003 - Paul handed them over to Satan. What does it mean? (suggested by Pamelasv)

Paul handed them over to Satan. What does it mean?

 

After much thought, I came to the conclusion that follows.

 

·        “Holding faith, and a good conscience; which some having put away concerning faith have made shipwreck: of whom is Hymenaeus and Alexander; whom I have delivered unto Satan, that they may learn not to blaspheme.” (1Timothy 1.19,20).

 

Here we have Hymenaeus and Alexander. Who are these two comrades?

Many think that this Alexander is the same as quoted in the passages below:

 

·        “The cloke that I left at Troas with Carpus, when thou comest, bring with thee, and the books, but especially the parchments. Alexander the coppersmith did me much evil: the Lord reward him according to his works: Alexander the coppersmith did me much evil: the Lord reward him according to his works:” (2Timothy 4.14).

 

Certainly not! Note that this Alexander, apart from being distinguished by his profession (coppersmith), lives in Troas.

 

·        “And the whole city was filled with confusion: and having caught Gaius and Aristarchus, men of Macedonia, Paul's companions in travel, they rushed with one accord into the theatre. And when Paul would have entered in unto the people, the disciples suffered him not. And certain of the chief of Asia, which were his friends, sent unto him, desiring him that he would not adventure himself into the theatre. Some therefore cried one thing, and some another: for the assembly was confused: and the more part knew not wherefore they were come together. And they drew Alexander out of the multitude, the Jews putting him forward. And Alexander beckoned with the hand, and would have made his defence unto the people. But when they knew that he was a Jew, all with one voice about the space of two hours cried out, Great is Diana of the Ephesians.” (Acts 19.29-34).

 

As for this Alexander, this yes I believe that it is the same individual. After all, they both live in Ephesus. It is quite probable that, in Acts, Alexander was trying to undermine Paul by inciting the multitude against him (Alexander was not, after all, one of Paul's disciples).

However, afterwards he must have converted and later blasphemed.

As for Hymenaeus, we can read about him below:

 

·        “And their word will eat as doth a canker: of whom is Hymenaeus and Philetus; who concerning the truth have erred, saying that the resurrection is past already; and overthrow the faith of some.” (2Timothy 2.17,18).

 

Note how, after being delivered to Satan, he contracted gangrene. This reminds us of what happened to Job:

 

·        “Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan came also among them. And the LORD said unto Satan, Whence comest thou? Then Satan answered the LORD, and said, From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it. And the LORD said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil? Then Satan answered the LORD, and said, Doth Job fear God for nought? Hast not thou made an hedge about him, and about his house, and about all that he hath on every side? thou hast blessed the work of his hands, and his substance is increased in the land. But put forth thine hand now, and touch all that he hath, and he will curse thee to thy face. And the LORD said unto Satan, Behold, all that he hath is in thy power; only upon himself put not forth thine hand. So Satan went forth from the presence of the LORD.” (Job 1.6-10).

·        “Again there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan came also among them to present himself before the LORD. And the LORD said unto Satan, From whence comest thou? And Satan answered the LORD, and said, From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it. And the LORD said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil? and still he holdeth fast his integrity, although thou movedst me against him, to destroy him without cause. And Satan answered the LORD, and said, Skin for skin, yea, all that a man hath will he give for his life. But put forth thine hand now, and touch his bone and his flesh, and he will curse thee to thy face. And the LORD said unto Satan, Behold, he is in thine hand; but save his life. So went Satan forth from the presence of the LORD, and smote Job with sore boils from the sole of his foot unto his crown.” (Job 2.1-7).

 

Here we see the Eternal delivering Job and his goods into the hands of Ha-Satan. When the Eternal delivered Job's goods to Ha-Satan, Ha-Satan destroyed them (including his children). When the Eternal delivered Job to Ha-Satan, he filled him with tumors from his feet to the top of his head.

Therefore, to deliver someone to Ha-Satan is a power that the Eternal has given to His Church of power, in the name of Jesus, to deliver someone to Ha-Satan so that their physical body may suffer some serious illness and, with this, their flesh Corrupted) be destroyed so that the spirit of this individual will be saved when Jesus comes.

Notice, however, that this act of discipline is aimed at the recovery of the sinner. It's not an act of revenge.

 

·        “For I verily, as absent in body, but present in spirit, have judged already, as though I were present, concerning him that hath so done this deed, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, when ye are gathered together, and my spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ, to deliver such an one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.” (1Corinthians 5.3-5).

 

The question comes: but how is it possible that delivering someone to Ha-Satan can bring salvation?

I struggled to understand this. See what Isaiah says:

 

·        “Ah sinful nation, a people laden with iniquity, a seed of evildoers, children that are corrupters: they have forsaken the LORD, they have provoked the Holy One of Israel unto anger, they are gone away backward. Why should ye be stricken any more? ye will revolt more and more: the whole head is sick, and the whole heart faint.” (Isaiah 1.4,5).

 

Note that when the individual is rebellious, there is no repair for him.

However, for the one who really is of Jesus, such a surrender to Ha-Satan promotes even if it occurred to Job: a living encounter with the Eternal Himself. Hence Paul says:

 

·        “Now I rejoice, not that ye were made sorry, but that ye sorrowed to repentance: for ye were made sorry after a godly manner, that ye might receive damage by us in nothing. For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death.” (2Corinthians 7.9,10).

 

May Jesus help us to have humility so that we willingly accept the correction of the Eternal so that we may enjoy the abundant life that Jesus promised (John 10.10), namely, a full life where we have all that is necessary for us And to those whom the Eternal has given us (without lacking anything - Psalm 34: 9, Matthew 6:33, Ephesians 1: 3, Philippians 4: 11-13, 2 Peter 1.3).