What does 2 Thessalonians 3:14 mean?

Paul instructs the Thessalonian church about how it should treat an unrepentant idle member. He refers to that person as someone who does not obey what he has written in 2 Thessalonians. Because the content of that letter was inspired by the Holy Spirit (2 Timothy 3:16), it carried full authority. Paul commands the faithful believers to clearly identify a disobedient, idle person, and withhold social contact from him until he repented and quit being idle. This seems to imply a less-severe form of rejection than what Paul prescribed for profound sin in 1 Corinthians 5.

Christians are called to fellowship with each other (Hebrews 10:25), not ostracism. Disconnection from other believers is not meant to be taken lightly. As in all such instructions in the New Testament, the purpose of social separation is to spur the offender to repentance. This starts with a sense of shame. The disciplinary action was intended to be remedial—seeking healing—not punitive—seeking to inflict pain. Parallel to this idea, Paul outlined the course of action spiritual Christians should take when a brother is caught in a transgression. The pattern is to "restore him in a spirit of gentleness," while keeping watch on themselves so they would not be tempted (Galatians 6:1). This need for compassion is also reflected in the next verse.