Commentaries:
Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown
Besides excommunication (of which the Corinthians themselves had the power), Paul delegates here to the Corinthian Church his own special power as an apostle, of inflicting corporeal disease or death in punishment for sin ("to deliver to Satan such an one," that is, so heinous a sinner). For instances of this power, see Acts 5:1-11; Acts 13:11; 1 Timothy 1:20. As Satan receives power at times to try the godly, as Job (Job 2:4-7) and Paul (2 Corinthians 12:7; compare also as to Peter, Luke 22:31), much more the ungodly. Satan, the "accuser of the brethren" (Revelation 12:10) and the "adversary" (1 Peter 5:8), demands the sinner for punishment on account of sin (Zechariah 3:1). When God lets Satan have his way, He is said to "deliver the sinner unto Satan" (compare Psalms 109:6). Here it is not finally; but for the affliction of the body with disease, and even death (1 Corinthians 11:30, 1 Corinthians 11:32), so as to destroy fleshly lust. He does not say, "for the destruction of the body," for it shall share in redemption (Romans 8:23); but of the corrupt "flesh" which "cannot inherit the kingdom of God," and the lusts of which had prompted this offender to incest (Romans 7:5; Romans 8:9-10). The "destruction of the flesh" answers to "mortify the deeds of the body" (Romans 8:13), only that the latter is done by one's self, the former is effected by chastisement from God (compare 1 Peter 4:6):
the spirit . . . saved--the spiritual part of man, in the believer the organ of the Holy Spirit. Temporary affliction often leads to permanent salvation (Psalms 83:16).
Other commentary entries containing this verse:
1 Corinthians 5:1
1 Corinthians 5:4
1 Corinthians 6:9
2 Corinthians 2:3
2 Corinthians 2:6
2 Corinthians 2:6
2 Corinthians 2:11
2 Corinthians 10:4
2 Thessalonians 3:6
1 Timothy 1:20
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