Commentaries:
The result of their interpretation of an imminent return of Christ was that some of the more excitable ones quit their jobs. His return was one of the important and recurring subjects of conversations with them. They added to that by becoming busybodies—spending their time talking excitedly but doing no work—and so their minds were continually disturbed, excited, by what they thought were signs of the imminent return of Jesus Christ. They were convinced that the Day of the Lord was already happening, and in a very short time Christ Himself would make His appearance.
John W. Ritenbaugh
A Place of Safety? (Part 4)
God gives the church the authority to disfellowship a member who is habitually committing sin or is a danger to the congregation (Matthew 18:17; Romans 16:17-18; I Corinthians 5:1-5, 9-13; II Thessalonians 3:6, 14; Titus 3:10-11). Every private association possesses power of this sort. For instance, the Boy Scouts of America has the right as a private group to dismiss a scoutmaster if he does not meet its stated qualifications. While this authority to dismiss members is assumed by private groups in America, the church has it by direct command from the Word of God.
The fundamental reasons for using the authority to disfellowship are to protect the church and to convey to the disfellowshipped person the seriousness of his actions. It is, in a sense, spiritual quarantine. The sinning member is separated from the rest of the congregation so he will not "infect" them, and he is given time and space to deal seriously with his problem.
Disfellowshipping does not—indeed cannot—take away a person's salvation; it does not consign him to the Lake of Fire. Jesus Christ is the Judge (John 5:22; Acts 17:31; II Timothy 4:8), not any minister or church council. All disfellowshipping does is exclude the rebellious member from fellowship with the church. However, if he does not repent and continues in his sinful practices, he may indeed be in danger of the second death (Revelation 20:14-15; see Hebrews 6:4-8; 10:26-31).
Richard T. Ritenbaugh
Putting Out Flawed Study Practices
God has His traditions, and the major difference between divine and human traditions is that His are right and true—and they work! However, because conversion is a process, and we do not instantly and magically know all of God's traditions, we bring our former traditions into the church with us. Thus, the church is set up for conflict. This is a major reason for the writing of the book of Ephesians. It shows that, for there to be unity, both Israelite and Gentile have to submit to Christ because both of their cultures and traditions are wrong!
John W. Ritenbaugh
Submitting (Part 1)
The "disorderly walking" was that they were not working. They were waiting it out until Christ returned. Paul called that a deviation from the traditions. God's children work, but these people were not working, slothfully waiting for Jesus to come back.
John W. Ritenbaugh
Unity (Part 5): Ephesians 4 (B)
Other Forerunner Commentary entries containing 2 Thessalonians 3:6:
Matthew 10:9-10
1 Thessalonians 5:2-3
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