1 Corinthians 5:2-5
5:2 a The Corinthian Christians were proud (see 4:8 b, 10 c, 18 d; 5:6 e), when they should have been mourning in sorrow and shame over such sin among them.• remove this man from your fellowship: This instruction might presuppose that the man had refused their appeals, or that such blatant sin required immediate discipline (cp. Matt 18:15-18 f).
5:3 g in the Spirit: Paul’s spiritual unity with them and the authority he had received from God through the Spirit were effective among them.
5:5 h The instruction to throw this man out is not in the Greek text but is implied from 5:2 i, 13 j.
• and hand him over to Satan: Cp. 1 Tim 1:20 k. Those who are outside of God’s church are under the power and control of Satan (see Eph 2:2 l; 1 Jn 5:19 m).
• so that his sinful nature will be destroyed: (literally for the destruction of the flesh): The flesh may be interpreted figuratively as a reference to his evil desires or literally as his physical life (i.e., so that he will die).
• and he himself will be saved: Perhaps he would repent and not be condemned (cp. 2 Cor 2:5-8 n).
• on the day the Lord returns: Literally in the day of the Lord, which includes the final judgment.
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