1Cor 5:5, 2Cor 12:7 | JFB | STEP | 5. Besides excommunication (of which the Corinthians themselves had the power), Paul delegates here to the Corinthian Church his own special power as an apostle, of inflicting corporeal disease or death in punishment for sin ("to deliver to Satan such an one," that is, so heinous a sinner). For instances of this power, see . As Satan receives power at times to try the godly, as Job ( ) and Paul ( ; compare also as to Peter, ), much more the ungodly. Satan, the "accuser of the brethren" ( ) and the "adversary" ( ), demands the sinner for punishment on account of sin ( ). When God lets Satan have his way, He is said to "deliver the sinner unto Satan" (compare ). Here it is not finally; but for the affliction of the body with disease, and even death ( ), so as to destroy fleshly lust. He does not say, "for the destruction of the body, " for it shall share in redemption ( ); but of the corrupt "flesh" which "cannot inherit the kingdom of God," and the lusts of which had prompted this offender to incest ( ). The "destruction of the flesh" answers to " mortify the deeds of the body " ( ), only that the latter is done by one's self, the former is effected by chastisement from God (compare ): the spirit . . . saved —the spiritual part of man, in the believer the organ of the Holy Spirit. Temporary affliction often leads to permanent salvation ( ).

1 Corinthians 5:5

5. Besides excommunication (of which the Corinthians themselves had the power), Paul delegates here to the Corinthian Church his own special power as an apostle, of inflicting corporeal disease or death in punishment for sin ("to deliver to Satan such an one," that is, so heinous a sinner). For instances of this power, see Ac 5:1-11; 13:11; 1Ti 1:20. As Satan receives power at times to try the godly, as Job (Job 2:4-7) and Paul (2Co 12:7; compare also as to Peter, Lu 22:31), much more the ungodly. Satan, the "accuser of the brethren" (Re 12:10) and the "adversary" (1Pe 5:8), demands the sinner for punishment on account of sin (Zec 3:1). When God lets Satan have his way, He is said to "deliver the sinner unto Satan" (compare Ps 109:6). Here it is not finally; but for the affliction of the body with disease, and even death (1Co 11:30, 32), so as to destroy fleshly lust. He does not say, "for the destruction of the body," for it shall share in redemption (Ro 8:23); but of the corrupt "flesh" which "cannot inherit the kingdom of God," and the lusts of which had prompted this offender to incest (Ro 7:5; 8:9, 10). The "destruction of the flesh" answers to "mortify the deeds of the body" (Ro 8:13), only that the latter is done by one's self, the former is effected by chastisement from God (compare 1Pe 4:6):

the spirit . . . saved—the spiritual part of man, in the believer the organ of the Holy Spirit. Temporary affliction often leads to permanent salvation (Ps 83:16).

2 Corinthians 12:7

7. exalted above measure—Greek, "overmuch uplifted." How dangerous must self-exaltation be, when even the apostle required so much restraint! [BENGEL].

abundance—Greek, "the excess"; exceeding greatness.

given . . . me—namely, by God (Job 5:6; Php 1:29).

thorn in the flesh— (Nu 33:55; Eze 28:24). ALFORD thinks it to be the same bodily affliction as in Ga 4:13, 14. It certainly was something personal, affecting him individually, and not as an apostle: causing at once acute pain (as "thorn" implies) and shame ("buffet": as slaves are buffeted, 1Pe 2:20).

messenger of Satan—who is permitted by God to afflict His saints, as Job (Job 2:7; Lu 13:16).

to buffet me—In Greek, present: to buffet me even now continuously. After experiencing the state of the blissful angels, he is now exposed to the influence of an evil angel. The chastisement from hell follows soon upon the revelation from heaven. As his sight and hearing had been ravished with heavenly "revelations," so his touch is pained with the "thorn in the flesh."