Paul may have drawn on Job 2:6 to formulate the last verse above. For the most part, I had previously thought Paul was just telling the Corinthians to kick the man out of the congregation thereby losing, at least temporarily, the salvific benefits provided by the Christ. Paul concluded the issue here with this ---
But what was Paul’s intention, and how might the Corinthians --- steeped in their own cultural paradigms --- have perceived Paul’s words?
I have always been a little surprised at the strong response of the Corinthians to Paul’s demand here. The issue continues in the now composite letter we call 2 Corinthians. Here is how I think the on-going issue evolved ----
Paul heard back --- from his junior-partner who had delivered the letter 1 Corinthians --- that the Corinthians were upset about Paul’s demand. And they didn’t expel the man, but rather they might have already forgiven him. Paul had other priorities at this point-in-time (like the collection for the “saints”). Choosing his battles --- and trying hard to spin the narrative on the grief he had caused them by blaming the man and focusing on his own anguish --- Paul gave-in on his demand, and forgave the man too ---
Were the Corinthians grieved just because Paul demanded that they expel the man, or might they have perceived Paul’s demand as something much more severe? I think the cultural background can shed some light. In his 1927 work, Light From the Ancient East --- The New Testament Illustrated by Recently Discovered Texts of the Gaeco-Roman World, Deissmann places Paul’s demand in the context of an execration.
The technical language associated with these execrations --- common in antiquity --- were used to ---
Paul ---
A 4th C. CE London Magical Papyrus, of which Deissmann says, “its formulae are ancient” ---
And a much older 3rd C. BCE lead curse tablet ---
In the eyes of the Corinthians, Paul demanded a very serious and potentially powerful curse --- a gathering together to call on the power of the Lord Jesus to deliver the man to Satan for destruction of his flesh. Such things were likely taken very seriously.
A roguish rascal or not, apparently the Corinthinas were not prepared to go that far with their friend.
robert j
*** In Greek mythology Hecate (Hekate) was characterized in various ways, as are most ancient deities, but was seen by many as a deity of the lower world who sent demons from the lower world at night and dwelled at times with the souls of the dead. The Erinyes were the “Furies”, deities of vengeance and retribution for crimes against the natural order.