Read 1 Corinthians 5
http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20Corinthians%205&version=NIV
First Corinthians 5–6 is part of a larger section that also includes 1 Corinthians 7. All three chapters are concerned with how individual purity affects the community. The emphasis moves from sexual purity (1 Cor. 5) to social purity (6:1–11), then back to sexual purity (6:12–7:40).
The problem in 1 Corinthians 5 was immoral sexual union. The words “father’s wife” (5:1) could mean stepmother. Marriage to a stepson was forbidden by both Jewish and Roman law.
5:3– The concept of “judgment” may be traced from 5:3 to 5:12–13. See 1 Corinthians 5:11 for a fuller description of handing someone “over to Satan” (5:5). Deliverance over to Satan is equivalent to being removed from the assembly, that is, excommunicated. Delivered into Satan’s domain, the offender would no longer enjoy the protective fellowship of the church. The “destroyed” sinful nature (5:5) may refer (1) to the ruin of one’s physical body through sickness, even death, or (2) the destruction of the fleshly hold over the person. The context (cf. 3:1–3) gives credibility to the latter view. This view is more consistent with the ultimate purpose of church discipline, which is to restore the offender to fellowship with God and his people.
5:6–8 Paul used yeast to illustrate how “boasting” can soon permeate and destroy the church (5:6). For more on Old Testament Passover concepts (5:7–8), see Exodus 12:15, 19; 13:7; and Deuteronomy 16:3–4. Yeast was cleaned out of all Israelite homes before the Passover sacrifice could be made. Paul characterized the whole Christian life as a celebration in the purity of Passover.
The Jewish feasts of Passover and Unleavened Bread (Exod. 12:1–28) served as the background for Paul’s remarks. Just as leaven was removed from Jewish homes to celebrate these religious festivals, so the Corinthians should remove the leaven of unholiness from their assembly. This was especially appropriate since Christ, who fulfilled the typical significance of Passover, had been sacrificed. The Christian life was likened to a continual observance of the Festival of Unleavened Bread (1 Cor. 5:8). The leaven of unholiness had to constantly be removed.
5:9–13 Paul mentioned here (5:9) a lost letter. The earlier epistle that Paul wrote to the Corinthians has not been preserved. While daily contact with the unbelieving people of the world is unavoidable, Christians should not have familiar fellowship with professing Christians who are involved in sin and refuse to respond to church discipline (5:11). Paul appealed to the Old Testament principle of the removal of the wicked (5:13; cf. Deut. 13:5; 17:7, 12; 21:21).
Discussion question
What was your reaction when you read verse 5?
Reflection question
Are you more lenient and tolerant of Christians or non Christians behavior? How does your attitude toward others need to be changed?
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I must admit I don't understand how his sinful nature would be any less if he is handed over to Satan. Satan is certainly not going to want to make him better. Anybody want to explain this?
ReplyDeleteMy study Bible has two interpretations of this verse that will also answer Colene's question. The first is that the sinful man will be expelled from the church (i.e. handed over to Satan) and severed from God's people. This will cause the person so much anguish that he will repent and forsake his wicked ways so that he will then return to the church a changed person. The second interpretation is similar. It says that Satan is allowed to bring physical affliction on the person, which will bring him to repentance. To me, it sounds like a harsh way to treat a person but, if it is like the last resort, then it would be worth it in hopes of saving the person's soul.
ReplyDeleteI found the following at http://forums.catholic.com
ReplyDeleteExcommuncation is a 'wake up call' to a sinner, urging them to reform their lives.
Some\most excommuncations are reversed during the Sacrament of Reconcilliation, some require a public declaration of contrition, some are handled by the local Ordinary, and still others are reserved to the Pope.
But all are reservsable, and the Church hopes and prays that every excommunicaiton will eventually be reversed and the sinner return to Christ's flock.
I am not sure that I agree with excommunication. This is one that I would look to Jesus word\example and Pauls approach does not seem to be consistent with Jesus approach.
Doug thanks for your interpretations as I was truly struggling with this verse! Now I look at it in a different light although I still feel it is severe. I would hope using less harsh approaches first would be in order.
ReplyDeleteThanks for your comments everybody. It helped me a lot.
ReplyDeleteI too agree, sounds a little severe. But maybe this was a last resort. I would hope this is a last resort. I also feel that it would not be consistent with Jesus approach. I guess if this is the last resort, and it works, then it was succesful.
ReplyDelete