Tim Maas Retired Quality Assurance Specialist with the U.S. Army

If the question is referring to the case of the individual mentioned in 1 Corinthians 5 who was committing open adultery with his father's wife, I would say that Paul strongly advised or instructed the Christian congregation at Corinth to expel the individual from their church/fellowship.

However, I would also say that the ultimate authority for that action would have been (as I believe was intended by Paul) the congregation itself, rather than Paul.

(As a further indication of this, I would also say that Paul would not have altered the negative attitude toward the congregation that he expressed in that same chapter, if the congregation had failed to act with respect to this issue.)

February 01 2021 • 0 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report

Grant Abbott Child of Father, Follower of Son, Student of Spirit

Here is what the apostle Paul actually said.

"It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you, and of a kind that even pagans do not tolerate: A man is sleeping with his father’s wife. And you are proud! Shouldn’t you rather have gone into mourning and have put out of your fellowship the man who has been doing this? For my part, even though I am not physically present, I am with you in spirit. As one who is present with you in this way, I have already passed judgment in the name of our Lord Jesus on the one who has been doing this. So when you are assembled and I am with you in spirit, and the power of our Lord Jesus is present, hand this man over to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, so that his spirit may be saved on the day of the Lord. (1 Corinthians 5:1-5).

I wrote to you in my letter not to associate with sexually immoral people— not at all meaning the people of this world who are immoral, or the greedy and swindlers, or idolaters. In that case you would have to leave this world. But now I am writing to you that you must not associate with anyone who claims to be a brother or sister but is sexually immoral or greedy, an idolater or slanderer, a drunkard or swindler. Do not even eat with such people. What business is it of mine to judge those outside the church? Are you not to judge those inside? God will judge those outside. “Expel the wicked person from among you" (1 Corinthians 5:9-13).

Later Paul instructed the church to restore this man to their fellowship because he now had a repentant heart and had suffered enough.

February 02 2021 • 0 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report