Was there truly a difference in the way the fornicator in Corinth and the lazy meddlers in Thessalonica were to be treated?
But if anyone is not obedient to our word through this letter, keep this one marked and stop associating with him, so that he may become ashamed. And yet do not consider him an enemy, but continue admonishing him as a brother. (2 Thessalonians 3:14, 15)
But now I am writing you to stop keeping company with anyone called a brother who is sexually immoral or a greedy person or an idolater or a reviler or a drunkard or an extortioner, not even eating with such a man. For what do I have to do with judging those outside? Do you not judge those inside, while God judges those outside? “Remove the wicked person from among yourselves.” (1 Corinthians 5:11-13)
Regarding 2 Thessalonians 3:6-15 the NICNT comments:
“In effect, Paul is telling the community to “shun” the one who will still persist in being unruly-idle, who would be unwilling to conform even after this letter has been read in that person’s presence. Indeed, the rest are to “take special note” [Gk. σημειοῦσθε, a NT hapax legomenon. The word, which ordinarily means “to note down” something, in this case means to “mark” such a person by taking special notice of him (BDAG).] of such a person.
But the way of “marking” a person who would still persist in being unruly-idle after this letter has been read aloud in the community is by not “associating” [Gk. συναναμίγνυσθαι; the same word will occur in Paul’s next letter in terms of how the Corinthian community is to deal with the unrepentant man “living with his father’s wife” (1Co_5:9).]
(The New International Commentary on the New Testament)
It is to be noted that the same Greek word for “stop keeping company” or “stop associating with” (sunanamignusthai [strongs 4874]) is used in both cases. But 2 Thessalonians shows that to quit mixing in company with someone does not rule out admonishing him, hence speaking to him. The word makes no distinction as to the type of fellowship. Would it be right to conclude that when Paul, speaking to the Corinthians, says remove the wicked person from among yourselves he means they cease admonishing him and should no longer consider him as a brother but instead view him as an enemy?
The Watchtower society would have us believe that Paul recommends complete removal for some but only a partial ceasing of fellowship for others. But is that what the scriptures present? Is Paul’s counsel to remove the wicked man from among yourselves to be taken as a step beyond what he instructed the congregation in Thessalonica? As noted, the expressions “stop associating with” and “quit mixing in company with” are translated from the same Greek word.
In first Corinthians the society uses it to apply to persons that are disfellowshipped. But in 2 Thessalonians it is used to show that to quit mixing in company with someone does not rule out admonishing him.
The Watchtower claims that a disfellowshipped person should be denied not only social but also spiritual fellowship:
“a faithful Christian wife realizes that her husband’s being disfellowshipped means that the spiritual ties that formerly existed have been severed. He has, by his conduct and its results, broken a spiritual bond between himself and true Christians. His wife will continue to show love and respect for him as husband and family head, even as do wives whose husbands never were believers. (1 Peter 3:1, 2) But it will not be possible to have spiritual fellowship with him, sharing in Bible discussions and prayer with him as she once did. (Proverbs 28:9) (The Watchtower January 1, 1983 pg. 31)
This raises an important question, just what is to be considered spiritual fellowship?
To be continued in Part 3