1 Corinthians 5:5
you are to deliver this man to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, so that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This page isn't yet indexed by search engines.
This verse isn't about God punishing someone by sending them to Satan, but rather about the church handing them over to Satan's destructive influences for the purpose of saving their spirit. The "destruction of the flesh" is a harsh, but ultimately redemptive, process meant to strip away sinful desires and hardened heart, so that the person might turn back to God before it's too late.
Paul is addressing a shocking situation in the Corinthian church: a man is openly living with his father's wife, an act considered deeply immoral even by pagan standards. This letter is confronting their laxity in dealing with sin within the community and challenging them to exercise church discipline. The verse demands a severe, external judgment on the offender, aimed at his spiritual salvation rather than his destruction.
This verse sounds harsh, even brutal. 'Deliver this man to Satan'? What could possibly justify such a drastic action within the community of faith?
Paul isn't suggesting random punishment. The Corinthian church was tolerating what he calls 'sexual immorality that is not even named among the Gentiles' (1 Corinthians 5:1).
The Goal: Destruction of the Flesh
This 'destruction of the flesh' refers to removing the sinful passions and desires that have taken root in this man's life. It's about confronting the destructive power of unrepentant sin, which isolates him from God's fellowship and leads to spiritual decay.
The Hope: Spirit Saved
By handing him over to Satan, the community is essentially severing his ties to the life and protection of the church, exposing him to the harsh realities of a life without God's immediate covering. This painful separation is meant to be a severe wake-up call, leading him to repentance. The ultimate goal isn't destruction, but the salvation of his spirit on judgment day. It's a tough love approach, aiming for eternal rescue.
The phrase 'deliver this man to Satan' is striking. Is Paul giving Satan permission to wreak havoc, or is there a deeper theological point being made?
In the New Testament, Satan is depicted as the accuser, the tempter, and the one who seeks to destroy (1 Peter 5:8). However, his power is ultimately limited by God.
God's Sovereign Hand
When Paul instructs the Corinthians to hand the man over to Satan, it's within the framework of God's sovereignty. It's not a free-for-all. Instead, it's placing the man under the natural, painful consequences of living outside of God's immediate covenantal protection as experienced in the church community. This might include facing intense spiritual opposition or experiencing the emptiness of a life estranged from God.
A Harsh Tutor
Think of Satan here as a harsh tutor, allowed by God to administer a painful lesson. The 'destruction of the flesh' he might inflict is meant to strip away the sinful pride and illusion of self-sufficiency, forcing the individual to confront their desperate need for God's mercy.
Understand the original words
paradidōmi · Greek Verb
The act of handing someone over to the adversary; in church discipline, it represents excluding an unrepentant believer from the protective fellowship of the local body, thereby exposing them to the influence of the world and the consequences of their sin.
sarx · Greek Noun
Referring to the physical life or the sinful nature; in this context, it pertains to the worldly or corrupt aspects of human existence that are subject to divine discipline for the purpose of mortification.
pneuma · Greek Noun
The immaterial part of human beings, created by God and capable of life in communion with Him; it is the aspect of the human being that is preserved and redeemed through Christ.
hēmera tou kyriou · Greek Noun Phrase
The discipline described in 1 Corinthians 5 occurs within the context of a newly formed church in a deeply immoral Gentile city. Paul's instruction to 'deliver to Satan' was a severe, public act of excommunication within the early church, meant to bring about repentance and spiritual restoration.
c. AD 41-50
Paul's Ministry in Corinth
Paul establishes the church in Corinth during his second missionary journey, facing significant opposition and cultural challenges. This new community would grapple with adapting their lives to Christ's teachings amidst a deeply pagan society.
c. AD 50-52
Founding of the Corinthian Church
The church in Corinth is founded by Paul, bringing together people from diverse backgrounds, including both Jews and Gentiles, slaves and free, but also exposing them to the city's pervasive immorality and philosophical debates.
c. AD 55— this verse
Paul Writes 1 Corinthians
Paul writes this letter from Ephesus in response to reports and a letter from the Corinthian believers, addressing numerous issues including divisions, sexual immorality, and doctrinal disputes that plagued the church.
c. AD 55
Addressing Severe Immorality
The letter specifically addresses a case of a man living with his stepmother, a sin so egregious that Paul states, 'such sexual immorality is not tolerated even among the Gentiles.' This is the context for the discipline described in chapter 5.
This passage describes handing over individuals to Satan for the purpose of learning not to blaspheme, mirroring the corrective, though severe, action in Corinthians.
1 Corinthians 11:30Paul speaks of illness and death as consequences of unworthy participation in the Lord's Supper, showing a pattern of God using suffering to discipline believers.
Job 1:12In Job's story, Satan is allowed to afflict him, demonstrating that even destructive actions by the 'adversary' can be under divine permission and serve a greater purpose.
Deuteronomy 17:7The principle of removing evil from the community is established here, showing that serious sin requires decisive, communal action to protect the whole body.
This verse isn't about God punishing someone by sending them to Satan, but rather about the church handing them over to Satan's destructive influences for the purpose of saving their spirit. The "destruction of the flesh" is a harsh, but ultimately redemptive, process meant to strip away sinful desires and hardened heart, so that the person might turn back to God before it's too late.
Paul is addressing a shocking situation in the Corinthian church: a man is openly living with his father's wife, an act considered deeply immoral even by pagan standards. This letter is confronting their laxity in dealing with sin within the community and challenging them to exercise church discipline. The verse demands a severe, external judgment on the offender, aimed at his spiritual salvation rather than his destruction.
Get the original Greek and Hebrew, verse-by-verse context, and related passages inside the app.
Ask a follow-up
Ask Sola things like:
Live chat about 1 Corinthians 5:5 is available in the Sola app.
The time of Christ's final return, associated with the final judgment, the vindication of believers, and the establishment of God’s kingdom in its fullness.
Paul is addressing a shocking situation in the Corinthian church: a man is openly living with his father's wife, an act considered deeply immoral even by pagan standards. This letter is confronting their laxity in dealing with sin within the community and challenging them to exercise church discipline. The verse demands a severe, external judgment on the offender, aimed at his spiritual salvation rather than his destruction.
"you are to deliver this man to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, so that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord." — This verse isn't about God punishing someone by sending them to Satan, but rather about the church handing them over to Satan's destructive influences for the purpose of saving their spirit. Th…
