Bible Question: What does 1 Cor.5:5 mean? ("hand this man over to satan, so that the sinful nature may be destroyed and his spirit saved on the day of the Lord.") |
Bible Answer: Paul is specifically speaking about a man who married his father's wife. Instead of being appalled by this, the people of Corinth were bragging about it. How could someone involved in the church be committed to a sin that even the outside world considers abhorrable? It was interpreted as meaning that Paul wanted the man to be set out into the world (having his Christian church priveleges stripped) have him handed over to Satan to teach him a lesson about his sin (and the subsequent and self destructive pride that he had involved therein). His body may be broken, but his spirit will be saved, thus preventing him from that all-encompassing burning sensation that we know as Hell. This feeling, btw was echoed in 1 Timothy 1:20. Hope that helps, as this is direct from my NIV study Bible. |