Verse By Verse Devotional On 2 Corinthians By Pastor Jack #42

Punishment in the Church of Grace?

2:6 "Sufficient for such a one is this punishment which was inflicted by the majority."

Paul now refers to this man alluded to in verse 5, the man who had caused a problem during Paul’s visit by opposing the apostle in some way. In his "severe letter," it seems, Paul instructed the Corinthians to punish this man for his actions. Now, he says, it is time to bring his punishment to an end.

This raises the question of how to square the concept of punishment with the idea of forgiveness and grace. Isn’t the idea of punishing a violation of the very principle of forgiveness upon which the church is founded? And isn’t it a violation of Jesus’ command not to judge?

And yet we have Paul here apparently endorsing (and apparently originally commanding) punishment of a member of the church. And even if we’ve taken this verse wrongly and Paul did not command or even endorse this man’s punishment, he certainly did so in 1Cor.5:4-5:

"In the name of our Lord Jesus, when you are assembled, and I with you in spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus, deliver such a one to Satan for the destruction of his flesh, so that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus."

And there are many other places in the NT which speak of this "punishment":

Matt.18:15-17 "If your brother sins, go and show him his fault in private; if he listens to you, you have won your brother. But if he does not listen to you, take one or two more with you, so that by the mouth of two or three witnesses every fact may be confirmed. If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church; and if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector."

Rom.16:17 "Now I urge you, brethren, keep your eye on those who cause dissensions and hindrances contrary to the teaching which you learned, and turn away from them."

1Cor.5:12-13 "Do you not judge those who are within the church? But those who are outside, God judges. Remove the wicked man from among yourselves."

2Thess. 3:6 "Now we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you keep aloof from every brother who leads an unruly life and not according to the tradition which you received from us."

2Thess. 3:14 "If anyone does not obey our instruction in this letter, take special note of that person and do not associate with him, so that he may be put to shame."

1Tim.1:20 "Among these are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I have delivered over to Satan, so that they may be taught not to blaspheme."

Titus 3:10 "Reject a factious man after a first and second warning, knowing that such a man is perverted and is sinning, being self-condemned."

The church is not only to display God’s love and grace, but also His righteousness and purity. But the two are not at odds. Several of the verses above give us an indication of how the concept of punishment can be seen in harmony with the idea of grace. The purpose Paul gives for this Christian punishment is "that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus" and "so that they may be taught not to blaspheme" and "so that he may be put to shame."

One of the primary purposes for "handing over to Satan" through church discipline is to bring about repentance and, thus, the restoration of the person back to Christ and His Church. It is restorative not malicious, redemptive not vengeful. The goal and design of the process is to win back the separated person. It is an act of desperate love (much like radical chemotherapy for a cancer patient).

"Reprove them severely so that they may be sound in faith." (Titus 1:13)

Father, thank You that Your love is so great that You have given Your church instructions to use radical shock-therapy in order to reclaim straying sheep. Please revive Your church in love and in obedience regarding this practice. Teach us to do what Your word says and trust You for the results.