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Originally Posted by testallthings
This contradicts his footnote (someone might say that there isn't enough space to explain everything in the footnote). I believe the footnotes should be considered as is “final word” on things shared in the LS.
Lastly, he suggests that we can do the same! “We also may learn to visit a brother by our spirit. While we remain at home, it is possible for our spirit to visit a brother.” I have never met a believer who claimed to have learned this practice! Did you, my dear readers? Did he (W.L.)?
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It's hard to know for sure what WL really intended to say here, but any way you look at it, WL spoke a bunch of nonsense.
This statement in his LS message is what I find to be particularly concerning: "
We also may learn to visit a brother by our spirit. While we remain at home, it is possible for our spirit to visit a brother. This is what Paul's spirit did regarding the situation at Corinth."
If there were such a possibility as what WL describes here, it would involve the paranormal. I doubt that WL really wanted to imply this, but that's what happens when he tries to interpret things too literally. There is a phrase in verse 3 that WL seemed to ignore - "as if being present". For me, "as if" implies that Paul did something (pronounced judgement) in the same way he would of had he been there physically.
The context of these verses is judgement. Paul knew about a situation that was reported, and he judged it accordingly. And it seems Paul's role in all this was only because he had a vested interest in Corinth and those in Corinth had failed to judge the immoral person. This brings me to my point. Since Paul had started the church there in Corinth, he cared about what was going on there. Part of the 'spirit' of Paul's ministry involved judgement when necessary. They failed in this regard, so Paul urged them to deliver the immoral one to Satan. Paul was the one who had taught the word of God to them. It would thus follow that they looked to him as an example and hopefully tried to follow his example.
This is what I see as the meaning of "when you and my spirit have been assembled". Paul urged them to take an action as if he was there. He already pronounced judgement, indicating that they should do the same.