(2) if that fails, it la to be followed by formal reproof in th« presence of witneseea ; (8) in case he atill refuses to repair the wrong, the matter is to be reported to the Church, by whom the offender shall be excommunicated, ' be to thee as the GentiU and the publican ' (Mt IS^*-''''). The object of the punishment is always refonnatory and not retributory. This is tne case even with the most severe sentences (1 Co 6^, 1 Ti 120). Their purpose is not destruction, but rept^ntance, and repentance is followed by forgiveness on the part of the injured conummity (2 Co 2'^iO, Gal 01, Jvide 22. 23). During the tune that the ban of the ccm- munity is upon him the offender ia not t^ be regarded as an enemy, but pitied as an erring brother (2 Th 3^^).
Under the four heads of teaching, administratioii of funds, direction, and discipline, we have sum- marized the work to be done in the government of the community. Now the question arises, In whose hands did this work he? The problem here is wider than that of the right to take part in the public worship. There the ri^ht of speech was limited only by the nature and degree of th« 'gift* received by the individual. All did not possess the higher gifts (1 Co 12^-") of prophecy and teaching, or even the lower gift of tongues {lb. **). Some there were who, without being unbelievers, did not possess the special gifts which fitted a man to tatce part in the services (the ' unlearned ' of 14"^- -*, cf. ib. ^^ Ja 1°). He who had not a *gift* of speaking (I P 4*<''") was not called upon to speak. In a case, then, where the number of those qualified to take part in the service was so indefinite, we cannot press th *each one' of 1 Co 14^ to mean 'every one. There were other gifts of ministration (see Ro I2«ff-, 1 Co 12*'ff-, and cf. 1 Co 7^) besides those of the word ; every Christian had received his gift according to the will of the Giver (1 Co 12^, Eph 4"^), and each exercised it in its appropriate sphere. But though the number of those quali- fied to speak in the services was limited, the limit was quite indefinite as far as human recognition was concerned. How far was this so in regard to teaching and general administration ?
At the head of all stand the apostles. This term is not confined to the Twelve. The two are expressly distinguished in 1 Co 15* *then to the twelve,' ib.'' * then to all the apostles,' and others besides the Twelve are called apostles (Ro 16^ 1 Co 9^-^, Gal V^). The conditions of apostleship were to have ' seen the Lord ' and to have done mission- ary work (1 Co 9'-^). The superiority of the apostle's authority rested on this personal contact with Christ (cf. Ac 1^*), and for this reason he was of higher rank tlian the prophet. He received his authority from the Lord (2 Co W IZ^% Hia teaching was irrefutable because it came to him from the Lord (1 Co U^, Gal P^). The apostles then occupied the first rank in the Church (1 Co 12^, Eph 4*'). There was no branch of government in which they had not the supreme right to com- mand. In teaching their doctrine is the norm of truth (Gal 1®-^). Ihey lay down directions in all matters affecting the religious and social life of the community : they pronounce punishments (1 Co 6"), and forgive * in tne person of Christ ' (2 Co 2^).
Next to the apostles come the propfwJs, who constitute the second order in the Church (1 Co 12'^, Eph 4"). We find them, like the apostles, claiming and exercising an authority in every department of church airection, e.g. teaching (Ac 15% 1 Co 14^'", cf. Didache U), general direction (Ac S^ 9>'*'^' 13»^-, 1 Ti 1" 4". cf. Ignatius, ctd Phifnd. 7; Didache 11).
These two classes of Church rulers (apostles, prophets) stand entirely al)ove all others in the pole possession of a divine revelation {axoK6.\v^Ls), Their command was more than human, because they spoke not of themselves, but as the direct mouthpieces of the Holy Ghost. To them have been revealed the mysteries of the gospel (cf. GaJ 1^2 < t^hg gospel . . . came to me throagh revelation
CHURCH
CHURCH
433
of Jesus Christ,' Eph 3' ' whicli, i.e. tlie my.-^tury of Christ . . . liath now been revealed unto his holy apostles and projihets in the Spirit,' cf. 1 Co i;5-). Actordin;,'ly, in -whatever department of the Church's government they issue their injunctions, they speak in the Spirit (^v irKi'^utn, i.e. under the power of the Spirit, Eph 3', Kev l'» 4'^ cf. Ac 21^). The Holy Ghost resided in every Christian as a power of supernatural strength ; but He resided in the apostles ami prophets as a revealer of God's will and ]iurpose. The words and actions of apostles and prophets are often spoken of as the words and avtiun.i of the Hoh/ Ghost Himself (e.g. Ac 13», cf.« 15=8 20=3- ■« 21", 1 "ri 4', cf. Ignatius, ad Philad. 7). They represent, therefore, the pure theocracy in the same way as the prophets of OT, and in tne same way their authority stood above all other as the direct rule of God. In the matter of government thev were the only possessors of what we should calf a supernatural gift, and there- fore in a pre-eminent degree had the right to rule. (The other supernatural gifts, e.g. tongues, inter-