The Assembly 9 – Church Discipline
"Moreover if your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault between you and him alone. If he hears you, you have gained your brother. But if he will not hear, take with you one or two more, that ‘by the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.’ And if he refuses to hear them, tell it to the church. But if he refuses even to hear the church, let him be to you like a heathen and a tax collector." (Mt 18:15-17)
It may be useful to point out that the New Testament speaks of at least ten forms of discipline, all of which we should consider in the light of Scripture. We should generally consider the first nine before we consider the tenth. Discipline can be paternal, fraternal, or congregational, preventive and corrective, or a necessary action to put away the wicked because all other forms of discipline would not be sufficient, and only the Lord can bring about restorationWhen a believer turns away from God, He works on them so that they turn back to God through repentance and confession. Then, the believer can once again honor God... More. Every form of discipline has the goal of bringing about correction, realignment, or restorationWhen a believer turns away from God, He works on them so that they turn back to God through repentance and confession. Then, the believer can once again honor God... More. We should always be aware of this.
- Fatherly discipline (1 Tim. 5:1, 2; cf. 2 Tim. 4:2 and Heb. 12:10);
- Brotherly discipline (Mt 18:15-17);
- Corrective discipline for disorder (1 Thes 5:14);
- Discipline by withdrawing from disorder (2 Thes 3:6);
- Discipline by avoiding (Rom 16:17);
- Public discipline by reproof (1 Tim 5:20; cf. Gal 2:14);
- Discipline by marking/noting (2 Thes 3:14);
- Discipline by rejecting a sectarian (Tit 3:10)
- Discipline by the requirement to keep silent (Tit 1:10, 11; cf. 1 Tim 1:3);
- Discipline by exclusion/putting out (1 Cor 5:12, 13)
A slightly different classification of the types of discipline is as follows:
- Personal discipline
- Rebuke of a disorderly person (1 Thes 5:14)
- Brotherly discipline (Mt 18:15-17; Eph 5:11; 2 Tim 4:2; Tit 1:9, 13; Jude 22)
- Fatherly discipline (Gal 6:1-3) - Rebuke in the assemblyThe literal meaning is “called out”: • called out of "the darkness" (1. Pet 2:9)—this refers to the area where there is a lack of light about God Himself, His... More
- Noting/marking of a disorderly person (2 Thes 3:14,15)
- Rebuking those who have sinned (1 Tim 5:20). - Imposing silence (1 Tim 1:3; Tit 1:11)
- Dealing with sectarians
- Avoiding (Rom 16:17, 18; 2 Tim 2:21; 3:5)
- Rejecting (Tit 3:10, 11) - Discipline through the assemblyThe literal meaning is “called out”: • called out of "the darkness" (1. Pet 2:9)—this refers to the area where there is a lack of light about God Himself, His... More à putting out (Mt 18:17, 18; 1 Cor 5:1-13)
