The Greek noun epitimia refers to a penalty or punishment — the consequence imposed for wrongdoing. It appears in 2 Corinthians 2:6, where Paul discusses the appropriate punishment for a church member who had caused pain, urging that the penalty already imposed by the majority is sufficient.
This word appears only once in the New Testament (2 Corinthians 2:6) but in a theologically rich context. Paul's argument is striking: the purpose of church discipline is not retribution but restoration. Once the punishment (epitimia) achieves its purpose — broken, repentant heart — the church must forgive and restore, lest the offender be overwhelmed by grief.
Theologically, epitimia teaches that discipline in the church must always serve love. Punishment without the goal of restoration becomes cruelty. The model is God's own discipline of His children — painful but purposeful (Hebrews 12:10-11).