SPECIAL TOPIC: EXCOMMUNICATION

SPECIAL TOPIC: EXCOMMUNICATION (from 1 Corinthians 5)

1 Corinthians 5:8 says, "to deliver such a one to Satan for the destruction of his flesh." "Deliver" is the Greek term paradidōmi, which is used in the Gospels of turning someone over to the authorities for appropriate punishment (cf. Matt. 4:12; 5:25; 10:4,17; 18:34; 20:19; 26:15; 27:2,18,26) and in Romans (cf. Rom. 1:24,26,28) for turning someone over to evil spiritual powers. This usage fits this context best (i.e., Satan being identified).

This is similar to 1 Tim. 1:20. There has been much discussion among scholars and commentators over what this involves. Some see it as resulting in

the ultimate physical punishment (i.e., death), as in Exod. 31:14,15; 35:2; Acts 5 and 1 Cor. 3:17; 11:30
total excommunication, putting one out of the church (Matt. 18:17; Rom. 16:17; 1 Cor. 5:12-13) and into the realm of Satan's activity, which is the world (cf. John 12:31; 16:11; 1 Cor. 4:4; 1 John 5:19), where his alienation from fellowship with God and His people may turn him back to God and avert eschatological judgment

Paul saw the world as the domain of Satan (cf. Eph. 2:2). The evils which occur in this world (i.e., death, disease, loss, etc.) are attributed to the evil one, Satan (cf. 2 Cor. 12:7; 1 Thess. 2:18).

SPECIAL TOPIC: APOSTASY

SPECIAL TOPIC: SATAN