2 Corinthians 2:6
2 Corinthians 2:66The punishment imposed on him by the majority is sufficient for him.
The Watchtower rarely emphasises this verse, as it describes Paul urging the Corinthian congregation to forgive and comfort the disciplined person — directly countering the model of indefinite shunning. When referenced, it is treated as an exceptional apostolic directive rather than a normative pattern for congregational discipline. The organisation's system keeps reinstatement decisions with a judicial committee, not with the congregation as Paul describes here.
Paul writes that "the punishment inflicted on him by the majority is sufficient" and urges the church to "forgive and comfort him, so that he will not be overwhelmed by excessive sorrow" (). This reveals that apostolic discipline was temporary, restorative, and decided by congregational consensus — not imposed indefinitely by a secretive committee. The phrase "by the majority" shows the whole congregation participated in both the discipline and the restoration, contrasting sharply with the Watchtower's elder-controlled judicial process. Paul's concern about "excessive sorrow" implies a duty of care toward the disciplined person that is incompatible with total social isolation.