Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices.
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Ambrosiaster
AD 400
Paul did not want this brother, being filled with sorrow and being rigorously excluded from the love of the church, to despair of himself. The devil, who is always subtle in his tricks, would then see that this man’s mind was an easy prey, approach him and suggest that at least he should enjoy the things of the present, given that he has been denied any hope of future reward. Thus the brother would perish, being possessed by the devil, even though an opportunity for repentance had been given him. Commentary on Paul’s Epistles.
Lest Satan should get an advantage over us. Lest we be deceived, and lest that fornicator be, by excessive severity, driven by Satan to despair. The Greek verb means, lest we be seized unjustly, and taken possession of by Satan, just as misers, usurers, and tyrants defraud, and rob, and oppress. Hence Ambrose renders it, "Lest we be possessed by Satan." For, as Theophylact says, when Satan catches and deceives souls, he does not seize what is his own but what is ours and Christ"s. Hence Tertullian (de Pudicit. c. xiii.) reads for the following clause: "We are not ignorant of his devices," "We are not ignorant of his robberies."
For we are not ignorant of his devices. Plutarch relates an excellent saying of Chabrias, that "he is the best commander who knows intimately the plans of the enemy." In like manner he is the best Christian soldier and captain who knows thoroughly the devices and machinations of Satan. He transforms himself into an angel of light, that that which is a suggestio...
The problem is not merely to recognize Satan’s designs but to play into them. Paul knows their dynamics, not so as to be engaged in them but so as not to be entrapped by them. .
In the name and in the person of Christ, I ordered him to be excommunicated; in the same, I order him now to be re-admitted into your communion, and this for your sake. We ought to take care that the remedies we employ, do not give occasion to the triumphs of Satan, by throwing the patient into despair, on account of our too great severity. (St. Ambrose)
The Greek may be translated: that we may not fall into the power of Satan, on account of our too great severity. (Calmet)
Do you see how he both commits the power to them and again takes away that by that he may soften them, by this eradicate their self will. But this is not all that he provides for by this, but shows also that should they be disobedient the harm would reach to all, just as he did at the outset also. For then too he said, A little leaven leavens the whole lump. 1 Corinthians 5:6 And here again, Lest Satan should get an advantage of us. And throughout, he makes this forgiveness the joint act of himself and them. Consider it from the first. But if any, says he, have caused sorrow he has caused sorrow not to me, but in part (that I press not too heavily) to you all. Then again, Sufficient to such a one is this punishment which was inflicted by the many. This is his own decision and opinion. He rested not however with this decision, but again makes them partners saying, So that contrariwise ye should rather forgive him and comfort him. Wherefore I beseech you to confirm your love towards him....
Satan can destroy even under the show of piety. For he can destroy not only by leading into fornication but even by the opposite, the immoderate sorrow which can follow on repentance for it. To take us by sin is his proper work, but to ensnare us in our repentance is an even more subtle disgrace, because that is our weapon, not his.
