What was the apostle Paul doing when he commanded those in authority in the Church to “ deliver such a one (a fornicator) to satan for the destruction of the flesh”  ( I Cor. 5:5)?  Why would Paul do this?   Is this really showing love to a person?

Like the individuals Paul described in I Timothy 1:19-20, this man was continuing to sin.  He was headed for the ultimate penalty of sin—death  (Romans 6:23).  He had cast aside the faith.  Those original Apostles had great authority from Christ  (I Cor.2:16; 7:25-26; and verse 40); read Acts 8: 18-23.  Paul told the congregation to deliver (to surrender) this man to satan; that was Paul’s judgment (v3). 

This fornicator was cut off from God’s people and God’s protection.  He was at the mercy of this world’s system and the power of satan, this world’s ruler.  This drastic action was for the purpose of waking him up and showing him his need to repent of his sin.  He may have suffered both physical and mental pain.  He was left to the devices of this world “that his spirit (Greek, pneuma – the mind, character or life) may be saved  in the day of the Lord Jesus” ( I Cor. 5:5).

If  the Church  had let him remain in fellowship  with God’s true people, he would  see no need to quit committing fornication with his father’s wife.  He might have been lost forever and faced ultimate destruction in the lake of fire, and he would have wrongly influenced others Church members.

What was the result of this excommunication or disfellowshipment?  Was it beneficial?  Yes!  This man repented and submitted to God because of this severe action, which Paul took in love.  Paul then wrote a letter to the Church congregation and commanded them to take this man back into their fellowship after his repentance (II Cor. 2:6-10).

God wants “all men to be saved” ( I Tim.2:4).  God  is a God of love.  He does everything with a purpose for our good. “...not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance” ( II Pet. 3:9).

~ editor