1 Corinthians 5:3-5

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Corinthians 5:5

Verse 5 5.To deliver to Satan for the destruction of the flesh. As the Apostles had been furnished with this power among others, that they could deliver over to Satan wicked and obstinate persons, and made use of him as a scourge to correct them, Chrysostom, and those that follow him, view these words of Paul as referring to a chastisement of that kind, agreeably to the exposition that is usually given of another passage, in reference to Alexander and Hymeneus, (Titus 1:20.) To deliver over to... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Corinthians 5:1-5

The socially immoral in Churches. "It is reported commonly that there is fornication among you," etc. The greater portion of this chapter is taken up with one subject, that is, gross social immorality. The verses before us suggest three general remarks— I. THAT THE SOCIALLY IMMORAL SOMETIMES FIND THEIR WAY INTO CHRISTIAN CHURCHES . It had been reported to Paul that there were some members of the Corinthian Church guilty of gross "fornication;" that one of the... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Corinthians 5:1-5

Excision of a flagrant offender from the Church. No haste was evinced by the apostle to reach a question that gave him much anxiety. Among the striking phenomena incident to mind as connected with body, the rate of movement in ideas is worthy of notice. Certain classes of ideas, such as those associated with instinctive action, are very rapid. And equally noticeable is the fact that thoughts involving the spontaneous intellect are more swift than those belonging to the volitional... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Corinthians 5:1-6

Church discipline. From the subject of the party divisions at Corinth, the apostle passes on to consider other evils which had come to his knowledge. The first is a case of incest, in which a member of the Church had married, or was cohabiting with, his stepmother; and this incestuous person was permitted to remain in the Christian community. Such a case gives us a glimpse into the sad condition of Corinthian society. This heterogeneous population was exposed to three influences that were... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Corinthians 5:1-7

Church discipline. I. FLAGRANT SIN IS NOT TO BE TOLERATED IN THE CHURCH . Though the precepts of Christianity are most pure, professors are sometimes impure. The Corinthian Church furnished a deplorable example. The sin of one of its members was a sin which was "not even among the Gentiles." Occasionally occurring among them, but exceptional even in such debased communities; held in general reprobation, not countenanced by their laws. Into the purest society a great... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Corinthians 5:1-8

Excommunication of an incestuous offender. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Corinthians 5:2-5

Right feeling towards erring brethren. There have been a great variety of forms in which men have attempted to associate religion and immorality. Multiplied explanations and excuses have been given, if so be the indulgence of the immoral may be maintained; but it remains as searchingly true as ever it was, that into the kingdom of our Lord and Saviour—here or yonder—nothing entereth that "defileth, or worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: and that every Christian man should know how to... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Corinthians 5:3

For I verily . The broken structure of the verse shows the deep emotion with which it was penned—as it were with sobs. St. Paul contrasts the line which he means to take with the lax condonation granted by the Corinthian Church. As absent; rather, being absent or though absent. The as is omitted in the best manuscripts. But present in spirit; literally, in the spirit;' but he is referring to his own spirit: "Bodily I am absent; but speaking as though my spirit were present in... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Corinthians 5:3

"Absent in body, but present in spirit." Much as Paul loved his converts in the city of Corinth, he could not, at the period when he wrote this Epistle, think of visiting them. Their conduct in the matter treated in this chapter so distressed his pure and affectionate heart, so disappointed his expectations, that he felt constrained to remain absent from them. But in so doing he was not showing any lack of interest in their Christian life or their Church proceedings. Quite the contrary; he... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Corinthians 5:4

In the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ. The word "Christ" is probably an addition. The clause may either be taken with "when ye are gathered together," or with "to deliver". With the power of our Lord Jesus. Each clause adds solemnity to the scene in which St. Paul imagines himself as standing with them in the spirit, and joining with the assembly of the Church, and armed with the authority of Christ, while he pronounces on the offender the sentence on which he had already determined. That... read more

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