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 Bro.
Turner:
In
Matt. 18:17 we are told to treat the one disfellowshipped “as
a heathen man and a publican,” but 2 Thes. 3:15 says, “count
him not as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother.” How do
you reconcile these verses?
HT
Reply:
The
K.J. “heathen” is Gentile, someone not a Jew (RV),
and Jesus was speaking to Jews — hence, someone not in
communion or fellowship, not sharing— a “common interest”
in clarifying and correcting the differences that may arise.
(The “publican” had cut himself off from the Jewish com-
munity by becoming a tax collector for the occupying force, the
Romans.) Jesus was saying, Recognize the man for what he has
proven himself to be — a man apart, one not having the
same interest in righting wrongs that all true followers of
Christ must have.
This
does not authorize mistreatment. As Adam Clarke says, “To whom
thou art, as a Christian, to owe earnest and persevering good
will, and acts of kindness.” Often the very opposite is
observed — and those who were first wronged (to grant a
context like that of Jesus’ illustration) now are vindictive;
acting like the devil, but justifying it with the words of
Christ.. How ungodly can men become? Two wrongs do not make
right.
In
2 Thes. Paul says, “count him not as an enemy” i.e., “hated”
or perhaps “outside” (See Vine’s); “but admonish —.”
The word for admonish is used eight times in the N.T., and four
of these times it is translated,
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“warn.” (Acts 20:31; 1 Cor. 4:14
etc.) Vine says it is “‘the training by word,’ whether of
encouragement, Or, if necessary, by reproof or remonstrance.”
It would seem that there is not the same sort of rejection
under consideration here, as in Titus 3:10, where the same word
is used. (“A man that is a heretic, after the first and second
admoni- tion, reject.”) Maybe we are too prone to want
everything “cut and dried” — “disfellowship is
disfellowship —” so we hastily classify all passages that
seem to deal with such in a sort of “church- doctrine”
package. Consider, “And of some have compassion, making a
difference: And others save with fear, pulling them out of the
fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh.” (Jude,
22-23)
And
something else that deserves attention: “brother” does not
necessarily refer to a faithful follower of Christ. All men are
“brothers” in the flesh (in somewhat the same sense as “neighbors”,
cf. Heb. 2:17) and the “fellow -Gentiles” were brethren. (KJ
says “publicans”, Matt. 5:47) Vine’s Dictionary
gives multi-uses of the term, and Diessman classes “brother”
as a word having a wide connotation in the first century.
(Something like “comrade” in Russia; or as we address
someone as “Buddy”.)
Paul
says. Do not “company” with the lazy busybody, to feed,
condone his ways, etc.; yet continue to train by word,
reproving, remonstrating, as could be expected in the
relationship of people who still have some things in common. (“Be
not weary in well doing.” Vs.13) Thus viewed, the two passages
are not in conflict.
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