Discipline

Concise Bible Dictionary:

The word occurs only in Job 36:10¹⁰He openeth also their ear to discipline, and commandeth that they return from iniquity. (Job 36:10), but the Hebrew word, musar, is found elsewhere, and is often translated “instruction,” and at times “chastening” and “correction.” In Job it is God opening men’s ears for instruction or discipline. In the New Testament the word παιδεύω is translated both “to instruct” and “to chasten,” showing that it is God’s care over His saints for blessing. See CHASTENING. There is also discipline in the church. If one be overtaken in a fault the spiritual are called upon to restore such a one (Gal. 6:1¹Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted. (Galatians 6:1)). If there is sin, it may call for a REBUKE before all (1 Tim. 5:20²⁰Them that sin rebuke before all, that others also may fear. (1 Timothy 5:20)). Some may need reproof (2 Tim. 4:2²Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. (2 Timothy 4:2)); and in other cases, as a last resort, discipline may call for “putting away.” See EXCOMMUNICATION. The end and purpose of all discipline is to restore the soul to communion with God and with His saints. Discipline should always be exercised in the “spirit of meekness,” each one considering himself lest he also be tempted (Gal. 6:1¹Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted. (Galatians 6:1)).

From Anstey’s Doctrinal Definitions:

Discipline means “to open the understanding through chastening” (Job 36:10¹⁰He openeth also their ear to discipline, and commandeth that they return from iniquity. (Job 36:10)). All discipline, if it comes from the hand of God, is good, for He is the source of all good. There are two classes:

• Character-building discipline.

• Corrective discipline.

Under the character-building category, discipline should be viewed as divine training in the school of God. There are at least three kinds of divine training—each beginning with the letter “P:”

1) Preparative Discipline

This has to do with God’s preparation of His servants for a specific work to which He will call them. Just as an athlete is prepared by training, God trains His people for the service to which He calls them. An example of this kind of divine training is seen in what Paul said to the Corinthians: “Blessed be God, even the Father of the Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies [compassions], and the God of all comfort [encouragement]; who comforteth [encourages] us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort [encourage] them which are in any trouble [tribulation] by the comfort [encouragement] wherewith we ourselves are comforted [encouraged] of God” (2 Cor. 1:3-6³Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort; ⁴Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God. ⁵For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also aboundeth by Christ. ⁶And whether we be afflicted, it is for your consolation and salvation, which is effectual in the enduring of the same sufferings which we also suffer: or whether we be comforted, it is for your consolation and salvation. (2 Corinthians 1:3‑6)). This shows that God places His people in certain difficult situations by which they learn of His compassion and comfort from practical experience. These experiences with the Lord soften our hearts (Job 23:16¹⁶For God maketh my heart soft, and the Almighty troubleth me: (Job 23:16)) and fill us with compassion for others, and we are more inclined to sympathize, comfort, and encourage those who are passing through trials. Thus, the experiences we pass through in life have a way of preparing us for a certain line of service in which the Lord is going to use us.

The Lord Jesus Christ underwent this kind of disciplinary training in His life and it has prepared Him (by the sufferings He experienced) to be our “faithful and merciful High Priest” (Heb. 2:17-18; 4:15; 5:8¹⁷Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people. ¹⁸For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succor them that are tempted. (Hebrews 2:17‑18)
¹⁵For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. (Hebrews 4:15)
⁸Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered; (Hebrews 5:8)).

2) Purgative Discipline

This is sometimes called “productive” discipline. It has to do with God’s work of removing character faults and traits in our personalities that are not Christ-like. There are character flaws in every Christian that hinder (more or less) the expression of Christ from being seen in them. These things are not positive sins, but rather are character traits in our personalities that we may not even be conscious of. Even though we may not be aware of these things in our character, God sees them (and our brethren often do too), and He undertakes to remove those flaws through His purgative discipline. He does it by using the trials and tribulations which touch our lives. These disciplines do not form Christ in us—which results from occupation with Him (2 Cor. 3:18¹⁸But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord. (2 Corinthians 3:18))—but they have a way of causing us to see ourselves more clearly, and thus we are led to judge ourselves. As these undesirable qualities are purged out of our personalities, Christ will be seen in us more distinctly.

We see this kind of discipline in Job’s life. He was “perfect and upright, and one that feared God, and eschewed evil” (Job 1:1¹There was a man in the land of Uz, whose name was Job; and that man was perfect and upright, and one that feared God, and eschewed evil. (Job 1:1)). It is clear from this that Job’s problem was not in his actions —he certainly wasn’t doing anything wrong outwardly in his life—it was his attitude that needed adjustment. He had an attitude of self-conceit which the Lord removed through the trials he experienced. The Lord used those trials that afflicted him as a purgative discipline. In the end, Job saw what the Lord was trying to show him, and he abhorred himself, and repented in dust and ashes (Job 42:6⁶Wherefore I abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes. (Job 42:6)). In passing judgment on himself, he was a better person for it. Thus, through this kind of discipline, God made a good man better! We may not think that attitudes are all that important, but God sees otherwise, and He will go to great lengths to correct a wrong spirit in His children, for He is “the Father of spirits” (Heb. 12:9⁹Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live? (Hebrews 12:9)).

Several figures are used in Scripture to denote this process of removing imperfections in our walk and ways. David said, “Thou winnowest my path” (Psa. 139:2-3²Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising, thou understandest my thought afar off. ³Thou compassest my path and my lying down, and art acquainted with all my ways. (Psalm 139:2‑3)). Winnowing is the process of removing the chaff from the wheat. Solomon said, “Take away the dross from the silver, and there shall come forth a vessel for the finer” (Prov. 25:4⁴Take away the dross from the silver, and there shall come forth a vessel for the finer. (Proverbs 25:4)). Dross is the impurities in precious metals which the silversmith removes through intense heat. Jeremiah said that the vintner removes the sludge from his wine by carefully empting it back and forth from “vessel unto vessel” (Jer. 48:11¹¹Moab hath been at ease from his youth, and he hath settled on his lees, and hath not been emptied from vessel to vessel, neither hath he gone into captivity: therefore his taste remained in him, and his scent is not changed. (Jeremiah 48:11)). The Lord said, “Every one bearing fruit, He (the Father) purges it, that it may bring forth more fruit” (John 15:1-2¹I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman. ²Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit. (John 15:1‑2)). This refers to the pruning process the husbandmen does to produce a greater yield of fruit from his vineyard. The writer of Hebrews, said, “We have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live? For they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure; but He for our profit, that we might be partakers of His holiness” (Heb. 12:9-10⁹Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live? ¹⁰For they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure; but he for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness. (Hebrews 12:9‑10)). This refers to the nurturing and admonition (Eph. 6:4⁴And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. (Ephesians 6:4)) that an earthly father gives to correct his children who have a wrong spirit, which the Lord does similarly with us.

3) Preventative Discipline

This kind of discipline has to do with what we gain from the difficult and trying things through which we pass in our lives that result in our preservation. Expressed dependence in prayer and walking humbly with the Lord are essential to be preserved in the path of faith. When we begin our Christian lives, there is usually not enough of this precious commodity in our lives, and we are liable to fall under an attack from the enemy of our souls. Knowing our state and our spiritual needs far better than we do, God in perfect wisdom allows certain trials and difficulties in our lives to exercise us, and if taken rightly, will work to preserve us in the path (Psa. 18:30³⁰As for God, his way is perfect: the word of the Lord is tried: he is a buckler to all those that trust in him. (Psalm 18:30); Rom. 8:28²⁸And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. (Romans 8:28)). These trials and difficulties have a way of keeping us in constant exercise, and cast on the Lord in humble dependence. The result is that we are preserved from getting careless and independent, which is a formula for falling from our steadfastness (2 Peter 3:18¹⁸But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen. (2 Peter 3:18)).

Paul mentioned this kind of discipline to the Corinthians. He said, “Lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure. For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me. And He said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for My strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me” (2 Cor. 12:7-9⁷And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure. ⁸For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me. ⁹And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. (2 Corinthians 12:7‑9)). This discipline was given to Paul to keep him humble and dependent, so that he wouldn’t get puffed up with pride and carried away with self-importance—which would surely lead to his downfall (Prov. 16:18¹⁸Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall. (Proverbs 16:18)). Thus, the Lord used this affliction as a preventative discipline to preserve Paul as a useful vessel in His service. If the Apostle Paul needed it, we certainly need it too.

4) Punitive Discipline

The fourth kind of discipline is of the corrective variety. It is discipline that the Lord appoints in a wayward Christian’s life on account of a course of sin that he or she is pursuing. It is sent from Him as a punitive thing and is designed to break the wayward Christian’s will, and thus correct and restore him. Though he was not a Christian, Jonah’s experience with the Lord is an example. This kind of discipline emanates from the heart of God in love (Heb. 12:6⁶For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. (Hebrews 12:6)). His love is such that He will not allow His wayward children to go on in a willful course of sin indefinitely. Cost what it will, He will bring back the backsliding Christian—but it may not be until his deathbed.

Paul referred to this kind of discipline when he said, “When we are judged, we are chastened [disciplined] of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world” (1 Cor. 11:32³²But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world. (1 Corinthians 11:32)). The judgment and chastening that Paul is referring to here is governmental. Some of the Corinthians had felt God’s hand in this punitive way—they were sick and some had been taken away in death (1 John 5:16¹⁶If any man see his brother sin a sin which is not unto death, he shall ask, and he shall give him life for them that sin not unto death. There is a sin unto death: I do not say that he shall pray for it. (1 John 5:16)). Elihu also reminded Job of this aspect of God’s discipline (Job 36:9-12⁹Then he showeth them their work, and their transgressions that they have exceeded. ¹⁰He openeth also their ear to discipline, and commandeth that they return from iniquity. ¹¹If they obey and serve him, they shall spend their days in prosperity, and their years in pleasures. ¹²But if they obey not, they shall perish by the sword, and they shall die without knowledge. (Job 36:9‑12)). This could come upon us via the hand of our brethren in an administrative action on the Lord’s behalf. Paul cast a couple of blasphemers out of the assembly in this way that they might be “taught by discipline not to blaspheme” (1 Tim. 1:20²⁰Of whom is Hymeneus and Alexander; whom I have delivered unto Satan, that they may learn not to blaspheme. (1 Timothy 1:20)).

When we are chastened in this way, there is a danger of “writing it off” as being some other kind of discipline, and we lose what the Lord is saying to us. J. N. Darby said, “I do not doubt that a large part of the sickness and trials of Christians are chastening sent by God on account of things that are evil in His sight, which the conscience ought to have paid heed to, but which it neglected. God has been forced to produce in us the effect which self-judgment ought to have produced before Him. It would, however, not be true to suppose that all afflictions are such. Though they are so sometimes, they are not always sent because of sin” (Collected Writings, vol. 16, p. 175).