Chapter Summary from Matthew Henry: In this chapter the apostle, 1. Blames them for their indulgence in the case of the incestuous person, and orders him to be excommunicated, and delivered to Satan (1Co 5:1-6). 2 He exhorts them to Christian purity, by purging out the old leaven (1Co 5:7, 1Co 5:8). And, 3. Directs them to shun even the common conversation of Christians who were guilty of any notorious and flagitious wickedness (1Co 5:9 to the end).
1 Corinthians 5:1-5 (WEL) It is commonly reported that there is sexual sin among you, and such sexual sin as is not even mentioned among the Gentiles, that one should have his father’s wife. 2 You are proud of this? You should have mourned instead, so that he who has done this deed might be removed from among you. 3 For truly I have already judged, as if I were present, he who has been committing this, even though I am absent in body but present in spirit. 4 In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, when you are gathered along with my spirit and the power of the Lord Jesus Christ, 5 To deliver such a one to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved on the day of the Lord Jesus.
V1 It is commonly reported that there is sexual sin among you, and such sexual sin as is not even mentioned among the Gentiles, that one should have his father’s wife.
Most likely Paul is referring to a man’s stepmother.
The 7th commandment reads (Exodus 20:14 (MSB)) “You shall not commit adultery.” This is the set of all sexual sins. This commandment includes every sexual sin. Sex is wonderful and blessed by God in a marriage of a male (XY) and a female (XX) only. Compare Hebrews 13:4 (EHV) “Marriage is to be held in honor by all, and the marriage bed is to be kept undefiled, for God will judge sexually immoral people and adulterers.” Also see 1 Corinthians 7:2.
V2 You are proud of this? You should have mourned instead, so that he who has done this deed might be removed from among you.
Interestingly, they were proud of allowing this. Maybe they had a twisted definition of love your fellow Christian and freedom.
Sin in the church should bring mourning.
Being removed refers to disfellowship. The goals of church discipline are submission to God and spiritual growth.
Matthew Henry writes:
“But observe, he doth not say, “Let him be to thee as a devil or damned spirit, as one whose case is desperate,” but “as a heathen and a publican, as one in a capacity of being restored and received in again. Count him not as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother.” The directions given to the church of Corinth concerning the incestuous person agree with the rules here; he must be taken away from among them (1 Corinthians 5:2), must be delivered to Satan; for if he be cast out of Christ’s kingdom, he is looked upon as belonging to Satan’s kingdom; they must not keep company with him, Matthew 18:11-13. But when by this he is humbled and reclaimed, he must be welcomed into communion again, and all shall be well.”
V3 For truly I have already judged, as if I were present, he who has been committing this, even though I am absent in body but present in spirit.
Paul delegates authority to the church. Ephesians 5:11 Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them.
V4 In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, when you are gathered along with my spirit and the power of the Lord Jesus Christ.
It is in the name of Jesus because the Lord Jesus is the lawgiver, judge, king, and Lord of the church.
The Greek word for power is G1411 δύναμις dýnamis, which means (Thayer): “”inherent power, power residing in a thing by virtue of its nature, or which a person or thing exerts and puts forth.”
The Lord Jesus is the source and giver of this power. All power resides in God Himself and any whom He delegates. See Matthew 28:18.
V5 To deliver such a one to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved on the day of the Lord Jesus.
There is to be punishment. The punishment is not physical death but to take away his spiritual blessings (God’s part) and fellowship blessings (the believer’s part).
JFB Comments: “This punishment – his being ‘delivered to Satan for the destruction of the flesh:’ not only excommunication, but bodily disease.”
Believers Bible Commentary:
“Again, there is disagreement as to the meaning of the expression the destruction of the flesh. Many feel that it describes physical suffering that would be used by God to break the power of sinful lusts and habits in the man’s life. Others feel that the destruction of the flesh is a description of slow death, which would give a man time to repent and be spared.
“In any case, we should remember that the discipline of believers is always calculated to bring about their restoration to fellowship with the Lord. Excommunication is never an end in itself, but always a means toward an end. The ultimate purpose is that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus. In other words, there is no thought of the man’s eternal damnation. He is disciplined by the Lord in this life because of the sin he has committed, but he is saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.”
We learn:
- Sin has very real consequences.
- About church discipline.
Questions:
- Are these things taught in your fellowship?
- Have you ever experienced God’s punishment because of your sin?