Of Church Censures
Westminster Confession of Faith · 30.1–30.4
30.1. Of Church Censures
The Lord Jesus, as King and Head of His Church, hath therein appointed a government, in the hand of Church officers, distinct from the civil magistrate.
Proof texts
- Isa. 9:6, 7 — [6] For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. [7] Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end, on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time forth and forevermore. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will do this.
- 1 Tim. 5:17 — [17] Let the elders who rule well be considered worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in preaching and teaching.
- 1 Thess. 5:12 — [12] We ask you, brothers, to respect those who labor among you and are over you in the Lord and admonish you,
- Acts 20:17, 28 — [17] Now from Miletus he sent to Ephesus and called the elders of the church to come to him. [28] Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the church of God, which he obtained with his own blood.
- Heb. 13:7, 17, 24 — [7] Remember your leaders, those who spoke to you the word of God. Consider the outcome of their way of life, and imitate their faith. [17] Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls, as those who will have to give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with groaning, for that would be of no advantage to you. [24] Greet all your leaders and all the saints. Those who come from Italy send you greetings.
- 1 Cor. 12:28 — [28] And God has appointed in the church first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing, helping, administrating, and various kinds of tongues.
- Matt. 28:18, 19, 20 — [18] And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. [19] Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, [20] teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
For discussion
- The Assembly cited Isa. 9:6, 7 in support of this answer. Read it in context — how does it bear on what is claimed here?
- 7 passages are cited here. Which does the most work, and is anything claimed that the proofs do not obviously carry?
- HC Q83 treats the same ground. What does it add, and why might it put things differently?
- HC Q84 treats the same ground. What does it add, and why might it put things differently?
Read alongside
HC Q83 · HC Q84 · HC Q85 · BC 7.4 · BC 7.5 · BC 7.6 · SC60 6.1 · SC60 6.2 · SC60 6.3 · SC60 6.4 · SC60 6.5 · IAR 7.1 · SHC 6.1 · SHC 6.2
Leader's notes
A Commentary on the Confession of Faith (A.A. Hodge): this Section teaches — 1st. That our Lord Jesus Christ, as meditatorial King, has appointed a government for his Church ; and, 2d. That this church government is distinct in all respects from the civil government. 1st. Christ the God-man, as mediatorial King, by his inspired apostles and their writings, appointed a government for his Church, and by his providence and Spirit he continues graciously to administer it to the end of time. Hence the Church is a theocratic kingdom. All authority and power descends, and does not ascend. Pastors and elders teach and rule in the name of God, and not of man. It is the commission of Christ, and not of the Churchy that the minister carries with…
An Exposition of the Confession of Faith (Robert Shaw): To suppose, as some have done, that the government of the Church is ambulatory, or that no particular form has been appointed by Christ, but that he has left it to be moulded according to the wisdom or caprice of men, and varied according to the external circumstances of the Church, is to impeach the love of Christ to his Church, and his fidelity to Him who hath appointed him to " reign over the house of Jacob." No human society can subsist without government; how absurd, then, to suppose that the Church of Christ, the most perfect of all societies, has been left by her king destitute of what is essential to the very being of society ! Under…
30.2. Of Church Censures
To these officers the keys of the kingdom of heaven are committed: by virtue whereof, they have power respectively to retain, and remit sins; to shut that kingdom against the impenitent, both by the Word and censures; and to open it unto penitent sinners, by the ministry of the Gospel, and by absolution from censures, as occasion shall require.
Proof texts
- Matt. 16:19 — [19] I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.”
- Matt. 18:17, 18 — [17] If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church. And if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector. [18] Truly, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.
- John 20:21, 22, 23 — [21] Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you.” [22] And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. [23] If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you withhold forgiveness from any, it is withheld.”
- 2 Cor. 2:6, 7, 8 — [6] For such a one, this punishment by the majority is enough, [7] so you should rather turn to forgive and comfort him, or he may be overwhelmed by excessive sorrow. [8] So I beg you to reaffirm your love for him.
For discussion
- The Assembly cited Matt. 16:19 in support of this answer. Read it in context — how does it bear on what is claimed here?
- 4 passages are cited here. Which does the most work, and is anything claimed that the proofs do not obviously carry?
- HC Q83 treats the same ground. What does it add, and why might it put things differently?
- HC Q84 treats the same ground. What does it add, and why might it put things differently?
Read alongside
HC Q83 · HC Q84 · HC Q85 · BC 7.4 · BC 7.5 · BC 7.6 · SC60 6.1 · SC60 6.2 · SC60 6.3 · SC60 6.4 · SC60 6.5 · IAR 7.1 · SHC 6.1 · SHC 6.2
Leader's notes
A Commentary on the Confession of Faith (A.A. Hodge): These Sections teach — 1st. As to the nature and extent of the power conferred upon the Church of admitting and excluding from the fold, and of disciplining its members. 2d. As to the ends of this discipline. 3d. As to the methods through which it should be administered. All Church power must be exercised in an orderly manner through the officers spoken of above, freely chosen for this purpose by the brethren ; and it relates— " 1. To matters of doctrine. She has a right to set forth a public declaration of the truths which she believes, and which are to be acknowledged by dll who enter her communion. That is, she has a right to frame creeds…
An Exposition of the Confession of Faith (Robert Shaw): In opposition to the Erastians, who assign the power of inflicting the censures of the Church to the civil magistrate, our Confession here affirms, that the keys of the kingdom of heaven are committed to the officers whom Christ has appointed in his Church. " I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven," said Christ to Peter, " and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven." — Matt. xvi. 19. By " the keys of the kingdom of heaven," we are to understand the power and authority of exercising government and discipline in the Church; in virtue of which, those…
30.3. Of Church Censures
Church censures are necessary, for the reclaiming and gaining of offending brethren, for deterring of others from the like offences, for purging out of that leaven which might infect the whole lump, for vindicating the honour of Christ, and the holy profession of the Gospel, and for preventing the wrath of God, which might justly fall upon the Church, if they should suffer His covenant and the seals thereof to be profaned by notorious and obstinate offenders.
Proof texts
- 1 Cor. 5 chap.
- 1 Tim. 5:20 — [20] As for those who persist in sin, rebuke them in the presence of all, so that the rest may stand in fear.
- Matt. 7:6 — [6] “Do not give dogs what is holy, and do not throw your pearls before pigs, lest they trample them underfoot and turn to attack you.
- 1 Tim. 1:20 — [20] among whom are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I have handed over to Satan that they may learn not to blaspheme.
- 1 Cor. 11:27 to the end, with Jude 23
For discussion
- The Assembly cited 1 Cor. 5 chap. in support of this answer. Read it in context — how does it bear on what is claimed here?
- 5 passages are cited here. Which does the most work, and is anything claimed that the proofs do not obviously carry?
- HC Q83 treats the same ground. What does it add, and why might it put things differently?
- HC Q84 treats the same ground. What does it add, and why might it put things differently?
Read alongside
HC Q83 · HC Q84 · HC Q85 · BC 7.4 · BC 7.5 · BC 7.6 · SC60 6.1 · SC60 6.2 · SC60 6.3 · SC60 6.4 · SC60 6.5 · IAR 7.1 · SHC 6.1 · SHC 6.2
Leader's notes
A Commentary on the Confession of Faith (A.A. Hodge): These Sections teach — 1st. As to the nature and extent of the power conferred upon the Church of admitting and excluding from the fold, and of disciplining its members. 2d. As to the ends of this discipline. 3d. As to the methods through which it should be administered. All Church power must be exercised in an orderly manner through the officers spoken of above, freely chosen for this purpose by the brethren ; and it relates— " 1. To matters of doctrine. She has a right to set forth a public declaration of the truths which she believes, and which are to be acknowledged by dll who enter her communion. That is, she has a right to frame creeds…
An Exposition of the Confession of Faith (Robert Shaw): In opposition to the Erastians, who assign the power of inflicting the censures of the Church to the civil magistrate, our Confession here affirms, that the keys of the kingdom of heaven are committed to the officers whom Christ has appointed in his Church. " I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven," said Christ to Peter, " and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven." — Matt. xvi. 19. By " the keys of the kingdom of heaven," we are to understand the power and authority of exercising government and discipline in the Church; in virtue of which, those…
30.4. Of Church Censures
For the better attaining of these ends, the officers of the Church are to proceed by admonition; suspension from the sacrament of the Lord’s Supper for a season; and by excommunication from the Church; according to the nature of the crime, and demerit of the person.
Proof texts
- 1 Thess. 5:12 — [12] We ask you, brothers, to respect those who labor among you and are over you in the Lord and admonish you,
- 2 Thess. 3:6, 14, 15 — [6] Now we command you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you keep away from any brother who is walking in idleness and not in accord with the tradition that you received from us. [14] If anyone does not obey what we say in this letter, take note of that person, and have nothing to do with him, that he may be ashamed. [15] Do not regard him as an enemy, but warn him as a brother.
- 1 Cor. 5:4, 5, 13 — [4] When you are assembled in the name of the Lord Jesus and my spirit is present, with the power of our Lord Jesus, [5] you are to deliver this man to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, so that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord. [13] God judges those outside. “Purge the evil person from among you.”
- Matt. 18:17 — [17] If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church. And if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector.
- Tit. 3:10
For discussion
- The Assembly cited 1 Thess. 5:12 in support of this answer. Read it in context — how does it bear on what is claimed here?
- 5 passages are cited here. Which does the most work, and is anything claimed that the proofs do not obviously carry?
- HC Q83 treats the same ground. What does it add, and why might it put things differently?
- HC Q84 treats the same ground. What does it add, and why might it put things differently?
Read alongside
HC Q83 · HC Q84 · HC Q85 · BC 7.4 · BC 7.5 · BC 7.6 · SC60 6.1 · SC60 6.2 · SC60 6.3 · SC60 6.4 · SC60 6.5 · IAR 7.1 · SHC 6.1 · SHC 6.2
Leader's notes
A Commentary on the Confession of Faith (A.A. Hodge): These Sections teach — 1st. As to the nature and extent of the power conferred upon the Church of admitting and excluding from the fold, and of disciplining its members. 2d. As to the ends of this discipline. 3d. As to the methods through which it should be administered. All Church power must be exercised in an orderly manner through the officers spoken of above, freely chosen for this purpose by the brethren ; and it relates— " 1. To matters of doctrine. She has a right to set forth a public declaration of the truths which she believes, and which are to be acknowledged by dll who enter her communion. That is, she has a right to frame creeds…
An Exposition of the Confession of Faith (Robert Shaw): In opposition to the Erastians, who assign the power of inflicting the censures of the Church to the civil magistrate, our Confession here affirms, that the keys of the kingdom of heaven are committed to the officers whom Christ has appointed in his Church. " I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven," said Christ to Peter, " and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven." — Matt. xvi. 19. By " the keys of the kingdom of heaven," we are to understand the power and authority of exercising government and discipline in the Church; in virtue of which, those…