral evil. But 2 John shows us that one not bringing the doctrine of the true Christ, is not to be received into our houses. In Rev. 2:14, 1514But I have a few things against thee, because thou hast there them that hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balac to cast a stumblingblock before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed unto idols, and to commit fornication. 15So hast thou also them that hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, which thing I hate. (Revelation 2:14‑15) the Lord finds fault also with the Assembly at Pergamos for not putting out those who held Balaam doctrine, and those that turned the grace of God into licentiousness. This is most needful to press in the present day. A heretic, a leader of sects, was also after a first and second admonition, to be rejected. (Titus 3:1010A man that is an heretick after the first and second admonition reject; (Titus 3:10).) But then there is a secondary discipline to be followed, as we see above, which is also most needful to be discerned.
There is the discipline likewise mentioned in 1 Tim. 5:2020Them that sin rebuke before all, that others also may fear. (1 Timothy 5:20) which likewise comes short of putting away. But then every one has not the power to carry this out, viz.,
Them that sin, rebuke before all, that others also may fear.
Lastly, there is the individual withdrawal, mentioned in 1 Tim. 6:3-63If any man teach otherwise, and consent not to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness; 4He is proud, knowing nothing, but doting about questions and strifes of words, whereof cometh envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings, 5Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself. 6But godliness with contentment is great gain. (1 Timothy 6:3‑6), which, I trust to allude to with more length when writing on that Epistle.
The Lordship of Christ is here brought in in our Epistle. He is the Lord of peace, to give peace always by all means, even if it might need be by discipline. The Apostle lastly prays that the Lord might be with all the saints. Others most likely wrote the Epistle as ordered by the Apostle, but Paul signed it with his own hand, the token in every Epistle as to what was his. The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen.