On pp.115,116 of the Old Paths edition of Durham's commentary on Revelation (in the dissertation on church government and discipline in general) he has a list of arguments making out that church authority did far otherwise reach church members in spiritual things than in civil things. The backdrop is an objection that 1 Corinthians 6 shows that the church exercised, in that time, as much authority in civil things as in spiritual. Durham makes out in ten arguments that, on the contrary, the authority of the church in civil matters is much less than in spiritual matters.
In the second argument he speaks of the relationship of Matthew 18 and 1 Corinthians 6, to prosecute this purpose: and I am not sure I follow the argument Would someone explain to me what Durham is saying?
Durham's words are:
I see that 1 Corinthians 6 speaks of the church settling civil disputes among its members so our internal conflicts aren't exposed to infidels, and of bearing wrong if it can't be redressed within the church; I see that Revelation says that bearing wrong in church matters is not commendable; and so I see that there is a difference as to the extent of church authority in civil and ecclesiastical matters. And I see that Matthew 18 gives authority to proceed to the highest degree, which therefore is to be understood of ecclesiastical matters (because no bearing of wrong is required or commended). If that's the gist of it, I'll rest content to lose my way in the thicket of punctuation in regard to the details; but I'd like confirmation that I'm at least getting the substance. The main thing that makes me feel confused is the sentence beginning "As if".
Interestingly, in argument 3 that follows, Durham seems to imply that with regard to civil matters anyone could judge in the church, because it was by way of agreed-upon arbitrators, whereas in ecclesiastical matters it was officers who would judge.
In the second argument he speaks of the relationship of Matthew 18 and 1 Corinthians 6, to prosecute this purpose: and I am not sure I follow the argument Would someone explain to me what Durham is saying?
Durham's words are:
In that Chapter 1 Cor. 6.7, and 8. the Apostle reasoneth for submission to this; and exhorteth Christians, so wronged, to suffer the wrong rather than to pursue it before Infidels: which doth suppose, that the Church was not furnished with Authority to redress civil wrongs, as she was to redress scandals. And therefore, Matth. 18. our Lord giveth order to proceed, in case of non-satisfaction, to the highest degree. And on the by, we may say, it is an odd thing to expound that place of Matthew by this place of Paul. As if the Lord did only there warrant a man to pursue injuries before heathen Judges, when he would not submit to the advice of Church-members, seeing expressly Paul enjoineth them rather to suffer wrong, than to make the Gospel contemptible before Infidels by the contentions of Christians; which yet that exposition of Matth. 18. will approve of: which showeth that it must be understood to speak of Church-offences: in respect of which suffering and bearing with them, is condemnable, as we see in these Epistles.
I see that 1 Corinthians 6 speaks of the church settling civil disputes among its members so our internal conflicts aren't exposed to infidels, and of bearing wrong if it can't be redressed within the church; I see that Revelation says that bearing wrong in church matters is not commendable; and so I see that there is a difference as to the extent of church authority in civil and ecclesiastical matters. And I see that Matthew 18 gives authority to proceed to the highest degree, which therefore is to be understood of ecclesiastical matters (because no bearing of wrong is required or commended). If that's the gist of it, I'll rest content to lose my way in the thicket of punctuation in regard to the details; but I'd like confirmation that I'm at least getting the substance. The main thing that makes me feel confused is the sentence beginning "As if".
Interestingly, in argument 3 that follows, Durham seems to imply that with regard to civil matters anyone could judge in the church, because it was by way of agreed-upon arbitrators, whereas in ecclesiastical matters it was officers who would judge.
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