Paul addressed gross immorality in the congregation — a man living with his father's wife — which the Corinthian church tolerated without mourning or removing the offender.
The sin was so open that it was 'reported commonly,' and even the pagan Gentiles would not practice such a thing. Les Feldick emphasizes that the Corinthians were condemned not merely for the sin itself but for being puffed up and refusing to act. Paul had already judged the matter and instructed the gathered church to deliver the man to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, not the destruction of his soul.
1 Corinthians 5:1 — This verse names the exact issue Paul confronted: fornication in the Corinthian church, with a man having his father's wife.
In 1 Corinthians 5:1, Paul reports the issue: 'It is reported commonly that there is fornication among you, and such fornication as is not so much as named among the Gentiles, that one should have his father's wife.' The Scripture goes on to say the Corinthians were 'puffed up, and have not rather mourned, that he that hath done this deed might be taken away from among you' (1 Corinthians 5:2). Paul's instruction was direct: 'In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, when ye are gathered together, and my spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ, 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' (1 Corinthians 5:4-5). Later, in 2 Corinthians 2:5, Paul acknowledges the grief was not universal: 'But if any have caused grief, he hath not grieved me, but in part: that I may not overcharge you all.' The Scripture also warns that 'a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump' (1 Corinthians 5:6).
Les Feldick explains that the issue Paul addressed was an open case of gross immorality — a stepson and his stepmother living together as husband and wife — conduct so low that even the immoral city of Corinth, and the pagan Gentiles, would not name it [Clip 5][Clip 4]. The congregation knew about it because it was 'reported commonly'; it was not done in a corner [Clip 5]. Les stresses that Paul's grief was not directed at the whole congregation, but only at a fraction: 'it wasn't the whole congregation that was grieving him, but it was a percentage, a fraction' [Clip 0]. The real point of condemnation was that the Corinthians were so puffed up that they had not mourned or removed the man from fellowship [Clip 4]. Paul had already judged the matter and said there was no room for argument — the church had to deal with it [Clip 1]. Les also clarifies the remedy Paul gave: the corporate church, gathered in the name and power of the Lord Jesus Christ, was to deliver such a one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh — his physical life — not the destruction of his soul and spirit, because he was still a believer [Clip 7][Clip 2]. Les points out that these recent converts from paganism were constantly tempted to go back into their old lifestyle [Clip 3][Clip 0], and he draws the application that churches today face the same problem of open sin being ignored and must confront it rather than letting it slide [Clip 2][Clip 1]. He also notes that the congregation was plagued with malice and other wickedness as leaven, yet God did not give up on them [Clip 6].
The sin was a man having his father's wife. Les says the commentators are pretty much agreed that a stepson and his stepmother were living together as husband and wife — a gross immoral situation even for Corinth, as immoral as that city was. It was reported commonly, meaning it was open and known by the whole congregation, and Paul says such fornication was not so much as named among the Gentiles, because even those pagan Gentiles would not do what this couple was doing.
The condemnation was not only that the sin existed but that the Corinthians were 'puffed up' and had not rather mourned that he who had done this deed might be taken away from among them — that is, removed from the church congregation, not put to death, but removed from fellowship. Les says Paul had already come to a conclusion as though he were present: 'there's no room for argument. You have to deal with it.' The apostle was not condemning the whole congregation, but the part that was failing to act.
Paul's remedy was corporate. Les emphasizes that the body of believers was to confront the couple and, when gathered together in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ — with Paul present in spirit and with the power of the Lord Jesus Christ — deliver such a one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh. This was corporate church discipline, not something to be ignored or excused by saying 'oh, well, let them live.'
No. Les is careful to show that 'the flesh and the soul and spirit are not the same.' Paul was not demanding the destruction of the man's soul and spirit as a believer; otherwise he would not have been addressed as such in the Corinthian letter. The destruction was of his physical life or flesh, which is within Satan's power when God grants it to him — as in the book of Job — so that his spirit might be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.
Les applies the passage to the modern church: 'our whole moral climate is just simply falling away' and 'the moral fiber is just rotting away from under us.' The very same acts can take place in local churches with nobody thinking anything of it. When there is gross immorality or covetousness, the church has to make a point of it rather than turning a blind eye. Les also notes that Corinth was plagued with malice and other forms of wickedness as leaven permeating the little congregation, yet God didn't give up on them and kept them growing.
Only a Fraction of the Congregation Caused Grief
Les explains that the Corinthians were recent converts still dipping back into their old pagan lifestyle, and that only a percentage — not the whole congregation — caused Paul's grief, as Paul himself says in 2 Corinthians 2:5.
Paul Had Already Judged the Matter
Les emphasizes that Paul refused to let the sin slide: though absent in body, he was present in spirit and had come to a conclusion — the church had to deal with the sinful situation with no room for argument.
The Church Must Confront Open Sin Corporately
Les shows that the remedy was not to turn a blind eye; the body of believers had to confront the couple and take corporate action in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ when gathered together.
Carnal Believers Tempted by Old Practices
Les describes the Corinthians as carnal believers whom Paul taught with everything at his disposal, constantly addressing their behavioral problems including idolatry and immoral practices.
The Stepson and Stepmother Situation
Les explains that the commentators agree a stepson and his stepmother were living together as husband and wife, and that Paul condemned the Corinthians for being puffed up instead of mourning and removing the man from fellowship.
Open Sin Reported Commonly Among Them
Les highlights that this was not done in a corner; it was commonly reported, and the sin was so low that even the pagan Gentiles would not practice such a thing — one had his father's wife.
Leaven of Malice and Wickedness in the Congregation
Les notes that the congregation was also plagued by malice and other wickedness permeating the little church like leaven, yet God did not give up on them.
Delivering the Man to Satan for the Flesh
Les clarifies that delivering the man to Satan was for the destruction of the flesh — his physical life — not the destruction of his soul and spirit; he remained a believer, as with the book of Job.
1 Corinthians 5:1: It is reported commonly that there is fornication among you, and such fornication as is not so much as named among the Gentiles, that one should have his father's wife.
This verse names the exact issue Paul addressed in the Corinthian church.
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.
This verse shows the Corinthians' sinful response: being puffed up instead of mourning and removing the offender.
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,
Part of Paul's instructed remedy, calling for corporate action in the name of the Lord Jesus 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.
It clarifies the purpose of the discipline: destruction of the flesh, not of the soul, so the spirit may be saved.
2 Corinthians 2:5: But if any have caused grief, he hath not grieved me, but in part: that I may not overcharge you all.
Paul's later reflection that only a part of the congregation, not all, caused him grief.
1 Corinthians 5:6: Your glorying is not good. Know ye not that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump?
The warning that tolerated sin spreads like leaven through the whole congregation.
Paul reported that a man had his father's wife — commentators agree a stepson and stepmother were living together as husband and wife. The sin was so open it was reported commonly, and even the pagan Gentiles would not name such conduct.
Not merely for the sin in their midst, but because they were puffed up and had not mourned. They failed to remove the offender from the fellowship, and Paul said there was no room for argument — it had to be dealt with.
He meant the gathered church, acting in the name and power of the Lord Jesus Christ, should turn the man over to Satan for the destruction of the flesh — his physical life — so that his spirit might be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus. It was not a demand for the destruction of his soul.
No. Paul wrote that only a part — a fraction or percentage — of the congregation caused him grief, and that he might not overcharge them all. The situation involved the sin of believers in the local congregation.
Watch the Teaching: What It Means to Be Sealed by the Holy Spirit — 2 Corinthians 1:21-22