1 Corinthians5

Paul addresses a severe case of incest within the Corinthian church and rebukes their complacency. He instructs them to excommunicate the offender, emphasizing the need to purge sin from the community like old leaven. Paul clarifies that while they must separate from immoral believers, judging those outside the church is God's role.
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Judging Immorality in the Church

1
It is reported commonly that there is fornication among you, and such fornication as is not so much as named among the Gentiles, that one should have his father's wife. ​
2
And ye are puffed up, and have not rather mourned, that he that hath done this deed might be taken away from among you. ​
3
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,
4
In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, when ye are gathered together, and my spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ,
5
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. ​

The Danger of Leaven

6
Your glorying is not good. Know ye not that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump? ​
7
Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us: ​
8
Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness; but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth. ​

Clarification on Social Separation

9
I wrote unto you in an epistle not to company with fornicators: ​
10
Yet not altogether with the fornicators of this world, or with the covetous, or extortioners, or with idolaters; for then must ye needs go out of the world. ​
11
But now I have written unto you not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such an one no not to eat. ​
12
For what have I to do to judge them also that are without? do not ye judge them that are within? ​
13
But them that are without God judgeth. Therefore put away from among yourselves that wicked person. ​

Study Notes for 1 Corinthians 5

Verse 1

The specific sin (a man having his father’s wife) was considered incestuous even under Roman law (likely his stepmother, as the father was possibly still alive). Paul emphasizes the severity, noting it was scandalous even among non-Christians.

Verse 2

Paul condemns their 'puffed up' attitude, which suggests they tolerated the sin, perhaps viewing it as a sign of their radical freedom in Christ. They should have mourned the presence of sin and initiated discipline.

Verse 5

“Deliver such an one unto Satan” refers to excommunication, removing the person from the protective fellowship of the church. This harsh measure is intended to shock the individual into repentance, saving the spirit through the destruction of the flesh (the sinful nature).

Verse 6

The leaven metaphor, common in Judaism (especially around Passover), illustrates how a small amount of sin or false teaching can quickly corrupt the entire community. Paul warns that their tolerance endangers the whole church.

Verse 7

The command to 'purge out' links the removal of sin to the Jewish practice of removing all leaven before the Passover Feast. Christ is identified as the sacrificial Passover Lamb, establishing believers as inherently 'unleavened' (holy in status).

Verse 8

Since Christ has been sacrificed, believers are now perpetually 'keeping the feast' (living the Christian life), which must be characterized by sincerity and truth, not malice and wickedness (the spiritual leaven).

Verse 9

Paul begins clarifying a misunderstood instruction from a previous, non-extant letter, stressing that social separation is necessary to maintain the purity of the church community.

Verse 10

Paul notes that complete separation from sinners in the outside world is impossible and would require leaving society entirely. The responsibility of church discipline is focused internally.

Verse 11

The list defines what constitutes 'wickedness' among those 'called a brother.' The command 'with such an one no not to eat' signifies a complete break in fellowship, including exclusion from the Lord’s Supper, the ultimate step of excommunication.

Verse 12

Paul emphasizes the boundary of the church’s authority: they are responsible only for judging and disciplining their own members ('them that are within').

Verse 13

The chapter concludes with a direct command for excommunication, likely quoting or adapting the disciplinary principle found in Deuteronomy 13:5, demanding the removal of the wicked person from the community.

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