Sadly, there are occasions when a fellow brother in Christ should be disfellowshipped.  When should such a thing happen, and more importantly when can he return to the fellowship?  Let’s examine what the Bible says.

The term “disfellowship” is commonly used by churches.  The Bible doesn’t use this term but rather terms such as “don’t keep company”, “put away”, and “avoid”, which is the meaning of “disfellowship”. 

The clearest example of a brother being disfellowshipped is found in 1 Corinthians.

1Co 5:1  It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you, and such sexual immorality as is not even named among the Gentiles—that a man has his father’s wife!
1Co 5:2  And you are puffed up, and have not rather mourned, that he who has done this deed might be taken away from among you.
1Co 5:3  For I indeed, as absent in body but present in spirit, have already judged (as though I were present) him who has so done this deed.
1Co 5:4  In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, when you are gathered together, along with my spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ,
1Co 5:5  deliver such a one to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.

1Co 5:9  I wrote to you in my epistle not to keep company with sexually immoral people.
1Co 5:10  Yet I certainly did not mean with the sexually immoral people of this world, or with the covetous, or extortioners, or idolaters, since then you would need to go out of the world.
1Co 5:11  But now I have written to you not to keep company with anyone named a brother, who is sexually immoral, or covetous, or an idolater, or a reviler, or a drunkard, or an extortioner—not even to eat with such a person.
1Co 5:12  For what have I to do with judging those also who are outside? Do you not judge those who are inside?
1Co 5:13  But those who are outside God judges. Therefore “PUT AWAY FROM YOURSELVES THE EVIL PERSON.”

There are some important points to note here.

1) Disfellowship is for unrepentant sin

The brother to be disfellowshipped was sinning and unrepentant of it.

2) Sins warranting disfellowship

Paul lists various sins warranting disfellowship: sexual immorality, covetousness, idolatry, abusiveness, drunkenness, extortion.  The Greek word translated “reviler” is loidoros and according to Strong’s Concordance means, reviler, railer, abusive.

3) Avoid the disfellowshipped brother

The instruction was to “not keep company with”, “not even to eat with”, and to “put away” the unrepentant sinning brother.  Clearly, for this instruction to be implemented, the whole church must know that the sinning brother was disfellowshipped.  Indeed, Paul instructed the brethren to disfellowship the sinning brother, not just one or two men to do it.  There is no Biblical support here for a minister to quietly disfellowship someone.

4) Purpose for disfellowshipping

The disfellowshipping is described as “delivering to Satan” for the purpose “that his spirit may be saved”.  A similar thing is found in 1 Timothy.

1Ti 1:19  having faith and a good conscience, which some having rejected, concerning the faith have suffered shipwreck,
1Ti 1:20  of whom are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I [Paul] delivered to Satan that they may learn not to blaspheme.

There are other Scriptures which reinforce the teaching found in 1 Corinthians.

Mat 18:15  “Moreover if your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault between you and him alone. If he hears you, you have gained your brother.
Mat 18:16  But if he will not hear, take with you one or two more, that ‘BY THE MOUTH OF TWO OR THREE WITNESSES EVERY WORD MAY BE ESTABLISHED.’
Mat 18:17  And if he refuses to hear them, tell it to the church. But if he refuses even to hear the church, let him be to you like a heathen and a tax collector.

Here, if the brother refuses to repent then he is to be like a heathen and a tax collector, in other words, to be avoided.  This covers points 1 and 3 above.

Rom 16:17  Now I urge you, brethren, note those who cause divisions and offenses, contrary to the doctrine which you learned, and avoid them.
Rom 16:18  For those who are such do not serve our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly, and by smooth words and flattering speech deceive the hearts of the simple.

This adds divisions and offenses to the list of sins warranting disfellowship and covers point 3 above.

2Th 3:6  But we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you withdraw from every brother who walks disorderly and not according to the tradition which he received from us.

This adds walking disorderly to the list of sins warranting disfellowship and covers point 3 above.

2Th 3:14  And if anyone does not obey our word in this epistle, note that person and do not keep company with him, that he may be ashamed.
2Th 3:15  Yet do not count him as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother.

This adds disobedience to God’s word in general to the list of sins warranting disfellowship and covers point 3 above.  It also adds to the purpose, “that he may be ashamed”, clearly with the hope that repentance will ensue.

1Ti 6:3  If anyone teaches otherwise and does not consent to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which accords with godliness,
1Ti 6:4  he is proud, knowing nothing, but is obsessed with disputes and arguments over words, from which come envy, strife, reviling, evil suspicions,
1Ti 6:5  useless wranglings of men of corrupt minds and destitute of the truth, who suppose that godliness is a means of gain. From such withdraw yourself.

This adds disobedience to God’s word in general to the list of sins warranting disfellowship and covers point 3 above. 

The disfellowshipping should not be the end of the relationship with the sinning brother.  The whole purpose for disfellowshipping is to produce repentance that the sinning brother can be restored.  We read about this in 2 Corinthians where the apostle Paul gave instructions on restoring the sinning brother.

2Co 2:6  This punishment which was inflicted by the majority is sufficient for such a man,
2Co 2:7  so that, on the contrary, you ought rather to forgive and comfort him, lest perhaps such a one be swallowed up with too much sorrow.
2Co 2:8  Therefore I urge you to reaffirm your love to him.

A similar instruction is found in Galatians 6.

Gal 6:1  Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted.

Restoration means allowing the brother back into the fellowship and forgiving him.  The restoration is a very important part of the process and should take place when the sinning brother repents.  It’s very sad how many times I’ve seen a minister disfellowship a brother (perhaps on questionable grounds) and never follow up with the restoration.

Summary

We can summarise what we have covered as follows

1) Disfellowship is for unrepentant sin

The brother to be disfellowshipped is sinning and unrepentant of it.

2) Sins warranting disfellowship

Sins warranting disfellowship are sexual immorality, covetousness, idolatry, abusiveness, drunkenness, extortion, divisions, offenses, walking disorderly, and disobedience to God’s word in general. 

3) Avoid the disfellowshipped brother

The instruction is to “not keep company with”, “not even to eat with”, “put away”, “avoid”, “withdraw from” the unrepentant sinning brother.

4) Purpose for disfellowshipping

The disfellowshipping is described as “delivering to Satan” for the purpose “that he may be ashamed” and “that his spirit may be saved”. 

5) Restoration of the sinner

On repentance, the sinning brother should be “forgiven and comforted” and “restored”.

When should a Christian be disfellowshipped?  This is covered by points 1 and 2 above.

When can he return to the fellowship?  This is covered by point 5.