Deliver such a one to Satan

"deliver such a one to Satan for destruction of the flesh, so that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord."
1Cor 5:5 BLB

What does this mean? The most popular theory is that the man was just cut out of the local chuch in Corinth. But how such a thing destroys the body?

Its not the throwing out of the church that destroys the body. Its the sin.

In regards to destruction of the flesh, I've heard everything from physical punishment/chastisement to physical death.

The most popular theory that you mentioned seems to line up with AT Robertson's commentary below.

For the destruction of the flesh (εις ολετρον της σαρκος — eis olethron tēs sarkos). Both for physical suffering as in the case of Job (Job 2:6) and for conquest of the fleshly sins, remedial punishment. - https://www.biblestudytools.com/com...pictures/1-corinthians/1-corinthians-5-5.html

Ultimately, Paul does seem to have the restoration of this man in view.

God does kill His unrepentant child . . . God would rather call him home than to allow him to continue to destroy his testimony.

Another verse which contributes to this view is found with the Lord's table in our local churches.

"But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup. For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord's body. For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep" (I Corinthians 11:28-30).

I believe it has been made clear on this site from previous posts that to 'sleep' is to be dead.

A great concern of mine is for those pastors that allow people to partake in the Lord's table without teaching them the seriousness of the ordinance. In approaching this, sin needs to be confessed and the Blood of Christ applied to the cleansing of their souls.

Some are confused about the issue of eternal security. They say, what if a person continues to sin after they are saved - will they not lose their salvation? God has established borders for many things, including a limit to how much a person can make a mockery of this free gift of salvation. Once it is apparent that the erring child has no intentions of getting right with God, God calls them home.

A study of the shepherd and his sheep comes in handy. The Rod and the staff were the same tool. One end was crooked in order to steer the lamb back on track . . . the other end, the rod, was a sharp point that the shepherd would use to jab it back onto the path. When that was no longer effective, more drastic measures were employed. Simply put, if a lamb continues to get out of formation (the shepherd was personally responsible for any damage one of his animals did to a farmer's land and the only had small paths to walk through) the shepherd would sling a stone and break a leg of the animal. He would carry it until it was healed. If, however, the sheep continues to stray the next stone will be aimed at it's head - to kill it.

The shepherd is a biblical type of the Lord. We are the sheep of His fold.

I believe Paul was saying to hand the person over to the worldly authorities of the kingdoms of this world..

I believe satan is in control of worldly kingdoms,, He tried to tempt Jesus by offering all the kingdoms of the world if he would worship him..

Your both answers are interesting. Disease or punishment by come court...

It actually makes more sense than to lose "membership" in the local church.

are the worldy authorities going to necessarily punish a believer caught in sin? like covetousness, for example? our consumerist society strongly encourages that, so what government is going to destroy the flesh of someone who wants to buy new iPhones and Gucci purses?

I think it relates to the prodigal son. He was in his flesh and thought the grass was greener on the other side. So his father let him go. Letting the son go, he got to see exactly what it was he was wanting and it was awful. So he came back. Not all would come back though.

For example Jews were stoning people caught in adultery. Maybe there was some similar, bodily punishment like whipping, in Corinth?

But to call it "give him to Satan", is a strange thing to do...

Well If I were to guess I would think it is more of a way of correction or punishment. The reason I say this is because I have noticed at least for me when I am living in sin attacks from the enemy seem to be more frequent and sometimes more severe, I can't remember what it was but I recall a scripture that speaks of God letting people give into their own lusts because they simply wouldn't listen and it took the painful outcome of their fleshly desires to make them turn to god. Or maybe not I am kind of half asleep this morning so please excuse me if i am wrong.

But I do know pain is a great teacher, I myself sadly normally learn things the hard way. So maybe God allows the enemy to attack us to a point to get us to turn back to him, but again I apolagize if i am wrong I had little to no sleep last night so even as I am typing this I am not entirely sure what I am saying

What you said makes perfect sense. I’ve experienced this same thing: when I am in sin I experience more attacks from Satan and it’s lead me to repentance back to God. You speak truth.

The offense that Paul was talking about in this incident was far more serious then covetousness..

1 Corinthians 5: KJV
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."

Do you mean "dead", like "looking at the underside of a lawnmower" dead?

Or, do you mean "sleep" as in "spiritually asleep", or "spiritually dead?"

Isaiah 56:10
His watchmen are blind: they are all ignorant, they are all dumb dogs, they cannot bark; sleeping, lying down, loving to slumber.

Mark 13:36
Lest coming suddenly he find you sleeping.

Romans 13:11
And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed.

1 Thessalonians 5:6
Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober.

I take it from the responses that folks can't stomach the idea that God kills believers for destroying their testimony . . .

I think Blain, many people confuse, wrongfully so, the "Shepherd's Staff", of (a) course correction, to "attacks" from satan!

Albeit very true, that satan, although the "prince" of this world, is STILL under God's Authority! So, when stronger measures are needed, or warranted? Yeah? It can "seem" that way in these "attention deficited" days! Although, when "over viewing" the Bible as a whole? One would, or should realize that "attention deficit", has been around for a whole lot longer then these days!

I was once delivered to Stan the school principle.

Is it Romans one you are thinking of?

Romans 1 (KJV)

18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness;

19 Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them.

20 For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:

21 Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.

22 Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools,

23 And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things.

24 Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves:

25 Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.

26 For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature:

27 And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet.

28 And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient;

29 Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers,

30 Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents,

31 Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful:

32 Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.

there's also,


so it would be strange for Paul to mean hand over people to the local secular government for penal sentencing, since far separated from the verse in the OP, in the same letter he's arguing against deferring to municipal judgement. as far as i know, the particular man in ch.5 wasn't committing a crime against the state anyway, but base immorality.