2 Thessalonians 3:15 Meaning: Admonish, Don’t Condemn
Don’t count him as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother.
Yet count him not as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother.
And yet count him not as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother.
and as an enemy count him not, but admonish ye him as a brother;
and do not esteem him as an enemy, but admonish [him] as a brother.
Meaning in one sentence
How can we withdraw from a disorderly Christian without treating them as an enemy? Paul shows the redemptive heart behind church discipline.
Context
Paul is wrapping up his second letter to the Thessalonians. Some members of the church there had stopped working, claiming the Lord’s return was coming any day. They became busybodies, relying on others to support them. Paul had already told the church to withdraw from such people, to make them feel the weight of their choices. But he feared the church might go too far, treating them as outsiders. So in verse 15 he gives the crucial balance: distance does not mean rejection. The goal of discipline is not to push people away for good, but to bring them back. This is the heart of the whole passage.
Key Words
The Greek word Paul uses for “enemy” is echthron, someone hostile, hated, opposed. He tells them not to hēgeisthe (count, consider, regard) the disorderly person that way. The same verb is used elsewhere for thinking of something as valuable or important. Paul is saying: don’t let your view of him shift to that of an adversary. Then he gives the positive: noutheteite. This word, “admonish,” literally means to put something in the mind. It carries the warmth of counsel given to a family member, not a lecture aimed at an opponent. The word for “brother” (“adelphon”) seals it. This person still belongs. The discipline does not erase the relationship. It redefines the way you speak to him: not as a threat, but as someone you are trying to win back.
How Christians Read This Verse
Christians across traditions agree this verse is the necessary check on church discipline. Calvin (Reformed) wrote that excommunication does not cut someone off from hope; it aims to bring them back. Barnes (Protestant) warned that discipline can easily become cold and triumphal, forgetting the erring one is still a brother. Wesley (Methodist) summed it simply: “Tell him lovingly of the reason why you shun him.” The Catholic tradition, while having a more formal process, likewise sees the goal of correction as restoration of the sinner. No tradition reads this verse as permission to abandon a person. All see the redemptive purpose.
A common misunderstanding
Some think verse 15 softens the command to withdraw in verse 14, as if Paul is changing his mind. In fact, both commands stand. The withdrawal is a serious step meant to wake the person up. But even while you keep your distance, your heart and your words must still treat him as family. The distance is a tool, not a verdict.
Living This Out
Maybe there is someone in your church or your life who has drifted into harmful patterns. You have pulled back for now. But this verse asks you: when you think of that person, do you see an enemy or a brother? The difference shows in how you speak about them. Do you talk as if they are beyond hope? If they approach, do you turn cold? Paul’s way is different. You can hold the boundary and still pray for them, still speak to them with warmth when the moment comes, still leave the door open. That is the hard, loving work of real community.
Main takeaway: Church discipline is meant to restore, not reject; we treat the erring brother as a brother, not an enemy.
For Families
For ages 5, 8
Sometimes we have to tell a friend he did something wrong. Even when we are upset, we still love him. We talk to him like a brother, not an enemy.
For ages 9, 12
Paul tells the church to stay away from someone who keeps causing trouble, but not to treat him like an outsider. You can “admonish” him, which means you talk to him in a way that helps him see his mistake. Even when there are consequences, you remember he is still part of the family. That changes how you talk about him and to him.
Questions People Ask
What does ‘admonish him as a brother’ mean?
It means to correct someone with the warmth and love you would show a family member. You don’t write them off or treat them like a stranger. You speak honestly but kindly, with their restoration in mind.
Does this verse contradict the command to withdraw in verse 14?
No, the two commands work together. Withdrawing is a serious step to wake the person up. But even while you keep your distance, your heart and words still treat him as a brother. The goal is not punishment but restoration.
What is the difference between counting someone as an enemy and admonishing them as a brother?
Counting them as an enemy means you see them as hostile and beyond hope. You talk about them with disdain or ignore them completely. Admonishing as a brother means you still speak to them with care, you pray for them, and you hope for their change.
How does this apply to church discipline today?
When a church must discipline a member, the attitude of the congregation matters. They should not gossip, mock, or shun the person completely. The goal is to bring them back. So even when formal fellowship is limited, love and prayer continue.
Is excommunication the same as treating someone as an enemy?
Not if it is done biblically. Excommunication is a last-resort step meant to make the person realize the seriousness of their sin. But even then, the church should continue to reach out with the hope of reconciliation. The person remains a brother or sister in the eyes of those who love them.
For pastors & researchers
Greek interlinear, 8 commentaries & word study