Matthew Poole and continuators on 2 Thessalonians 3:6

6 Now we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ , that you withdraw your selves from every brother , that walketh disorderly, and not after the tradition he received of us .

Here the Apostle proceeds to a discourse of another kind, which is about their carriage to disorderly Members in the Church. And having before declared his confidence, ver. 4. that they did, and would do the things he commanded them, he now tells them what he commands; and because either 'tis a matter of great importance, or that which they would be backward in, he therefore speaks with the greater vehemence, when he spake in the former Epistle, chap. 5.14. of warning the unruly, he then spake with greater mildness, We exhort you brethren, &c. but now to withdraw from them is an harsher Duty; or they having first warned them, if they reform not next, they are to proceed to withdraw from them. And this he now commands as that which he supposeth they might be backward to. [non-Latin text not transcribed]. The word properly signifies a command conveighed from another, so the Apostle commands here in the Name of the Lord Jesus. Though he had Authority to command as an Apostle, yet it was derived to him from Christ, and therefore usually conjoyns Christ with his Exhortations and commands;

or to avoid as the word signifies, and is so rendred, 2 Cor. 8.20. The word is used also, Gal. 2.12. of Peters withdrawing himself from eating with the Gentiles. And rendred drawing back, Heb. 10.38. alluding as some think there to a Souldier that draws back from the Battel. But here in the Text to a Marriner that steers his ship from the rocks, and so it implies the danger of not withdrawing, which may be the reason of the Apostles so solemn command about it. And it is not from an Heathen man, but a Brother. One that is of the Church, and it is every Brother, let him be rich or poor, high, or low, &c. As he writes to the Corinthians, 1 Cor. 5.11. If any man that is call'd a Brother be a Fornicator, &c.

Alluding as some think to Souldiers who keep not their rank, not walking according to rule, or, as he expresseth it, Not according to the tradition which he received of us. What is to be meant by Tradition, is explained in the former Chapter. And he cannot be understood to speak here of Rites and Ceremonies relating to Church▪ Worship, or Order, as some imagine. The Apostle doth in the following Verses explain himself otherwise. But what is this withdrawing? Is it Excommunication the greater or the less? In a general sence it may be so called, for it is an abstaining from Communion, but it is not so properly; for that is called putting away a person, a purging out the old leaven, 1 Cor. 5.7. this is only a withdrawing from him, much less is it a delivering up to Satan, which the Apostle required, 1 Cor. 5. and himself inflicted upon Hymeneus and Alexander, 1 Tim. 1. last. The nature of the crime here mentioned will not bear that. It was not Incest or Blasphemy, as in the former Instances, but only disorderly walking, which he specifies afterwards. And with respect to such the Apostle required in the former Epistle, warning only, warn the unruly. And though this is something more, yet it implies not a casting a man out of the Church, which is Christ's visible Kingdom into Satans Kingdom, for he is still to be admonisht as a Brother, as verse 15. And Excommunication is the exerting an Act of Church power, as 1 Cor. 5.4. whereof no mention is made here, or of an absolute rejection which is elsewhere required, Tit. 3.10. It seems then to be only a withdrawing from familiar converse and society. As 1 Cor. 5.11. If any man that is call'd a Brother be a Fornicator, Covetous, &c. with such an one no not to eat, alluding to the custom of the Jews who would not eat with the Gentiles, and by eating is exprest Communion in Scripture, and prophane Writers also. And such Communion is forbidden to such a brother, which the Apostle allowed them to have with such sinners that were of the World, and not of the Church, as verse 10. which cannot be meant of sacred communion. And familiarity with such a brother would harden him in his sins, and reflect dishonour upon Religion, and indanger their infection more than with a Pagan, or Infidel; which therefore the Apostle forbids them to a Brother. As he did the Corinthians mentioned before, as also the Romans, chap. 16.17. And which may be a step towards excommunication from Spiritual communion; which is the greater punishment, especially if the brother be not hereby made ashamed, and reform his course, and doth not only now and then do a disorderly action, but walks disorderly and that after warning also. Others think its meant of Excommunication, and judg not the reason against it to be cogent.

Marginal references: Rom. 16.17. ver. 14. Joh. 10.2.; 1 Thes. 4.11. ver. 14. chap. 2.15.