Paul instructed the church to mourn over the man's sin, remove him from fellowship, and deliver him to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, so that his spirit might be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.
Paul commanded the gathered congregation to act corporately in the name and power of the Lord Jesus Christ. The goal was not the loss of the man's soul, but disciplinary judgment on his flesh—even deadly physical consequences if he did not repent—so that he would be saved in the day of Christ. Once the punishment had accomplished its purpose, the church was to forgive and comfort him so he would not be overwhelmed with sorrow.
1 Corinthians 5:4-5 — Paul's direct command for the gathered church, with the power of the Lord Jesus Christ, to deliver the offender to Satan for the destruction of the flesh.
1 Corinthians 5:2 — Paul rebukes the church for not mourning over the sin so that the offender might be removed from among them.
2 Corinthians 2:6-8 — Paul says the punishment inflicted by the majority was sufficient and instructs the church to forgive and comfort the restored man.
Paul addressed a specific case of gross immorality within the Corinthian church. He reproved the believers because they were 'puffed up' and had not mourned so that the offender 'might be taken away from among you' (1 Corinthians 5:2). He then gave the explicit remedy: when the church gathered together in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and with His power, they were to deliver such a one to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, 'that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus' (1 Corinthians 5:4-5). Later, in 2 Corinthians, Paul wrote that the punishment inflicted by the majority was sufficient. The church was to forgive and comfort the man 'lest perhaps such a one should be swallowed up with overmuch sorrow' (2 Corinthians 2:6-7). Paul also identified the purpose of this restoration: 'Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices' (2 Corinthians 2:11).
Les teaches that gross immorality in a local church cannot be ignored or tolerated. The church must confront the sin as a body of believers and take corporate action in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. Paul, though absent in body, had already judged the matter and there was no room for argument—the congregation was to act. Les stresses that 'deliver such an one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh' does not mean the destruction of the man's soul. The man remained a believer; otherwise Paul would not have addressed him as such in the Corinthian letter. The destruction of the flesh refers to physical life, which Satan can take when God grants it—as in the case of Job. Les also links this to the 'sin unto death': if the man continued in unrepentant incest, God would take him out of Corinth ahead of time. Les further teaches that the punishment inflicted by the majority was sufficient, and after it accomplished its purpose the church was to forgive and comfort the man so he would not be overwhelmed with excessive sorrow. The ultimate goal was to keep Satan from gaining an advantage over the believers, for 'we are not ignorant of his devices.'
Les teaches that when a grossly immoral situation is open and known in the church, believers cannot simply turn their eyes and say, 'Let them live.' The church must make a point of it and confront the offenders as a body of believers, in the name of the Lord Jesus, when they are gathered together. It is a corporate responsibility, not a private matter.
Les explains that this phrase means removal from church fellowship, not putting the man to death. The Corinthians should have mourned over the sin and taken action to exclude him from the congregation. This was the first step of discipline that Paul said they failed to take.
Les teaches that deliverance to Satan was for the destruction of the flesh, not the destruction of the soul or spirit. Since the man was a believer, his spirit would still be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus. The destruction of the flesh could mean physical suffering or even death, as Satan's power is exercised only when God permits it, like in the case of Job.
Les points out that all unrighteousness is sin, but not all sin is unto death. He views this man's continuing, unrepentant relationship with his stepmother as a sin worthy of death. If he refused to repent, God would take him out of Corinth—meaning the believer would die prematurely because of the grossness of the sin.
Les notes Paul's words: 'I verily as absent in body, but present in spirit.' Paul had already reached a conclusion and judged the matter as though he were present. The church was not to debate whether to act; Paul had already settled it.
Les explains that 'many' means the majority, not the whole congregation. When a majority of the assembly took action, it was sufficient, even if a minority disagreed. Paul was not condemning the entire congregation—only a fraction of them had caused the grief.
Les teaches that once the punishment had accomplished its goal, it was sufficient. The church was then to forgive the man and comfort him, so he would not be overwhelmed with excessive sorrow. Paul, acting in the name of Christ, could concur with the church's forgiveness. This restoration also kept Satan from gaining an advantage over the church, for believers are not ignorant of his devices.
Punishment Sufficient; Forgive and Comfort
Les shows that the punishment inflicted by the majority was sufficient; after that, the church must forgive and comfort the offender so he is not swallowed up by overmuch sorrow.
Corporate Confrontation
Les stresses that the church must confront gross immorality as a body, in the name of Jesus, rather than ignoring it.
Paul's Prior Judgment
Les explains that Paul had already reached a conclusion even while absent, so the Corinthians had no room for argument.
Delivered to Satan; Flesh Not Soul
Les clarifies that deliverance to Satan destroys the flesh—not the soul—and that the man remains a saved believer.
Removed from Fellowship
Les teaches that 'taken away from among you' means removal from church fellowship, not execution.
Sin Unto Death
Les identifies this man's continuing unrepentant sin as a 'sin unto death' that could cause God to take him prematurely.
Don't Ignore Gross Sin
Les insists the church must not look the other way when a believer is openly living in gross sin; it must point it out.
Restoration Thwarts Satan
Les explains that restoration and forgiveness kept Satan from gaining an advantage over the entire assembly.
1 Corinthians 5:2: And ye are puffed up, and have not rather mourned, that he that hath done this deed might be taken away from among you.
Paul rebukes the Corinthians for boasting instead of mourning and removing the immoral man from the assembly.
1 Corinthians 5:3: For I verily, as absent in body, but present in spirit, have judged already, as though I were present, concerning him that hath so done this deed.
Paul shows that he had already decided how the situation must be handled even though he was not physically present.
1 Corinthians 5:4: In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, when ye are gathered together, and my spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ,
The action was to be taken by the gathered church, corporately, in the authority of Christ.
1 Corinthians 5:5: To deliver such an one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.
The purpose of the discipline was the destruction of the physical flesh, not the eternal loss of the man's spirit.
2 Corinthians 2:6: Sufficient to such a man is this punishment, which was inflicted of many.
Paul says the punishment carried out by the majority had accomplished its purpose and was enough.
2 Corinthians 2:7: So that contrariwise ye ought rather to forgive him, and comfort him, lest perhaps such a one should be swallowed up with overmuch sorrow.
After the punishment, the church was to forgive and comfort the man so he would not be overwhelmed.
2 Corinthians 2:8: Wherefore I beseech you that ye would confirm your love toward him.
Paul urges the church to show restored love toward the repentant offender.
2 Corinthians 2:11: Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices.
The purpose of restoration was to prevent Satan from using the situation to gain an advantage over the church.
1 John 5:17: All unrighteousness is sin: and there is a sin not unto death.
Les uses this verse to explain that while all sin is sin, some sin is so gross that God may take a believer in death.
Yes, according to Les Feldick. Paul addressed him as part of the Corinthian church, and the instruction to deliver him to Satan was for the destruction of the flesh only, not the soul. His spirit was to be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.
It is a disciplinary action by the church through which God allows Satan to bring physical destruction—possibly sickness or death—upon the man's flesh. It is not the loss of his salvation.
The church should forgive and comfort him so he is not overwhelmed with excessive sorrow. This restoration also keeps Satan from gaining an advantage over the church.
Les teaches that the man's continuing unrepentant relationship with his stepmother was a gross sin worthy of death. If he did not turn from it, God would take him out of Corinth prematurely.
Watch the Teaching: What It Means to Be Sealed by the Holy Spirit — 2 Corinthians 1:21-22