2 Thessalonians 3 · Verse 15

2 Thessalonians 3:15

Yet count him not as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother.
2 Thessalonians 3:15, King James Version

2 Thessalonians 3:15 in other translations

BSBYet do not regard him as an enemy, but warn him as a brother.
WEBDon’t count him as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother.
ASVAnd yet count him not as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother.
YLTand as an enemy count him not, but admonish ye him as a brother;
DARBYand do not esteem him as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother.
BBEHave no feeling of hate for him, but take him in hand seriously as a brother.
WebsterYet count him not as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother.

What does 2 Thessalonians 3:15 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
15. admonish him as a brother--not yet excommunicated (compare Le 19:17). Do not shun him in contemptuous silence, but tell him why he is so avoided (Mt 18:15; 1Th 5:14).

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Barnes' Notes
Verse 15. Yet count him not as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother. This shows the true spirit in which discipline is to be administered in the Christian church. We are not to deal with a man as an adversary over whom we are to seek to gain a victory, but as an erring brother--a brother still, though he errs. There was necessity for this caution. There is great danger that when we undertake the work of discipline we shall forget that he who is the subject of it is a brother, and that we shall regard and treat him as an enemy. Such is human nature. We set ourselves in array against him. We cut him off as one who is unworthy to walk with us. We triumph over him, and consider him at once as an enemy of the church, and as having lost all claim to its sympathies. We abandon him to the tender mercies of a cold and unfeeling world, and let him take his course. Perhaps we follow him with anathemas, and hold him up as unworthy the confidence of mankind. Now all this is entirely unlike the method and aim of discipline as the New Testament requires. There all is kind and gentle, though firm; the offender is a man and a brother still; he is to be followed with tender sympathy and prayer, and the hearts and the arms of the Christian brotherhood are to be open to receive him again when he gives any evidence of repenting.

(d) "brother" Lev 19:17

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 15 Count him not as an enemy - Consider him still more an enemy to himself than to you; and admonish him as a brother, though you have ceased to hold religious communion with him. His soul is still of infinite value; labor to get it saved.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on 2 Thessalonians 3:6-15

Those who have received the gospel, are to live according to the gospel. Such as could work, and would not, were not to be maintained in idleness. Christianity is not to countenance slothfulness, which would consume what is meant to encourage the industrious, and to support the sick and afflicted. Industry in our callings as men, is a duty required by our calling as Christians. But some expected to be maintained in…

Read the full comment on 2 Thessalonians 3:6-15 →

2 Thessalonians 3:15 in the original Greek

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

καὶkaiAnd yetG2532
μὴmēnotG3361
ὡςhōsasG5613
ἐχθρὸνechthronan enemyG2190
ἡγεῖσθε,hēgeisthedo esteem [him],G2233
ἀλλὰallabutG235
νουθετεῖτεnoutheteitedo admonish [him]G3560
ὡςhōsasG5613
ἀδελφόν.¶adelphona brother.G80

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for 2 Thessalonians 3:15

  • Titus 3:10

    A man that is an heretick after the first and second admonition reject;

  • 1 Thessalonians 5:14

    Now we exhort you, brethren, warn them that are unruly, comfort the feebleminded, support the weak, be patient toward all men.

  • 1 Corinthians 5:5

    To deliver such an one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.

  • 1 Corinthians 4:14

    I write not these things to shame you, but as my beloved sons I warn you.

  • Galatians 6:1

    Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted.

  • Proverbs 25:12

    As an earring of gold, and an ornament of fine gold, so is a wise reprover upon an obedient ear.

  • Proverbs 9:9

    Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be yet wiser: teach a just man, and he will increase in learning.

  • Matthew 18:15

    Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother.

  • 2 Corinthians 13:10

    Therefore I write these things being absent, lest being present I should use sharpness, according to the power which the Lord hath given me to edification, and not to destruction.

  • 2 Corinthians 2:6-10

    Sufficient to such a man is this punishment, which was inflicted of many. So that contrariwise ye ought rather to forgive him, and comfort him, lest perhaps such a one should be swallowed up with overmuch sorrow. Wherefore I beseech you that ye would confirm your love toward him. For to this end also did I write, that I might know the proof of you, whether ye be obedient in all things. …

  • 2 Corinthians 10:8

    For though I should boast somewhat more of our authority, which the Lord hath given us for edification, and not for your destruction, I should not be ashamed:

  • James 5:19-20

    Brethren, if any of you do err from the truth, and one convert him; Let him know, that he which converteth the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
count.
Le 19:17,18; 1Co 5:5; 2Co 2:6-10; 10:8; 13:10; Ga 6:1; 1Th 5:14
Jude 1:22,23
admonish.
Ps 141:5; Pr 9:9; 25:12; Mt 18:15; 1Co 4:14; Tit 3:10; Jas 5:19,20

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • 2 Thessalonians 3:14

    And if any man obey not our word by this epistle, note that man, and have no company with him, that he may be ashamed.

  • 2 Thessalonians 3:15

    Yet count him not as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother.

  • 2 Thessalonians 3:16

    Now the Lord of peace himself give you peace always by all means. The Lord be with you all.

Read all of 2 Thessalonians 3

2 Thessalonians 3:15 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Mas no lo tengáis como á enemigo, sino amonestadle como á hermano.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		et ne le tenez pas pour un ennemi, mais avertissez-le comme un frère.
German
Elberfelder 1871		und achtet ihn nicht als einen Feind, sondern weiset ihn zurecht als einen Bruder.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		et nolite quasi inimicum existimare, sed corripite ut fratrem.