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Results from: Answered Bible Questions, Answers, Unanswered Bible Questions, Notes Ordered by Verse | ||||||
Results | Verse | Author | ID# | |||
1 | biblical ex. of how to rebuke a brother | Matt 18:15 | DocTrinsograce | 156555 | ||
Dear Jeff, To the best of my knowledge there are two usages of the word rebuke in the New Testament. (Perhaps Brother Tim, who knows the Greek can confirm this.) They are fundamentally different. The first usage might be better translated as censure or even vituperation, since it means to charge someone (or something) to prompt silence. It is found in verses like: Matthew 8:26 (our Lord rebuking the wind and sea); Matthew 16:22 and Mark 8:32 (Peter's rebuke of Jesus); Luke 4:39 (our Lord rebuking a fever); Luke 19:39 (Pharisees asking Jesus to rebuke His disciples); 1 Timothy 5:1 (Paul commanding Timothy to not rebuke an elder); Jude 9 (Michael imprecating Satan); etc. The second usage has to do with bringing conviction or admonishing with the intent of correction. It is found in verses like: 1 Timothy 5:20 (Paul commanding Timothy to admonish a sinning believer); Titus 1:13; 2:15 (Paul commanding Titus to admonish the Cretians and others to sound doctrine); Hebrews 12:5 and Revelation 3:19 (our Lord admonishing the elect); etc. Although it is true that the first meaning of the word is more common, it is never associated with a believer. Furthermore, its use in association with the Lord Jesus Christ when dealing with men is always in the face of great error, sin, or the reprobate. Alternatively, the Lord is said to rebuke in the second sense when it comes to chastening and correcting His own. Since the person asking this question used the phrase "rebuke a BROTHER" (emphasis mine), I could only assume that this person was speaking of a relationship between Christians. God's goal for believers is to conform them into the image of Christ. When we are saved, we are drawn into the relationship of the church. We can easily demonstrate from the Word that we are to "build one another up in the body." Indeed, our objective must be the same as the Lord's. (Anything short of that is, after all, sin!) Consequently, every aspect of our relationship with fellow believers must be to help them to conform to the image of God. I hope I haven't answered too hastily and that you will see my post as entirely anodyne. I'm afraid, though, I have to conclude. When work isn't demanding my attention, my studies prevent me from spending as much time in the forum as I'd like. Tonight it's studies. In Him, Doc PS My interpretation of the passage in Galatians 6 would be in keeping with the spirit of this latter sense of the word rebuke. |
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2 | biblical ex. of how to rebuke a brother | Matt 18:15 | jlhetrick | 156581 | ||
Hi Doc, Thanks for the information on the usage of the word rebuke. It is helpful. Will you please respond to the following. Is Gal 6:1-2 referring to how to "rebuke" a brother (as the question asked) or how to "restore" a brother? I'm asking because it appears that these verses are referring to a brother who's guilt has been established as he has been "overtaken in fault" and he appears to be suffering and in need of restoration. now's question seemed to be asking how to deal with a brother who is in need of being held accountable (correct me if I'm wrong now). If this is the case, wouldn't Gal 6:1-2 only apply if that brother confesses and repents? If there is no acknowledgment on the part of the brother in need of rebuke (after he has been called into account), would not Matt 18:16 and then even possibly verse 17 be the biblical way of handling the rebuke? Jeff |
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3 | biblical ex. of how to rebuke a brother | Matt 18:15 | DocTrinsograce | 156617 | ||
Hi, Jeff... The original question was, in its entirety, "biblical ex. of how to rebuke a brother" (sic). I hadn't read into it as much as you have done. You are apparently referring to the subject of church discipline. There is much that could be discussed on this topic. The passage in Matthew 18 that you mention is about making every effort to restore a "strayed sheep" (see the verses leading to 16 and 17). The final step of church discipline, excommunication, breaks our heart. However, even that is done with hope for eventual restoration. It is God, after all, not us, who draws His own to Himself. The Scriptural principles behind church discipline are very well articulated in a paper by Kenneth Wuest: http://www.peacemakers.net/peace/resolving.htm I would commend its reading to anyone interested in the subject. In Him, Doc |
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4 | biblical ex. of how to rebuke a brother | Matt 18:15 | jlhetrick | 156620 | ||
Hi Doc, Thanks for the response. I don’t understand why you would believe that I have “read into†the apparently simple question of how to rebuke a brother. The question appears to be a straight forward one. I felt and do feel like my response/answer, a simple quote from scripture, was straight forward as well. No reading into and no long-winded exposition of my interpretation of the verses. You basically did the exact same thing with your response #156500. My question back to you was, does the Gal 6:1-2 have more to do with the restoration of a brother, while Matt. 18:15-17 are more specifically talking about the rebuking of a brother. But you really haven’t answered the question clearly if at all. So I am continuing to attempt to get a clear understanding of this issue without reading into anything. So let’s work on it. You write in response to my post: “You are apparently referring to the subject of church discipline†To be clear, I was actually referring to the “rebuking†of a brother as I took the question from “now†at face value. I quoted from Matt. 18 because that is what Matt. 18 is referring to. If you study it carefully, you will see that the process of rebuking a brother, as spelled out clearly in these verses, may in fact eventually involve the larger church body if earlier steps are not successful. But before it becomes a matter of the church, it is an issue between two brothers and it is a matter of rebuking one brother. You wrote: “The passage in Matthew 18 that you mention is about making every effort to restore a "strayed sheep†I see your point here and I agree with you. The end goal of rebuking another Christian, is to achieve restoration of that brother. Perhaps this is what your “(sic)†reference to the original question from “now†is referring to. The fact that “now†did not include in his/her question the issue of restoring, but focused only on the issue of rebuke (I’m assuming here, I’m not really sure what the “sic†reference means). So I’m thinking that it may have been from your spirit of love that you did in fact read into “now’s†question and answer with scripture focused on restoration verses a simple quotation that focused on rebuke as I did. Working through this, it seems to me that I am correct in offering the quote from Matt. as this scripture is a direct and specific response to the direct and specific question by “nowâ€. But had I read into the question, I would have been more alert to redirect “now’s†thinking to include the need for restoration after the rebuke has succeeded in effecting confession and repentance. In that case I might have been more diligent in following up with additional scripture to include what to do after/if the rebuking process is successful. In conclusion, “nowâ€, if you are still following along, take the instruction of scripture as I offered in Matt. 18. If the bother acknowledges his sin and repents, follow through with the instruction of scripture in Gal 6 as Doc offered. Hope this is helpful to all following, Jeff |
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