The Historical Development of the PCA Book of Church Order

Preface to the Book of Church Order

I. King and Head
of the Church
II. Preliminary Principles
III. The Constitution Defined
         

Section 2 : The Preliminary Principles
Paragraph 3 : Of Discipline

3. That our blessed Saviour, for the edification of the visible church, which is his body, hath appointed officers, not only to preach the gospel, and administer the sacraments, but also to exercise discipline, for the preservation both of truth and duty; and that it is incumbent upon these officers, and upon the whole church, in whose name they act, to censure or cast out the erroneous and scandalous, observing, in all cases, the rules contained in the Word of God.

Footnote: Ephesians 4:11-12; Matthew 16:19; I Corinthians 5:3-5. [as per M4GA, Appendix J, p. 203]

BACKGROUND & COMPARISON:
PCA 1973, Adopted text, as printed in the Minutes of General Assembly, page 128
That our blessed Saviour, for the edification of the visible church, which is his body, hath appointed officers, not only to preach the gospel, and administer the sacraments, but also to exercise discipline, for the preservation both of truth and duty; and that it is incumbent upon these officers, and upon the whole church, in whose name they act, to censure or cast out the erroneous and scandalous, observing, in all cases, the rules contained in the Word of God.

Continuing Presbyterian Church 1973, Proposed text, Preface, Preliminary Principles, paragraph 2
That our blessed Saviour, for the edification of the visible church, which is his body, hath appointed officers, not only to preach the gospel, and administer the sacraments, but also to exercise discipline, for the preservation both of truth and duty; and that it is incumbent upon these officers, and upon the whole church, in whose name they act, to censure or cast out the erroneous and scandalous, observing, in all cases, the rules contained in the Word of God.

1866 PCUS draft, paragraph 3:
That,

[Note: The Preliminary Principles appeared solely in the 1866 draft of the PCUS Form of Government, as reported and published in The Christian Observer, vol. 45, nos. 40 & 41 (4 Oct. & 11 Oct. 1866). Inclusion of the Principles was rejected when the PCUS Assembly met in 1867.]


Commentary :
Hodge, J. Aspinwall, What Is Presbyterian Law? (Philadelphia, 1882, pp. 24-25) :
III. What is the third principle?
"The our blessed Saviour, for the edification of the visible Church, which is his body, hath appointed officers, not only to preach the gospel and administer the sacraments, but also to exercise discipline for the preservation both of truth and duty."
What duties have the officers?
Those which were appointed by Christ--viz. "to preach the gospel," "administer the sacraments" and "exercise discipline." "It is incumbent upon these officers and upon the whole Church, in whose name they act, to censure or cast out the erroneous and scandalous ; observing, in all cases, the rules contained in the word of God." Their authority is therefore only declarative, announcing what Christ has revealed, and applying his law according to his direction.