A presbyter who has been promoted after having committed carnal sin, and who shall confess that he had sinned before his ordination, shall not make the oblation, though he may remain in his other functions on account of his zeal in other respects; for the majority have affirmed that ordination blots out other kinds of sins. But if he do not confess and cannot be openly convicted, the decision shall depend upon himself.
It was possible that an elder confessed a sexual sin that occurred before his appointment to the current position. If so, he was no longer able to handle the bread and wine for the Lord's supper but continued in all other respects.
The clause concerning the blotting out of sin is most curious. Ordination has no biblical power to blot out sin. No work of man could, though perhaps this was an application of absolution mentioned in Matt 18:18-19 and John 20:23. Conversely, it was recognized that sexual sins were not removed though others could be. Possibly this might have been how the required blameless character (1 Tim 3:2; Tit 1:7) was addressed when the past sin came to light. The last sentence lends some light in that the sexual partner might have been able to bring charges. If she either did not or could not do so, the elder could just remain quiet and continue on faithfully in his duties without the confession.
It was possible that an elder confessed a sexual sin that occurred before his appointment to the current position. If so, he was no longer able to handle the bread and wine for the Lord's supper but continued in all other respects.
The clause concerning the blotting out of sin is most curious. Ordination has no biblical power to blot out sin. No work of man could, though perhaps this was an application of absolution mentioned in Matt 18:18-19 and John 20:23. Conversely, it was recognized that sexual sins were not removed though others could be. Possibly this might have been how the required blameless character (1 Tim 3:2; Tit 1:7) was addressed when the past sin came to light. The last sentence lends some light in that the sexual partner might have been able to bring charges. If she either did not or could not do so, the elder could just remain quiet and continue on faithfully in his duties without the confession.
No comments:
Post a Comment