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"This punishment which was inflicted by the majority..."

Text: 2 Corinthians 2:6

DISCIPLINE IN THE EARLY CHURCH

How was church discipline exercised in the first century? Our reading of the Book of Acts and the Epistles would give us a fairly accurate idea of how it was done.

1. The authority of the Apostles

a) It was the Lord Jesus who gave to Peter the keys of the kingdom (Matthew 16:19).

b) The keys represent the authority and the power of the Lord.

2. Exercise of authority

a) The Apostles had the authority to exercise discipline in the church.

i) Ananias and Sapphira were struck dead because they had lied to the Holy Spirit.

ii) The power to destroy did not, of course lie with Peter, but with the Lord.

iii) Peter’s power was therefore declarative but still effective.

b) The Apostles also had the authority to write to address problems in the church.

i) Paul addressed many problems in the Corinthian church authoritatively.

ii) Where there was a need he could also exercise “excommunication”.

iii) The church member was to be delivered to Satan (1 Corinthians 5:5).

3. Exercise of punishment by the church

Paul wrote about this in this text. We have a further glimpse of how this was done.

“This punishment which was inflicted by the majority
is sufficient for such a man.”
2 Corinthians 2:6

a) “This punishment”

i) The problem must have first come to the attention of the Apostle Paul.

ii) In 1 Corinthians, Paul wrote strongly against wrong-doers.

iii) Though Paul was not present at Corinth nevertheless he pronounced judgment.

iv) The church carried out the punishment meted out.

b) “Inflicted by the majority”

i) The church must have met.

ii) The majority of the church members decided that discipline had to be maintained.

c) The erring believer was dealt with.

d) Paul then went on to call a halt to the punishment meted out.

i) The sinful man had been duly punished.

ii) The punishment was deemed “sufficient”.