1 Corinthians 5:1

Context of 1 Corinthians 5:1

The Apostle Paul's letter to the church at Corinth addresses numerous issues plaguing the young Christian community, from divisions and lawsuits to questions about marriage and spiritual gifts. In 1 Corinthians 5:1, Paul confronts a particularly egregious moral failing that had become public knowledge within the Corinthian church. This verse immediately follows Paul's rebuke of their pride and factions, setting the stage for a strong condemnation of their tolerance for severe immorality. The church in Corinth, a major port city known for its widespread paganism and moral laxity, was evidently struggling to maintain a distinct Christian witness amidst its cultural surroundings.

Key Themes and Messages

• Shocking Immorality: The verse highlights an act of sexual immorality so severe—a man having sexual relations with his "father's wife" (his stepmother)—that it was considered scandalous even among the pagan Gentiles. This specific sin is a form of incest, explicitly forbidden in Old Testament law (Leviticus 18:8). The fact that it was "reported commonly" indicates a lack of corrective action by the church leadership and members.
• Church Purity and Discipline: Paul's immediate concern is not just the individual sin but its impact on the entire community. The presence of such open and unaddressed sin jeopardized the church's purity and integrity. This verse sets the stage for Paul's instruction on the necessity of church discipline and removing the unrepentant sinner from their fellowship to preserve the body's holiness.
• Reputation and Witness: The toleration of such a sin brought disgrace upon the name of Christ and the Christian community, undermining their evangelistic witness to the surrounding pagan world. The church's failure to address this issue suggested complicity or indifference, which was unthinkable for a community called to be set apart.

Linguistic Insights

The KJV phrase "reported commonly" translates the Greek word ἀκούω (*akouō*), meaning "to hear," indicating that this sin was widely known and not a secret. The term "fornication" is the Greek word πορνεία (*porneia*), a broad term encompassing all forms of illicit sexual immorality, including prostitution, adultery, and in this case, incest. The phrase "not so much as named among the Gentiles" emphasizes the extreme nature of the offense. It implies that even the morally degraded pagan society of Corinth, despite its many vices, typically condemned such a specific act of incest, making the church's tolerance of it even more appalling.

Practical Application

1 Corinthians 5:1 serves as a stark reminder of the church's responsibility to maintain moral integrity and holiness. It underscores that sin, especially unrepentant and open sin, cannot be tolerated within the Christian community without severe consequences for its spiritual health and public witness. For believers today, this verse highlights:

• The importance of personal holiness and avoiding any form of sexual immorality, understanding that our bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 6:19-20).
• The necessity for churches to exercise loving but firm discipline when serious, unrepentant sin is present, following biblical guidelines. This is not for judgment but for restoration and the protection of the flock.
• The impact of individual actions on the corporate body and the church's reputation in the world. As Paul later states in this chapter, "a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump" (1 Corinthians 5:6), meaning that unaddressed sin can corrupt the entire community.