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Questions From ReadersThe Watchtower—1973 | May 15
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A little earlier in his letter he had given similar instructions, saying: “Now we are giving you orders, brothers, in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, to withdraw from every brother walking disorderly and not according to the tradition you received from us.” (2 Th 3 Verse 6) Paul then went on to show the “tradition” that had been received from him and his associates in the hardworking example they had set when with the brothers there in Thessalonica.
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Questions From ReadersThe Watchtower—1973 | May 15
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To what extent do they “stop associating” with such “marked” ones? 2 Th 3 Verse 6 of this chapter says to “withdraw [“keep aloof,” New American Standard Bible] from every brother walking disorderly.” Their ‘withdrawing’ is evidently of the kind described at Galatians 2:12. There it is related that Peter, mistakenly in this case, “went withdrawing and separating himself” from people of the nations, whereas before he used to eat with them. Thus it appears that congregation members would cease to have social relations with those they themselves ‘mark,’ and this for the purpose of showing that they do not approve of the habits or course these are taking.
To illustrate, in a congregation certain ones may fail to heed the Scriptural warning concerning worldly associations, perhaps even “dating” an unbeliever. (1 Cor. 7:39; 15:33; 2 Cor. 6:14) They may do this though counseled often regarding the matter. The elders, from the platform and otherwise, may even have emphasized the Bible’s counsel and warning against such conduct, not, however, naming the individuals involved. What then? Then, if approached and invited to share in such worldly association by a member of the congregation, the ones approached would ‘mark’ such a one as “disorderly” in this regard. They certainly would not want to associate with him in his course. In some cases, parents might find it necessary to instruct their children to restrict their association with certain young persons in the congregation who may be showing themselves “disorderly” in such ways. Elders, of course, would be careful not to use such ones in any exemplary capacity.
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