1 Corinthians 5:1-8
1: It is actually reported that there is immorality among you, and immorality of such a kind as does not exist even among the Gentiles, that someone has his father’s wife.
2: You have become arrogant and have not mourned instead, so that the one who had done this deed would be removed from your midst.
3: For I, on my part, though absent in body but present in spirit, have already judged him who has so committed this, as though I were present.
4: In the name of our Lord Jesus, when you are assembled, and I with you in spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus,
5: I have decided to deliver such a one to Satan for the destruction of his flesh, so that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.
6: Your boasting is not good. Do you not know that a little leaven leavens the whole lump of dough?
7: Clean out the old leaven so that you may be a new lump, just as you are in fact unleavened. For Christ our Passover also has been sacrificed.
8:Therefore let us celebrate the feast, not with old leaven, nor with the leaven of malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.
Paul addressed a great sin that had been going on in their midst--and not just the sin, but the fact that they were boasting about it rather than grieving over it. This sin was one that not even the heathen had practiced, which was that one of them had his father’s wife—or his stepmother. Some believe they actually married. Others say this relationship was not only against Jewish Law (Lev. 18:8) but would not be sanctioned under Christian or Gentile law either.
Paul exercised an apostolic decision and told them to execute this decision on the one who had sinned when they were gathered together. He said he had judged the situation even though he was not there physically, he was in spirit. He said to deliver him to Satan for the destruction of the flesh so his spirit might be saved.
There are various opinions on what this means, but most agree it is an excommunication of this man from the church which would in some way expose him to Satan. The ultimate goal would be the destruction of fleshly lusts, passions and pride—resulting in the man’s repentance and return to purity. However, it could include physical effects, diseases, or even death. We know that when the man was restored, he didn’t die and no mention was made of healing from disease, but that they were to forgive him, comfort him, and reaffirm their love for him (2 Cor 2:6-8).
However, there are some recorded instances where the apostles used this type of authority which resulted in death or physical affliction. Death for Ananias and Saphira in Acts 5:1-11, and temporary blindness for the magician in Acts 13:11. Paul mentioned his use of this authority again in 1 Timothy 1:20.
Satan was given a certain amount of authority to trouble and inflict Job. He looks for permission and opportunity to destroy (Luke 22:31, 1Peter 5:8), accusing wherever he can. Paul himself was given a thorn in the flesh which he called a messenger of Satan as a guard against pride (2 Cor 12:7). Paul also talked about weakness, sickness, and even death coming on those who partake of the Lord’s supper unworthily and without judging themselves (1 Cor 11:30-32).
So we do see cases where physical suffering was authorized and used to bring a person to repentance, strength, and victory over fleshly lusts. The goal is for a person's salvation, not destruction. This is not to be confused with times where Satan tries to devour without cause. We must resist him firm in the faith, yet always judge our heart. The point is, if sin is allowed to continue in the church, it “leavens the whole lump.” It will spread. We must not partake of the Lord and sinful lusts of the flesh whether in secret, or in public.
2: You have become arrogant and have not mourned instead, so that the one who had done this deed would be removed from your midst.
3: For I, on my part, though absent in body but present in spirit, have already judged him who has so committed this, as though I were present.
4: In the name of our Lord Jesus, when you are assembled, and I with you in spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus,
5: I have decided to deliver such a one to Satan for the destruction of his flesh, so that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.
6: Your boasting is not good. Do you not know that a little leaven leavens the whole lump of dough?
7: Clean out the old leaven so that you may be a new lump, just as you are in fact unleavened. For Christ our Passover also has been sacrificed.
8:Therefore let us celebrate the feast, not with old leaven, nor with the leaven of malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.
***
Paul addressed a great sin that had been going on in their midst--and not just the sin, but the fact that they were boasting about it rather than grieving over it. This sin was one that not even the heathen had practiced, which was that one of them had his father’s wife—or his stepmother. Some believe they actually married. Others say this relationship was not only against Jewish Law (Lev. 18:8) but would not be sanctioned under Christian or Gentile law either.
Paul exercised an apostolic decision and told them to execute this decision on the one who had sinned when they were gathered together. He said he had judged the situation even though he was not there physically, he was in spirit. He said to deliver him to Satan for the destruction of the flesh so his spirit might be saved.
There are various opinions on what this means, but most agree it is an excommunication of this man from the church which would in some way expose him to Satan. The ultimate goal would be the destruction of fleshly lusts, passions and pride—resulting in the man’s repentance and return to purity. However, it could include physical effects, diseases, or even death. We know that when the man was restored, he didn’t die and no mention was made of healing from disease, but that they were to forgive him, comfort him, and reaffirm their love for him (2 Cor 2:6-8).
However, there are some recorded instances where the apostles used this type of authority which resulted in death or physical affliction. Death for Ananias and Saphira in Acts 5:1-11, and temporary blindness for the magician in Acts 13:11. Paul mentioned his use of this authority again in 1 Timothy 1:20.
Satan was given a certain amount of authority to trouble and inflict Job. He looks for permission and opportunity to destroy (Luke 22:31, 1Peter 5:8), accusing wherever he can. Paul himself was given a thorn in the flesh which he called a messenger of Satan as a guard against pride (2 Cor 12:7). Paul also talked about weakness, sickness, and even death coming on those who partake of the Lord’s supper unworthily and without judging themselves (1 Cor 11:30-32).
So we do see cases where physical suffering was authorized and used to bring a person to repentance, strength, and victory over fleshly lusts. The goal is for a person's salvation, not destruction. This is not to be confused with times where Satan tries to devour without cause. We must resist him firm in the faith, yet always judge our heart. The point is, if sin is allowed to continue in the church, it “leavens the whole lump.” It will spread. We must not partake of the Lord and sinful lusts of the flesh whether in secret, or in public.
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