1 CorinthiansНамуна

In the church, there is a man committing such a grievous sexual sin that even the unbelieving citizens of Corinth view it as terrible. He was living in a marriage-like relationship with his stepmother, which in Corinth was not only frowned upon but was actually forbidden under Roman law. If this had become public and gone to court, the punishment would have been exile to an island, and both (the stepson and stepmother) would have lost their entire fortune. The Old Testament also very clearly forbids incest in this form (Leviticus 18:8).

This, therefore, is not a matter of a particularly strict Christian sexual morality, but of a sexual crime.

In verse 2, Paul arrives at his actual concern: as terrible as the man's sexual offense is, it is even more serious that the church tolerates such behavior. They were likely even proud of how tolerant they were toward this sinful conduct. Their tolerance, however, is not love but indifference to sin. Behind this attitude lies a false understanding of grace, which Paul will address further in chapter 6.

For the protection of the church, it must not condone such behavior in its ranks. He calls on the congregation to separate from this brother. He compares the sin to leaven that can work its way through the entire dough. If the church does not take sin seriously, it can lead to a general hardening and lack of repentance.

The goal of this exclusion from the church, however, is not to condemn the person but to lead him to repentance and thus to salvation. The goal of discipline is not punishment but restoration. The exclusion is intended to make the brother aware that his behavior is endangering his relationship with God and the church. It is about moving him to repentance and giving him the opportunity to return to healing and reconciliation with God. The exclusion is also an act of love to help the brother recognize his sin and come to repentance. Some commentators see an indication in 2 Corinthians 2:5-11 that this is, in fact, what happened.

In verse 4, Paul describes how the exclusion is to take place: With his spirit in the power of our Lord Jesus. This means that although Paul is not physically present, he is spiritually united with the church. He acts with the authority given to him by Christ and is therefore equipped to guide the church in such serious matters. The power of Jesus Christ is not his own but that of Jesus himself, which enables the church to act in love, grace, and with hope for restoration.

For Reflection

Sometimes, one gets the impression that Christians are quick to judge the sinners of the world but fail to see the log in their own eye.