¹⁷ If they still refuse to listen, tell it to the church;^(A) and if they refuse to listen even to the church, treat them as you would a pagan or a tax collector.^(B)

Warning Against Idleness

⁶ In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ,^(A) we command you, brothers and sisters, to keep away from^(B) every believer who is idle and disruptive^(C) and does not live according to the teaching^[a] you received from us.^(D)

¹⁴ Take special note of anyone who does not obey our instruction in this letter. Do not associate with them,^(A) in order that they may feel ashamed.^{(B) 15} Yet do not regard them as an enemy, but warn them as you would a fellow believer.^(C)

⁹ I wrote to you in my letter not to associate^(A) with sexually immoral people— ¹⁰ not at all meaning the people of this world^(B) who are immoral, or the greedy and swindlers, or idolaters. In that case you would have to leave this world. ¹¹ But now I am writing to you that you must not associate with anyone who claims to be a brother or sister^[a](C) but is sexually immoral or greedy, an idolater^(D) or slanderer, a drunkard or swindler. Do not even eat with such people.^(E)

¹² What business is it of mine to judge those outside^(F) the church? Are you not to judge those inside?^{(G) 13} God will judge those outside. “Expel the wicked person from among you.”^[b](H)

Lawsuits Among Believers

6 If any of you has a dispute with another, do you dare to take it before the ungodly for judgment instead of before the Lord’s people?^{(I) 2} Or do you not know that the Lord’s people will judge the world?^(J) And if you are to judge the world, are you not competent to judge trivial cases? ³ Do you not know that we will judge angels? How much more the things of this life! ⁴ Therefore, if you have disputes about such matters, do you ask for a ruling from those whose way of life is scorned in the church? ⁵ I say this to shame you.^(K) Is it possible that there is nobody among you wise enough to judge a dispute between believers?^{(L) 6} But instead, one brother^(M) takes another to court—and this in front of unbelievers!^(N)

⁷ The very fact that you have lawsuits among you means you have been completely defeated already. Why not rather be wronged? Why not rather be cheated?^(O)

³ For my part, even though I am not physically present, I am with you in spirit.^(A) As one who is present with you in this way, I have already passed judgment in the name of our Lord Jesus^(B) on the one who has been doing this. ⁴ So when you are assembled and I am with you in spirit, and the power of our Lord Jesus is present, ⁵ hand this man over^(C) to Satan^(D) for the destruction of the flesh,^[a][b] so that his spirit may be saved on the day of the Lord.^(E)

⁹ I wrote to the church, but Diotrephes, who loves to be first, will not welcome us. ¹⁰ So when I come,^(A) I will call attention to what he is doing, spreading malicious nonsense about us. Not satisfied with that, he even refuses to welcome other believers.^(B) He also stops those who want to do so and puts them out of the church.^(C)

¹¹ Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness,^(A) but rather expose them. ¹² It is shameful even to mention what the disobedient do in secret.

¹⁷ I urge you, brothers and sisters, to watch out for those who cause divisions and put obstacles in your way that are contrary to the teaching you have learned.^(A) Keep away from them.^{(B) 18} For such people are not serving our Lord Christ,^(C) but their own appetites.^(D) By smooth talk and flattery they deceive^(E) the minds of naive people.

¹² And you will know that I am the Lord,^(A) for you have not followed my decrees^(B) or kept my laws but have conformed to the standards of the nations around you.^(C)”