Rebuke Them Sharply

"Therefore I write these things being absent, lest being present I should use sharpness, according to the power which the Lord hath given me to edification, and not to destruction." (2 Corinthians 13:10)

"This witness is true. Wherefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith." (Titus 1:13)

What does it mean for a speaker (preacher) to "use sharpness" as the apostle did on occasion? How do we "rebuke" heretics "sharply"? Let us study on the matter.

The other time the Greek term is used in the new testament it is translated as "severity" in the KJV. Wrote Paul:

"Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God: on them which fell, severity; but toward thee, goodness, if thou continue in his goodness: otherwise thou also shalt be cut off." (Rom. 11:22)

Barnes' Notes on the Bible (emphasis mine):

"Sharply - ἀποτόμως apotomōs - "cuttingly, severely" - from ἀποτέμνω apotemnō, "to cut off." The word is used here in the sense of severity, meaning that the reproof should be such as would be understood, and would show them plainly the wickedness of such traits of character. He was not to be mealy-mouthed, but he was to call things by their right names, and not to spare their faults. When men know that they are doing wrong, we should tell them so in few words; if they do not know it, it is necessary to teach them, in order to convince them of their error."

That is what I have tried to do in this blog when addressing the heresy of hardshellism. I made a posting on this awhile back titled "Cockleburs, Gadflys, & Rubbing The Wrong Way.

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary:

"sharply—Gentleness would not reclaim so perverse offenders."

Though many Hardshells use "gentleness" to try to win converts to their cult, or to reclaim a brother who has rejected hardshellism (as some have towards Kevin and me), it is not the way we attempt to convict and convert Hardshell heretics. "Gentleness" will not reclaim those who are in the habit of perverting scripture.

Matthew Poole's Commentary:

"Wherefore rebuke them sharply; if thou meetest with any such, reprove or convince them apotomwv, cuttingly, that is, sharply, severely: the metaphor possibly is fetched from surgeons, who cut out dead flesh to the quick."

Vincent's Word Studies:

"Sharply (ἀποτόμως) Only here and 2 Corinthians 13:10 (note). Paul has ἀποτομία severity, Romans 11:22 (note). lxx, ἀποτόμως severely, only Wisd. 5:22; ἀποτόμος severe (not in N.T.), Wisd. 5:20; 11:10; 12:9. From ἀποτέμνειν to cut off. It signifies abrupt, harsh, summary dealing."

If some think that I have been "abrupt" and "harsh" and have "summarily dealt" with Hardshells, then let them consider that I am doing just as Paul instructed.

Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible:

"they must be rebuked "sharply": rebukes ought to be given according to the nature of offences, and the circumstances of them, and the offenders...with some degree of severity, at least with great plainness and faithfulness; laying open the nature of the evils guilty of in all their aggravated circumstances, without sparing them in the least; doing, as surgeons do by wounds, though they take the knife, and use it gently, yet cut deep, to the quick, and go to the bottom of the wound, and lay it open: and so the phrase may be rendered here, "rebuke them cuttingly"; cut them to the quick, and spare them not; deal not with them as Eli with his sons, 1 Samuel 2:23 but speak out, and expose their crimes, severely reprove them, that others may fear."

I know that my words have often been "cutting" to the heretics, but I am trying to cut away the cancer.