Matthew 18:15 if your brother "sins against you"

[Christian2]

Matthew 18:15
New International Version 1984 (NIV1984)
A Brother Who Sins Against You

15 “If your brother sins against you,[a] go and show him his fault,(A) just between the two of you. If he listens to you, you have won your brother over.
Footnotes:

a. Matthew 18:15 Some manuscripts do not have against you.

Matthew 18:15
Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)
Restoring a Brother

15 “If your brother sins against you,[a] go and rebuke him in private.[b] If he listens to you, you have won your brother.(A)
Footnotes:
a. Matthew 18:15 Other mss omit against you

Matthew 18:15
GOD’S WORD Translation (GW)
Dealing With Believers When They Do Wrong
15 “If a believer does something wrong,[a] go, confront him when the two of you are alone. If he listens to you, you have won back that believer.
Footnotes:
a. Matthew 18:15 Some manuscripts and translations add “against you.”

This verse is part of my Sunday Bible Study class this coming Sunday.

A note in my Holman Christian Standard Bible Study Bible says in a footnote:

"The words "against you" do not appear in the earliest and best manuscripts of verse 15. Thus the process is not intended merely for dealing with personal grievances but rather for any sinful conduct on the part of a Christian brother that indicates they are straying from Christ. The purpose of the process is not to punish, but restore the sinful disciple. If, at the final step of the process, the professing disciples refuses to heed the church's call to repentance, the church must assume that they are not a true believer and must exclude them from fellowship.

Adding "against you" changes the whole meaning of the verse.

I was quite surprised that most translations don't add in footnotes that the best manuscripts do no include this phrase. IMO, footnotes that say "some" manuscripts add "against you" is not strong enough.

Question: Is the note in my Study Bible correct?

Thank you.

[John Reece]

Is the note in my Study Bible correct?

Perhaps.

From A Textual Commentary on the Greek New Testament (Stuttgart: German Bible Society, 1994), by Bruce M. Metzger:

18.15 ἁμαρτήσῃ [εἰς σέ] {C} It is possible that the words εἰς σέ are an early interpolation into the original text, perhaps derived by copyists from the use of εἰς ἐμέ in ver. 21. On the other hand, it is also possible to regard their omission as either deliberate (in order to render the passage applicable to sin in general) or accidental (for in later Greek the pronunciation of η, ῃ, and εἰ was similar). In order to reflect this balance of possibilities, the Committee decided to retain the words enclosed within square brackets.

From The New International Commentary on the New Testament: The Gospel of Matthew (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2007), by R. T. France, page 689, note 3:

The addition of εἰς σέ, "against you," at this point in the majority of manuscripts and versions changes an altruistic concern about a brother's spiritual danger into a personal grievance. That personal concern will be appropriate, and is made explicit, in Peter's question in verse 21 (εἰς ἐμέ), which leads into the discussion of forgiveness for personal wrongs, but to introduce it here, where it is the brother's welfare, not "your" interest, which is in focus, is premature; it is probably due to a mechanical reading back of the phrase from verse 21. The shorter reading of ‏א and B (in agreement with the parallel in Luke 17:3, where there is less support for an added εἰς σέ) is thus to be preferred (...). The matter is complicated by the possibility of mishearing, since the additional εἰς σέ would probably sound very much like the final two sylllables of ἁμαρτήσῃ, "sins"; this could work both ways, either (as many commentators believe) causing the omission of an original εἰς σέ because it sounded like a repetition of -ήσῃ or (as I think more likely) causing the insertion of the extra words because someone thought they heard εἰς σέ. The reading ἁμαρτᾐ εἰς σέ in W and other manuscripts and quotations probably derives from this mishearing.

[Christian2]

Thanks, John.

I re-read the text and I think a copyist inserted "against you" in order to make the context clearer.

I also think it would be appropriate for the church to use this formula in discipling any sinner who is upsetting the congregation by their actions.