ἐπιτιμία

punishment

Definition

ἐπιτιμία refers specifically to a formal penalty or punishment, often one imposed by a community or authority. In its sole New Testament occurrence (2 Corinthians 2:6), it describes the disciplinary action taken by the Corinthian church against an offending member. The word carries a sense of a measured, corrective consequence rather than arbitrary vengeance. It implies a judgment passed upon someone, resulting in a defined sanction.

Biblical Usage

This word is used only once in the New Testament, in 2 Corinthians 2:6. It appears in the context of church discipline, where the apostle Paul references a punishment inflicted by the majority of the Corinthian congregation on an individual. The usage is entirely ecclesiastical, describing a collective, corrective action within the believing community to address serious sin.

Etymology

Derived from the preposition ἐπί (epi, meaning 'upon' or 'in addition to') and a root related to τιμή (timē, meaning 'honor, value, or price'). The compound suggests something 'laid upon' a person as a consequence, akin to a penalty that assesses a cost or a forfeit of honor. It is related to the verb ἐπιτιμάω (epitimaō, G2008), which means 'to rebuke' or 'to censure.'

Semantic Range

This term is significant for understanding the New Testament practice of church discipline. It shows that corrective action within the church (Matthew 18:15-20) was understood as a formal 'punishment' (ἐπιτιμία) aimed at restoration, as seen in 2 Corinthians 2:5-11. It distinguishes godly, communal correction from worldly vengeance, highlighting the church's role in maintaining holiness and facilitating repentance.

In the Greco-Roman world, ἐπιτιμία could refer to civic penalties or censures within various associations. For the early church, adopting this term for internal discipline reflected its self-understanding as a structured, covenant community with moral standards. The practice differed from purely secular punishment by having an explicit goal of spiritual restoration and reconciliation.

κόλασις (kolasis, G2851) — punishment with a stronger emphasis on chastisement or torment. τιμωρία (timōria, G5098) — punishment emphasizing vengeance or retribution. παιδεία (paideia, G3809) — training or discipline, often with a primary focus on education and correction.

Word Details

Scripture References