1 Corinthians 5:1-5 (NIV)
Expel the Immoral Brother!
1 It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you, and of a kind that does not occur even among pagans: A man has his father’s wife. 2 And you are proud! Shouldn’t you rather have been filled with grief and have put out of your fellowship the man who did this? 3 Even though I am not physically present, I am with you in spirit. And I have already passed judgment on the one who did this, just as if I were present. 4 When you are assembled in the name of our Lord Jesus and I am with you in spirit, and the power of our Lord Jesus is present, 5 hand this man over to Satan, so that the sinful nature may be destroyed and his spirit saved on the day of the Lord.
Hold on a second…hand this man over to Satan?…so he can be saved? Does this make sense to you at all? If it does, you’re a better theologian than I.
I have no idea what to do with this passage. Any thoughts?
joewulf
cameronwyenberg
ryandavidtopper
dwyenberg
kjudd52
manscout
Yeah. That’s a weird one. And have we used this verse to marginalize those who aren’t living the right way? Is that what we’re called to do? Meh?
This passage has to do with church discipline. Paul is admonishing the leaders in Corinth to put this brother out of the fellowship with the church and back into the world. The hope is that he will repent and desire a restored fellowship with the brethren and God. He had married his father’s wife. Even the Gentiles would not do such a thing and it was bringing shame on the church as a result for not dealing with this problem in the body. This obviously worked since Paul tells them in 2 Corinthians 2:6-8 to lighten up already and let the guy off the hook. He had repented. Hope this helps. Bryan