And others; those that are further gone, not so easily reducible, and in great danger. Save; i.e. labour to save them, as instruments under God. With fear; by more severe courses, sharper reprehensions, setting before them God's judgments against obstinate sinners, 1 Corinthians 5:5. Pulling them out of the fire: it is a proverbial speech, Malachi 3:2: the sense is, that as they that are in the fire, and like to be destroyed by it, must not be gently exhorted to come out of it of themselves, but speedily and forcibly pulled out, in consideration of their eminent danger; so they that are more stubborn sinners, being in apparent danger of being destroyed by the fire of their lusts, and being as it were in the mouth of hell, must be more harshly and severely dealt with, by setting the Lord's terrors before them, 2 Corinthians 5:11, and inflicting church censures on them. Hating even the garment spotted by the flesh: it is an allusion to that ceremonial law, Leviticus 15:4,17, where he that touched a defiled garment was himself defiled. The sense is, either:
1. That where there is danger of infection from heretics and obstinate sinners, all converse with them, and any thing whereby the contagion of their doctrine or manners may reach us, is to be avoided: or:
2. That when we reprehend others, we should do it with suitable affections, and though we would save themselves, we should hate their vices, and any thing that promotes them or savours of them.