The ______ is the only rule for government and discipline in the COG.

• A. New Testament
• B. Old Testament
• C. Constitution
• D. Church Covenant

Answer: (A)

The governing and disciplinary rules for a church in the Church of God come from the New Testament. It lays out the structure of church leadership (elders, bishops, deacons), how decisions are made within assemblies, and the process for dealing with sin and restoration among members. Jesus establishes the church and entrusts it with its responsibility under the new covenant, and the apostles give concrete instructions for church order and discipline (for example, guidelines about church discipline in Matthew 18 and Paul’s instructions to local churches). The Old Testament, while foundational in many ways, applies under the old covenant and does not dictate how a New Testament church should govern itself today. A constitution is a human organizational document and not the divine rule for spiritual life, and a church covenant expresses member commitments but does not serve as the binding governance rule. Therefore, the New Testament is the best answer.