2 Thessalonians 3:6 Commentary and Bible Study

The verse begins with a command. It has a military note and in the Greek, it is something that must be obeyed. If the order is not followed, that particular unit or detachment of troops will be in the wrong position; the battle plan will go wrong and the battle will be lost. Orders must be followed, even if they are not agreed with or the reason for them is not understood. In these modern times there is a kind of optional ring about everything. It is done in a very brotherly manner but that does not dilute it. It comes from Paul but we are compelled to view it as though it has come directly from the risen Lord. ‘That ye withdraw yourselves,’ that you cut off fellowship with people who do certain things. Who are these people? Are they Christians? Yes, they are. He is a brother; he has a profession of faith; it is authentic; we have known him to be blessed of God. ‘But surely therefore,’ we reason, ‘I cannot withdraw fellowship from that person.’We may interpret the withdraw term a little. There may be people who are Christians who do certain things which are absolutely out of line with the apostle’s instructions. You may be able to have some level of fellowship with them in your place of business; you wish you could influence them more. But you cannot really work with them as Christians. If they say to you, ‘Let us have a mission together’, you cannot do that. This is not just a one-off incident. He walks in a disorderly way. It is his regular pattern. ‘Not after the tradition which he received of us.’ When we think of traditions, we think of Catholic human inventions, and rites and ceremonies that are not in the Bible. The Greek word simply means – that which is handed down by the apostle, so in this context for tradition read Scripture. What does the apostolic example cover? How did the apostle Paul evangelise? He did not organise a play, a drama perhaps with actors and something fictional in order to communicate the Gospel? No, he preached, he proclaimed. That is God’s selected and appointed procedure. How did he order the churches? Did he copy the business world and to have the biggest possible unit with an all-powerful chief executive officer, and a pyramid structure under them. The ordinary people have no say, there is no government or teaching by consent. No, says the apostolic example. The apostle went around organising churches that were independent and autonomous with their elders and their deacon. The example that is given in this passage is working for a living. You have got to work for a living. You cannot just decide, I am a counsellor, a teacher; I am just going to appoint myself. This was actually happening in the church of the Thessalonians. Oh no, says the apostle. Genesis teaches that following the fall every man, and nowadays many women also, have to work to earn their bread and to earn a living.