ACC ~ 2 Thessalonians 3 v15

QUARRELING OF DOVES. AUGUSTINE: Here it is as though doves are quarreling together. The apostle said, “If anyone fails to obey our word by this letter, mark that person and do not mix with him.” There’s the quarrel. But notice how it’s a quarrel of doves, not of wolves. He immediately added, “And do not regard him as an enemy, but rebuke him as a brother.” A dove is loving even when it is beating; a wolf hates even when it is being charming. SERMONS 64.3.

MERCIFUL SEVERITY. AUGUSTINE: It is true that some take the phrase “from your midst” to mean that each one is to expel the wickedness out of oneself in order to be good. But, no matter how it is interpreted, whether that the wicked in the church are checked by the severity of excommunication or whether each one by self-blame and self-discipline drives wickedness out of himself, there can be no misunderstanding of the teaching of the apostle in the passage of Scripture just quoted: we are to refrain from association with brothers who are accused of any of the vices mentioned above, that is, with those who are notoriously scandalous. With what intention and with what charity this merciful severity is to be administered is evidenced not only by his statement, “that his spirit may be saved in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ,” but appears elsewhere even more clearly where he says, “if anyone does not obey our word by this letter, note that man and do not associate with him, that he may be put to shame. Yet do not regard him as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother.” FAITH AND WORKS 2-3.

LOVE NEVER FAILS. CHRYSOSTOM: What then does Paul mean when he says, “If any one refuses to obey what we say in this letter, note that man, and have nothing to do with him”? In the first place, he says this of brothers, but with a significant limitation which is stated with gentleness. Do not disconnect what is said here from what follows, where, having said, “have nothing to do with him,” he added, “do not look on him as an enemy, but warn him as a brother.” Do you see how he urges us to hate the deed but love the person? For indeed it is the work of the devil to tear us apart, and he has always taken great care to destroy love, so that the means of correction will be gone, the sinner maintained in error and the way of his salvation blocked. For when the physician hates the sick man and runs from him, and the sick man turns away from the physician, when will the distempered person be restored, seeing that neither the one will call in the other’s aid, nor will the other go to him? HOMILIES ON FIRST CORINTHIANS 33.5.

INVITE THEM BACK. POLYCARP: I have been exceedingly grieved on account of Valens, who was at one time a presbyter among you, because he forgot the office that was given him. I warn you, therefore, to refrain from the love of money and be pure and truthful. … I am, therefore, very grieved indeed for that man and his wife. “May the Lord grant them true repentance.” But you, too, must be moderate in this matter; and “do not consider such persons as enemies” but reclaim them as suffering and straying members, in order that you may save the whole body of you. For in doing this you will edify yourselves.TO THE PHILIPPIANS 11.1, 4.

THE FIRST EPISTLE TO TIMOTHY

ARGUMENT: Having earlier entrusted Timothy with the economy of the gospel in his instruction as a convert and disciple, Paul moves on to instruct Timothy as a pastor and teacher in the life of the church (CHRYSOSTOM). After warning against Judaizing teachers, Paul gives instructions for worship, for church government, for the selection and oversight of ministers and for episcopal duties, with the inclusion of an important section on doctrinal teaching. Paul intends these as instruction for Timothy, through whom they will go from Ephesus to all of the churches of Asia, but also for every bishop who is to be regarded as a capable overseer of the church (THEODORE). Paul’s intention is to strengthen Timothy for the refutation of heresy and for the governance of the Asian churches (THEODORET). Paul instructs his own convert from Judaism in how to be an effective evangelist, especially against Judaizing heresies, as well as how to be a capable leader of the church (AMBROSIASTER).