Ryan

Ha…too many mom’s out there.  😉

I agree with Paula and Don… first that the apostles were special in their commission because it was given them directly from Jesus and also because they were given the revelation of God… and also that Paul had a special place in these churches because he helped start them and also suffered much for Jesus’ name’s sake and the gospel.  However, despite the fact that the authority is based on the Word of God and does not come from onesself, it still does seem that there are times when Paul suggests that he would exercise an authority over believers which extended beyond just trying his best to convince them to do what is right.  And in fact, in 2 Corinthians, he was exhorting people in this church to carry out their responsibility to discipline (against the will of the person being disciplined), so this kind of authority does not belong to Paul alone.  We have to remember that we are talking about professing believers, and not those outside the church (don’t profess to follow Christ).  According to 1 Cor 5:12, we as the church have both the right and responsibility to judge professing believers. It is an authority which comes from God’s Word, but it has been delegated to those who shepherd God’s flock.

In John 20:23, it would seem that Jesus (to whom belongs all authority) has also given believers the authority to forgive and to not forgive.  This did not belong to the apostles alone because Paul said that the Corinthians also had this authority in discipline (2 Cor 2:10).

Interested in hearing all your thoughts on this.