Even a cursory glance at church doctrine as recorded in Paul’s epistles convinces the believer that the Word of God sets forth the doctrine of separation as a foundational and essential part of church practice.  Paul’s epistles to the church in Thessalonica may have been written as early as 49 A.D.  The church was still very much in its infancy, and the natural inclination would be to foster growth, almost at any cost.  But already, Paul is setting forth ideals that place the maintenance of soundness of doctrine and practice above those of the maintenance of relationships.  To this fledgling church, he writes:  “Now I 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” (II Thes. 3:6).

             “Now I command you brethren.”  Paul is unequivocal.  He is not offering an opinion or a suggestion.  This is not merely a good idea to consider or an ideal to strive toward.  Given the circumstances set forth here, separation is not one of several options:  it is required.  Though Paul uses the first person pronoun, it is, nevertheless, God who issues the command.

             “In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.”  The full three-fold name of the Lord is not used frequently in the Word, nor is it ever invoked casually.  Giving the command in this name is intended to give the utmost authority and significance to the command.

             “That ye withdraw yourselves.”  A refusal to practice scriptural separation must arise from a conscious rejection of this verse, for the meaning of the verb is quite clear.  It is translated variously as to “withdraw from” (AV), to “keep away from” (NIV, ESV), and to “keep aloof from” (NASV).  Strong defines the word as “to abstain from associating with”; and Vine explains that it is a word “used of the furling of a sail, and hence, metaphorically, of shrinking from any person or thing.”  Nothing could be clearer than the fact that this verse makes clear that under defined circumstances God advocates separation of one believer from another.

             “From every brother that walketh disorderly, and not after the tradition which he received of us.”  First, this phrase explains that when conditions that require separation are met, separation must be practiced without partiality or exception.  The requirement that believers withdraw from “every brother” means that exceptions cannot be made for parents and adult children, for best friends, or for employers.  The need for spiritual purity trumps even the closest and most compelling of human relationships.  Believers must love the Lord more than they love their natural relationships.  Second, this phrase sets forth some circumstances that trigger the need to separate:  those who walk “disorderly.”  Vine explains that the word is a military term meaning “not to keep rank,” or “to be insubordinate.”  Paul further suggests that this insubordination involves a refusal to be faithful to “the tradition” (a “handing on”) from Paul and other authors of the Word, by which he emphasizes both the inspiration and the authority of his teachings.  We learn (in vv. 11, 12) the specific nature of the insubordination in this instance.  Some were refusing to work; in their idleness, apparently, they were not only interrupting the work of others but also expecting their industrious brethren to provide for them.  That this may be the specific problem and the immediate cause for the call to separate does not preclude the very real fact (addressed elsewhere) that disobedience toward the Word resulting in disruptive behavior is cause for separation from believing brethren.

              Separation is intended to provoke a change in spirit and behavior that will result in restored blessing and fellowship.