Church discipline

Church discipline is the correction of members of a church who persist in sin. It proceeds by steps, from confronting the sin to removal from fellowship, with restoration after repentance.

Steps for confronting sin

• Matthew 18:15-17
  ¹⁵Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother.If your brother sins against you, go and confront him privately. If he listens to you, you have won your brother over. ¹⁶But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.But if he will not listen, take one or two others along, so that ‘every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.’ ¹⁷And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church: but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a publican.If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church. And if he refuses to listen even to the church, regard him as you would a pagan or a tax collector.
  Show context · Read Matthew 18 →
• Matthew 18:18
  Verily I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.Truly I tell you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.
  Show context · Read Matthew 18 →

Removal from fellowship

• 1 Corinthians 5:1-5
  ¹It is reported commonly that there is fornication among you, and such fornication as is not so much as named among the Gentiles, that one should have his father’s wife.It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you, and of a kind that is intolerable even among pagans: A man has his father’s wife. ²And ye are puffed up, and have not rather mourned, that he that hath done this deed might be taken away from among you.And you are proud! Shouldn’t you rather have been stricken with grief and have removed from your fellowship the man who did this? ³For I verily, as absent in body, but present in spirit, have judged already, as though I were present, concerning him that hath so done this deed,Although I am absent from you in body, I am present with you in spirit, and I have already pronounced judgment on the one who did this, just as if I were present. ⁴In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, when ye are gathered together, and my spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ,When you are assembled in the name of our Lord Jesus and I am with you in spirit, along with the power of the Lord Jesus, ⁵To deliver such an one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.hand this man over to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, so that his spirit may be saved on the Day of the Lord.
  Show context · Read 1 Corinthians 5 →
• 1 Corinthians 5:11-13
  ¹¹But now I have written unto you not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such an one no not to eat.But now I am writing you not to associate with anyone who claims to be a brother but is sexually immoral or greedy, an idolater or a verbal abuser, a drunkard or a swindler. With such a man do not even eat. ¹²For what have I to do to judge them also that are without? do not ye judge them that are within?What business of mine is it to judge those outside the church? Are you not to judge those inside? ¹³But them that are without God judgeth. Therefore put away from among yourselves that wicked person.God will judge those outside. “Expel the wicked man from among you.”
  Show context · Read 1 Corinthians 5 →
• 2 Thessalonians 3:6
  Now we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye withdraw yourselves from every brother that walketh disorderly, and not after the tradition which he received of us.Now we command you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, to keep away from any brother who leads an undisciplined life that is not in keeping with the tradition you received from us.
  Show context · Read 2 Thessalonians 3 →
• 2 Thessalonians 3:14-15
  ¹⁴And if any man obey not our word by this epistle, note that man, and have no company with him, that he may be ashamed.Take note of anyone who does not obey the instructions we have given in this letter. Do not associate with him, so that he may be ashamed. ¹⁵Yet count him not as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother.Yet do not regard him as an enemy, but warn him as a brother.
  Show context · Read 2 Thessalonians 3 →
• Titus 3:10-11
  ¹⁰A man that is an heretick after the first and second admonition reject;Reject a divisive man after a first and second admonition, ¹¹Knowing that he that is such is subverted, and sinneth, being condemned of himself.knowing that such a man is corrupt and sinful; he is self-condemned.
  Show context · Read Titus 3 →

Restoration

• Galatians 6:1
  Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted.Brothers, if someone is caught in a trespass, you who are spiritual should restore him with a spirit of gentleness. But watch yourself, or you also may be tempted.
  Show context · Read Galatians 6 →
• 2 Corinthians 2:6-8
  ⁶Sufficient to such a man is this punishment, which was inflicted of many.The punishment imposed on him by the majority is sufficient for him. ⁷So that contrariwise ye ought rather to forgive him, and comfort him, lest perhaps such a one should be swallowed up with overmuch sorrow.So instead, you ought to forgive and comfort him, so that he will not be overwhelmed by excessive sorrow. ⁸Wherefore I beseech you that ye would confirm your love toward him.Therefore I urge you to reaffirm your love for him.
  Show context · Read 2 Corinthians 2 →
• James 5:19-20
  ¹⁹Brethren, if any of you do err from the truth, and one convert him;My brothers, if one of you should wander from the truth and someone should bring him back, ²⁰Let him know, that he which converteth the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins.consider this: Whoever turns a sinner from the error of his way will save his soul from death and cover over a multitude of sins.
  Show context · Read James 5 →

Accusations against elders

• 1 Timothy 5:19-20
  ¹⁹Against an elder receive not an accusation, but before two or three witnesses.Do not entertain an accusation against an elder, except on the testimony of two or three witnesses. ²⁰Them that sin rebuke before all, that others also may fear.But those who persist in sin should be rebuked in front of everyone, so that the others will stand in fear of sin.
  Show context · Read 1 Timothy 5 →

God disciplines his children

• Hebrews 12:6-11
  ⁶For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.For the Lord disciplines the one He loves, and He chastises every son He receives.” ⁷If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not?Endure suffering as discipline; God is treating you as sons. For what son is not disciplined by his father? ⁸But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons.If you do not experience discipline like everyone else, then you are illegitimate children and not true sons. ⁹Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live?Furthermore, we have all had earthly fathers who disciplined us, and we respected them. Should we not much more submit to the Father of our spirits and live? ¹⁰For they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure; but he for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness.Our fathers disciplined us for a short time as they thought best, but God disciplines us for our good, so that we may share in His holiness. ¹¹Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby.No discipline seems enjoyable at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it yields a harvest of righteousness and peace to those who have been trained by it.
  Show context · Read Hebrews 12 →

See also

• Church
• Repentance
• Forgiveness
• Elders
• False teachers

Notes

1. Verses are quoted in the translation chosen in the Translation menu at the top of the page. See Translations for sources and copyright notices.
2. Each reference links to the full chapter so the verse can be read in context.