Commentaries:
Robertson's Word Pictures (NT)
To deliver such an one unto Satan (paradounai ton toiouton tw Satanai). We have the same idiom in I Timothy 1:20 used of Hymenius and Alexander. In II Corinthians 12:7 Paul speaks of his own physical suffering as a messenger (aggelov) of Satan. Paul certainly means expulsion from the church (verse I Corinthians 5:2) and regarding him as outside of the commonwealth of Israel (Ephesians 2:11 f.). But we are not to infer that expulsion from the local church means the damnation of the offender. The wilful offenders have to be expelled and not regarded as enemies, but admonished as brothers (II Thessalonians 3:14 f.).
For the destruction of the flesh (eiv oleqron thv sarkov). Both for physical suffering as in the case of Job (Job 2:6) and for conquest of the fleshly sins, remedial punishment.
That the spirit may be saved (ina to pneuma swqh). The ultimate purpose of the expulsion as discipline. Note the use of to pneuma in contrast with sarc as the seat of personality (cf. I Corinthians 3:15). Paul's motive is not merely vindictive, but the reformation of the offender who is not named here nor in II Corinthians 2:5-11 if the same man is meant, which is very doubtful. The final salvation of the man in the day of Christ is the goal and this is to be attained not by condoning his sin.
Other Robertson's Word Pictures (NT) entries containing 1 Corinthians 5:5:
1 Corinthians 1:10
1 Corinthians 5:3
2 Corinthians 7:15
1 Timothy 1:20
1 Timothy 6:9
2 Peter 3:10
DISCLAIMER: Church of the Great God (CGG) provides these resources to aid the individual in studying the Bible. However, it is up to the individual to "prove all things, and hold fast to that which is good" (I Thessalonians 5:21). The content of these resources does not necessarily reflect the views of CGG. They are provided for information purposes only.