1 Corinthians 5:3 Commentary and Bible Study

What is happening here is that Paul is acting in lieu of the elders of the church at Corinth. He is doing what the elders should have done, and have failed to do, as though he were there. Clearly the apostle knew very well that this sin had taken place, in order to have already judged it. He was able, even from afar to determine this issue. He would not have responded simply to a rumour, but he is able to make the judgement that the elders should have made. I ‘have judged already, as though I were present, concerning him that hath so done this deed.’ ‘As absent in body, but present in spirit, I have already judged.’ Of course he speaks as an apostle with special authority in the early church, and he represents the word of God to them. He gives direction for the church to gather, and to expel the sinful, the wicked member. The apostle is not acting as a bishop who has authority over a number of churches in a hierarchical church system, nor as some sort of an ecclesiastical superintendent, directing what the church should do from afar. There is no such thing in the Scripture. Scripturally, churches are independent and autonomous. If the apostle had been acting as some kind of a regional bishop, he would not have instructed them to gather and to expel the man themselves. He would have done it all himself without them. But he says, ‘You must get together in your members meeting, and this is what you must do.’ This case is so cut and dried, it is judged already. Now the members have to assemble, and obey the law of Christ, and expel the man from the fellowship and from the privileges of the church. So he is acting as an apostle. He had special authority, because he is setting an example to churches everywhere down the history of time. So, the apostolic direction is God’s instruction as to how we should act. The matter is proved and established by the standard of Scripture. The case is not to be tried by the church meeting. The trying authority of the church is the church officers. In the case of the Corinthian sinner, Paul pre-judged the case. Calvin says, ‘Pre-judged of course.’ With Spurgeon, if there was a sordid, disgraceful case, the officers would request not to present the details to the church. If the church felt its officers could be trusted, they would ratify the motion without even having heard the case.