What’s going on when a Bible passage looks like it should be about two people but ends up just being about one? People often ask about what happened to the man in the incident where a woman was caught in adultery. Similarly, in 1 Corinthians 5, we are told about a man who has been sleeping with his father’s wife. However, whilst Paul instructs church discipline against him, nothing is said about the other party, his dad’s wife. This seems unusual because the Law and indeed New Testament Church discipline (think of Ananias and Saphira) was concerned about both men and women and culpability. So, how come nothing is to be done about her? There are a few possibilities here.
- The woman has been disciplined for her sin. It’s just the man who seemed to get away with it.
- The woman has owned up and repented. This is how the case has come to light.
- The relationship was far from a consensual one between equal parties. She probably was not the man’s mum, rather a second wife and so have been his age or even younger. Regardless of this she was likely to have low status and no power.
- The woman, and maybe the man’s husband too, were not yet Christians and so beyond the discipline of the church.
Each of these scenarios is possible and would have its own implications. Personally, I’m inclined to the fourth option.
The important thing is this. Our focus should be on the case in front of us. This doesn’t mean that others have nothing to give account for. However, that may not always be possible. So we should focus on what we know and on those people we know. That’s where we are likely to have an affect.
Faithroots 