And if any man obeyeth not our word by this epistle, note that man, that ye have no company with him, to the end that he may be ashamed.
And if any man obey not our word,.... Of command, to work quietly, and eat his own bread, now signified "by this epistle", particularly in Th2 3:12, note that man; some read this clause in connection with the preceding phrase, "by this epistle", or by an epistle; and so the Ethiopic version, "show", or "signify him by an epistle"; that is, give us notice of...
Verse 14. And if any man obey not our word by this epistle, Marg., or signify that man by an epistle. According to the marginal reading this would mean, "signify, mark out, or designate that man to me by an epistle." The difference is merely whether we unite the words "by the epistle" with what goes before, or what follows. The Greek would admit of either construction, (Winer, p.
14 If any one obeys not. He has already declared previously, that he commands nothing but from the Lord. Hence the man, that would not obey, would not be contumacious against a mere man, but would be rebellious against God himself; “Ce n’eust point contre vn homme mortel qu’il eust addresse son opiniastre et rebellion;” — “It would not have been against a mortal man...