Withdraw From Worldly Walkers

GREEK WORD WITH ENGLISH TRANSLITERATION: στέλλω  (stello)

PRONUNCIATION:  STEL-loh

STRONG’S CONCORDANCE #: 4724

MEANING: avoid; withdraw oneself; to set oneself

ENGLISH WORDS DERIVED FROM: stall

BACKGROUND OF WORD (ETYMOLOGY): Plato and early Greek philosophers used this word to describe sending someone away; .in some ancient texts, it meant to shorten the sails or to pull in all the loose, flapping sails that would hinder a ship from moving forward at maximum speed;

HOW TRANSLATED IN KJV, NASB AND/OR ESV:  avoid; keep away from; withdraw from;

# OF TIMES USED IN THE GREEK NEW TESTAMENT: 2

KEY VERSE IN THE BIBLE WHERE GREEK WORD USED:

2 Thessalonians 3:6 -  "Now we command you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you keep away from (στέλλω) any brother who is walking in idleness and not in accord with the tradition that you received from us."

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

    

Apparently, the apostle Paul was aware of people who were unruly and insubordinate in the city of Thessalonica. It is evident that he was disturbed by this problem, for when he wrote his second letter to the Thessalonians, he gave them a stern order: “Now we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye withdraw yourselves from every brother that walketh disorderly, and not after the tradition which he received of us” (2 Thessalonians 3:6).

Notice that Paul says, “Now we command you....” The word “command” is so strong in the Greek that it leaves no room for misunderstanding. It is the Greek word ‎parangellœ‎, which means to order, to charge, or to give a command. All of Paul's readers would have understood that this was not a suggestion — it was a direct command.

Paul went on to tell them, “Now we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye withdraw yourselves from every brother that walketh disorderly....” The word “withdraw” is the Greek word ‎stellœ‎, which means to gather up, to pull together, to move oneself, or to withdraw. In some ancient texts, it meant to shorten the sails or to pull in all the loose, flapping sails that would hinder a ship from moving forward at maximum speed. In other places, the word ‎stellœ was used to picture a runner pulling up the long, dangling ends of his robe so the loose ends wouldn't hinder him in a foot race.

When Paul used the word ‎stellœ‎, the Thessalonians would have immediately understood that he was ordering them to make an inward resolution. He was ordering them to pull themselves together and get rid of all the loose ends that could hinder their spiritual walk, which would include withdrawing from any rebellious Christians who refused to get things right with the Lord. There is no doubt that Paul was explicitly ordering the Thessalonian believers to remove themselves from all such relationships that could adversely affect their own progress with the Lord.

In the next statement, Paul identified the exact group of rebellious believers he was talking about. He told them (and us), “...Withdraw from every brother that walketh disorderly....”

The words “walketh” is the Greek word ‎peripateœ‎. The word ‎peripateœ ‎is very significant in this verse, for it means to walk about or to walk around, giving the impression of one who habitually lives and functions in a certain way. By employing the use of this word, Paul indicated that he wasn't writing about a believer who makes an occasional mistake in his life; rather, he was categorically referring to those believers who habitually live in a “disorderly” manner.

The word “disorderly” is taken from the Greek word ‎atakeœ‎. The word ‎atakeœ ‎was a military term that described a soldier who was out of rank or a soldier who was out of order. It carries the idea of one who is insubordinate or one who is disrespectful of those who have been placed in authority over him.

The word ‎atakeœ ‎was also used in Greek society to portray individuals who refused to work and who lived off the goodwill of others. Apparently some of the rebellious people in Thessalonica refused to listen to the church leadership's command to get a job. Instead, they took advantage of the goodwill of Christians, “sponging off them” whenever they needed some money.

This scenario is very clear as you continue to read 2 Thessalonians 3. The word ‎atakeœ ‎was also used to depict people who meddled in other people's affairs. As in the case of the Thessalonians, these loafers had no jobs and therefore had lots of time to interfere in other people's business. Paul was so against this behavior that he ordered the believers of Thessalonica to withdraw from these habitual loafers.

Paul finished this verse by reminding them that such a chronic loafer was not living “...after the tradition which he received of us.” In the Greek text, the word “tradition” is the word ‎paradidœmi‎, a Greek word that means to personally deliver or to personally transmit something to someone. Paul had personally delivered instruction to the Thessalonians about living responsible lives. No one in Thessalonica could claim ignorance, for Paul had personally taught them. Those who continued to live in this fashion were simply ignoring his instructions. And rather than tolerate their behavior, Paul told them, “Enough is enough!”

CHALLENGE FOR THE DAY:

    

Paul's command is very clear: Even though such brothers or sisters are related to us in Christ, we are not to have close fellowship with those who show disrespect for authority and who routinely live their lives out of order. When a believer lives in defiance of God's Word and God-established authority, we must inwardly resolve to back away so we don't put our stamp of approval on them by affiliating ourselves with them. Yes, we must continue to love them; nevertheless, there comes a time when we must disassociate from unrepentant, erring believers. As we do, we will help them realize they are wrong and protect our own testimony from being negatively affected.

In light of Paul's message in 2 Thessalonians 3:6, what is God saying to you about your current friendships? Do you closely associate with any individuals who have no regard for the Word of God or respect for God-established authority? If so, do you have a good reason why you maintain an intimate relationship with them? Are these the kind of close friends you need? Could it be that you need to back away from the people in your life who are living in rebellion? Is it time to invest yourself in someone else who loves God's Word, who is submitted to authority, and who has a heart to prosper under the blessing of the local church?

PRAYER FOR THE DAY:

Lord, I ask You to help me truthfully examine my relationships to determine which of them are helping me and which are hindering me. If any of my relationships are with people who are disorderly or rebellious and unwilling to change, please give me the courage to follow the instructions of Your Word. Holy Spirit, I am depending on You to lead and guide me and to help me do exactly what Jesus wants me to do.  I pray this in Jesus' name! Amen.