Sufficient to such a man is this punishment, which was inflicted of many.
The censure laid upon the offender by the great body of the believers was enough once he had given evidence of true repentance. With that repentance shown, the congregation was to pardon him and take him back into its fellowship with affection and tenderness. That act of forgiveness was to be ratified by apostolic approval as performed in the place of Christ. In this way the right of the church to lift discipline and reinstate a penitent member is established.
The censure laid upon the offender by the great body of the believers was enough once he had given evidence of true repentance. With that repentance shown, the congregation was to pardon him and take him back into its fellowship with affection and tenderness. That act of forgiveness was to be ratified by apostolic approval as performed in the place of Christ. In this way the right of the church to lift discipline and reinstate a penitent member is established.