Letter 288: When public punishment fails to bring a man to his senses, or exclusion from the prayers of the Church to drive him to repentance, it only remains to treat him in accordance with our Lord's directions — as it is written, If your brother shall trespass against you....tell him his fault between you and him;...if he will not hear you, take with you...
Basil of Caesarea→Unknown|c. 374 AD|basil caesarea
When public punishment fails to bring a man to his senses, and exclusion from the prayers of the Church fails to drive him to repentance, there remains only the course our Lord prescribes: "If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault between you and him alone. If he does not listen, take one or two others along. If he still refuses to listen, tell it to the Church. And if he refuses to listen even to the Church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector."
All of this we have done in this man's case. First, he was told of his fault privately. Then he was confronted in the presence of one or two witnesses. Finally, the matter was brought before the Church. He has not listened. Henceforth let him be excommunicate.
Furthermore, let proclamation be made throughout the district that he is excluded from all ordinary relations of life, so that by our complete withdrawal from any dealings with him he may become, as Scripture says, altogether food for the devil.
ST. BASIL OF CAESAREA
Without address. Excommunicatory.
When public punishment fails to bring a man to his senses, or exclusion from the prayers of the Church to drive him to repentance, it only remains to treat him in accordance with our Lord's directions — as it is written, If your brother shall trespass against you....tell him his fault between you and him;...if he will not hear you, take with you another; and if he shall then neglect to hear, tell it unto the Church; but if he neglect to hear even the Church, let him be unto you henceforth as an heathen man, and as a publican. Matthew 18:15-17 Now all this we have done in the case of this fellow. First, he was accused of his fault; then he was convicted in the presence of one or two witnesses; thirdly, in the presence of the Church. Thus we have made our solemn protest, and he has not listened to it. Henceforth let him be excommunicated.
Further, let proclamation be made throughout the district, that he be excluded from participation in any of the ordinary relations of life; so that by our withholding ourselves from all intercourse with him he may become altogether food for the devil.
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Source. Translated by Blomfield Jackson. From Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, Second Series, Vol. 8. Edited by Philip Schaff and Henry Wace. (Buffalo, NY: Christian Literature Publishing Co., 1895.) Revised and edited for New Advent by Kevin Knight. <https://www.newadvent.org/fathers/3202288.htm>.
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When public punishment fails to bring a man to his senses, and exclusion from the prayers of the Church fails to drive him to repentance, there remains only the course our Lord prescribes: "If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault between you and him alone. If he does not listen, take one or two others along. If he still refuses to listen, tell it to the Church. And if he refuses to listen even to the Church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector."
All of this we have done in this man's case. First, he was told of his fault privately. Then he was confronted in the presence of one or two witnesses. Finally, the matter was brought before the Church. He has not listened. Henceforth let him be excommunicate.
Furthermore, let proclamation be made throughout the district that he is excluded from all ordinary relations of life, so that by our complete withdrawal from any dealings with him he may become, as Scripture says, altogether food for the devil.
Modern English rendering for readability. See the 19th-century translation or original Latin/Greek for scholarly use.