What should the Corinthian congregation have done about the sin in 1 Corinthians 5?
The congregation should have mourned over the gross immorality instead of tolerating it, and removed the guilty man from their midst. Gathered in the name and power of the Lord Jesus, they were to deliver him to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, not his soul.
Les explains that Paul is admonishing the Corinthian congregation to deal with the sin in their midst. The immorality was so gross that even the Gentiles did not do anything that low, and the congregation had not rather mourned or grieved over it so that the one who did the deed might be taken away from among them. Paul had already judged how to deal with it as though present. He instructs that when they are gathered together as a congregation in the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ, and with His power, they are to deliver such a guilty man unto Satan—not for the destruction of his soul, but for the destruction of the flesh.
And ye are puffed up, and have not rather mourned, that he that hath done this deed might be taken away from among you.
Why was the Corinthian church's tolerance of this sin such a serious problem for the name of Christ?
The tolerance brought reproach upon the name of Christ throughout Corinth because even pagans knew of the unrebuked immorality. Instead of mourning and removing the offender from fellowship, the congregation was puffed up, so the open sin dishonored Christ before the city.
Why did Paul rebuke the Corinthians for being puffed up instead of mourning in 1 Corinthians 5:2?
He rebuked them because they tolerated gross immorality—a man having his father's wife—without mourning or removing the offender. Rather than grieving, they were puffed up, did nothing, and even gloated. Their pride made them just as guilty, since a little leaven permeates the whole loaf.
More Questions
How did the different factions in the Corinthian church respond to the sin in their midst?
Every faction in the Corinthian church — followers of Peter, of Apollos, and of Paul — was alike in tolerating the situation and not being bothered by it.
How did the Corinthians respond to the gross immorality that was happening in their church?
The Corinthians did nothing about the gross immorality; instead they were smiling about it and making snide remarks.
What was Paul's main point of condemnation against the Corinthians in 1 Corinthians 5?
Paul's real point of condemnation was not primarily the sin itself but that the Corinthians were puffed up instead of mourning over it.
Why did no one in the Corinthian church take action against the immorality?
You would have expected at least one segment of the congregation to rise up and insist that something be done about the sin.