Did Paul go too far with his disciplinary sentence in 1 Corinthians 5?
1 Corinthians 5:1-5
“It is reported that there is sexual immorality among you, and sexual immorality of such a kind as does not exist even among the Gentiles, namely, that someone has his father’s wife. You have become arrogant and have not mourned instead so that the one who had done this deed would be removed from your midst. For I, on my part, though absent in body but present in spirit, have already judged him who has so committed this, as though were present. In the name of our Lord Jesus, when you are assembled, and I am with you in spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus, have decided to turn such a person over to Satan for the destruction of his body, so that his spirit may be saved on the day of the Lord.”
READ ALSO: WHOSE WORD?
Facts about Paul and His Letters
The attempt to discredit Paul has been abundant. But they are, I would say the least, very ridiculous. You cannot discredit the foundational truths you are built upon, so let us pay close heed to these scriptures:
2 Timothy 3:16-17 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.
2 Peter 3:14-16 Now, because my dear friends you have a hope like this before you, I urge you to make certain that such a day will find you at peace with God and Man, clean and blameless in his sight. Meanwhile, consider that God’s patience is meant to be man’s salvation, as our dear brother Paul pointed out in his letter to you, written out of the wisdom God gave him.
In that letter, as indeed in all of his letters, he referred to these matters. There are of course some things that is difficult to understand, and which unhappily, ill-informed, and unbalanced people distort as they do the other scriptures and bring disasters on their heads.
READ ALSO: THE CHURCH: A SCHOOL OR A FAMILY?
What Does it Mean to Hand a Person Over to the Adversary?
Is this the only time Paul meted out discipline by handing over a person to the adversary? No!
1 Timothy 1:18-20 This charge entrust to you, Timothy, my child, by the prophecies previously made about you, that by them you may wage the good warfare, holding faith and a good conscience. By rejecting this, some have made shipwreck of their faith, among whom are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I have handed over to Satan that they may learn not to blaspheme.
What is Satan’s job description? He is the ADVERSARY: one who opposes another in purpose or act (Thayer’s Concordance). To be handed over to Satan simply means ‘to be given to the opposing side because you have chosen to follow the opposing side.’
READ ALSO: HEAVEN OR EARTH, OUR FUTURE?
The Difference Between Discipline and Condemnation
Someone may say, “Is that not condemnation?” No, it’s not because you have crossed over and you’re playing for the opposite side against your side. And so it is agreed, “Let him stay on the other side he has crossed over to.”
How is that supposed to make him saved on the last day? It says, “his body would be destroyed,” implying that there will be the destruction of his ‘fleshly nature.’
The judgment and the pain, and the troubles he is to undergo ought to result in his choosing to repent. Remember, He disciplines that we might be legitimate sons. Troubles (TRIALS) make people turn to the Lord.
And it worked! The man repented – 2 Corinthians 2:5-11 If anyone has caused grief, he has not so much grieved me as he has grieved all of you to some extent -not to put it too severely. The punishment inflicted on him by the majority is sufficient. Now instead, you ought to forgive and comfort him, so that he will not be overwhelmed by excessive sorrow. I urge you, therefore, to reaffirm your love for him. Another reason I wrote you was to see if you would stand the test and be obedient in everything. Anyone you forgive, I also forgive. And what have I have forgiven – if there was anything to forgive – I have forgiven in the sight of Christ for your sake so that Satan might not outwit us, for we are not unaware of his schemes.
READ ALSO: CHURCH DISCIPLINE (PART 2)
Conclusion
In summary, the Lord is a disciplinarian and He does discipline us to make us better people. His discipline is a display of His love for us.
Have you been disciplined by the Lord and it made you turn your back on Him? Have you yet discovered that He did it because He loves you? Or are you still roaming around ‘outside’ and would like to return to Him?
Feel free to reach out to us! We are available to help.
READ ALSO: CHURCH DISCIPLINE (PART 1)