2 Thessalonians 3:6 Meaning: Withdrawing in Love
Now we command you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you withdraw yourselves from every brother who walks in rebellion and not after the tradition which they received from us.
Now we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye withdraw yourselves from every brother that walketh disorderly, and not after the tradition which he received of us.
Now we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye withdraw yourselves from every brother that walketh disorderly, and not after the tradition which they received of us.
And we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, to withdraw yourselves from every brother disorderly walking, and not after the deliverance that ye received from us,
Now we enjoin you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye withdraw from every brother walking disorderly and not according to the instruction which he received from us.
Meaning in one sentence
Paul commands the church to withdraw from disorderly brothers, balancing discipline with love. What this means for Christian community today.
Context
Paul wrote this second letter to the Thessalonians partly to correct a misunderstanding about Christ's return. Some believers had quit working, thinking the end was so near that daily labor no longer mattered. They became idle and meddlesome, burdening others. In his first letter Paul had gently urged them to work quietly. Now the problem had grown, so he uses stronger language. He commands the whole church to respond. This verse opens a section on discipline that runs through verse fifteen, where Paul is careful to say these brothers should still be admonished, not treated as enemies. The goal is correction, not rejection.
Key Words
Three Greek words carry the weight here. The verb stellesthai (translated “withdraw yourselves”) originally meant to furl a sail or draw back from something. In the middle voice, it describes an act you do for yourself: you step away, not to abandon, but to create space that might bring someone to their senses. It is not a permanent cutting off.
The word ataktōs (“disorderly” or “idly”) comes from military language: soldiers out of rank, marching out of step. Paul uses it for those who have stepped away from the community's rhythm of faithful work. They are not necessarily sinning in obvious ways; they are simply refusing to pull their weight.
Finally, paradosis (“tradition”) refers to the instruction Paul gave them in person and in his first letter. It is not human tradition but apostolic teaching handed on with authority. The disorderly brothers have set aside that teaching, and the church is called to respond.
How Christians Read This Verse
Christian traditions agree that this verse commands church discipline, but they emphasize different aspects. Reformed commentators like Calvin and the Geneva Bible focus on the danger of idleness and the need to protect the community from confusion. Wesleyan writers like Adam Clarke stress that the withdrawal is meant to make the offender ashamed and lead to repentance. Anglicans in the Cambridge Bible note that Paul writes with authority, but the goal is always restoration. Roman Catholic teaching also distinguishes between formal excommunication and the temporary separation described here. All traditions point to verse fifteen: “count him not as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother.” The discipline is hard, but the hope is always for the brother to return to order.
A common misunderstanding
Some readers think Paul is commanding the church to permanently shun anyone who falls short or disagrees with them. But the context is specific. Paul is addressing believers who refuse to work even though they can, and who meddle in others' affairs. The withdrawal is a measured step, not a final rejection. The brother is still called a brother, and the end goal is restoration, not removal.
Living This Out
This week, consider someone in your life who claims to follow Christ but consistently neglects responsibility, leaving others to carry the burden. Before you distance yourself, first speak gently, as Paul did in his earlier letter. If there is no change, the hard step of temporary withdrawal may become necessary. But do not gossip or nurse resentment. Let your distance be a clear signal that you long for them to return to a faithful walk. And examine your own habits: is your life orderly, or are you relying on others' generosity while avoiding your own duties?
Main takeaway: Church discipline aims at restoration, not rejection; withdrawing from a disorderly brother is an act of love that calls him back to order.
For Families
For ages 5, 8
Sometimes a friend won't follow the rules and keeps being lazy. Paul says we should step back from them for a little while, but still love them and hope they will do better.
For ages 9, 12
In the early church, some people stopped working because they thought Jesus was coming back right away. Paul told the church not to support their idleness. If someone keeps refusing to do their part, sometimes the group needs to gently distance itself to help that person realize they need to change. It's hard, but it's done with love and hope for their return.
Questions People Ask
What does 'withdraw yourselves' mean in this verse?
It means to step back from close fellowship with a disorderly brother. The Greek word suggests pulling away like a ship drawing in its sails. It is not permanent excommunication but a temporary separation meant to make the person rethink their behavior. Paul makes clear in verse 15 that they should still be treated as a brother, not an enemy.
Is Paul commanding excommunication here?
Most commentators see this as a less formal step than full excommunication. Paul does not say to expel the person from the church, but to stop associating with them in the usual close way. The goal is to shame them into repentance, not to cut them off forever. In 1 Corinthians 5, Paul does command excommunication for a more serious sexual sin, but here the issue is idleness and refusal to work.
What kind of behavior is 'disorderly'?
The Greek word ataktōs describes someone out of rank, like a soldier not marching in step. In this context, Paul is talking about people who refuse to work even though they are able. They are idle and become busybodies, meddling in others' affairs. The disorder is not just laziness but a rejection of the apostolic teaching that Christians should labor quietly and provide for themselves.
How can we withdraw from someone and still love them?
Withdrawing is itself an act of love when done for the right reasons. It removes the false comfort of fellowship without repentance. Paul balances the command by saying in verse 15 not to regard the person as an enemy but to keep admonishing them like a brother. The distance is meant to wake them up, not to punish them. The whole church should be united in hoping for their restoration.
For pastors & researchers
Greek interlinear, 8 commentaries & word study