Brothers and sisters, we command you in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ to keep away from every believer who’s lazy and disruptive and who doesn’t follow the teaching you received from us.
I warn you, brothers and sisters, to watch out for those who cause divisions and who trip you up by teaching you things that are the opposite of what you’ve learned. Stay away from them,
And we urge you, brothers and sisters, to warn certain people who don’t want to work and who are being disruptive. Encourage those who have lost hope, help those who are weak, and be patient with everyone.
Now I want to talk about some other matters, brothers and sisters. We taught you how to live in a way that pleases God, and that’s how you’re living. But in the name of the Lord Jesus, we ask you and urge you to do that more and more.
So let me tell you—and I’m speaking for the Lord as I warn you: You must not live the way the Gentiles do any longer. They’re not able to think things through correctly.
If they still refuse to listen, then tell it to the community of believers. And if they refuse to listen even to the community, then treat them the way you would treat an unbeliever or a traitor.
In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead, and because he and his kingdom are coming, I’m giving you these instructions:
It causes trouble all the time between people whose minds are twisted by sin. They once knew the truth, but it has been taken away from them. They think they can get rich by being godly.
But now, anyone you forgive, I also forgive. And what I’ve forgiven—whatever there is to forgive—I’ve forgiven for your sakes, knowing that Christ is watching.
I command you in the sight of God and Christ Jesus and the chosen angels to follow these instructions. Treat everyone the same and don’t favor one person over another.