1 Corinthians 5:1

KJV

¶ 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.

KJV (with Strong's)

It is reported {G191} commonly {G3654} that there is fornication {G4202} among {G1722} you {G5213}, and {G2532} such {G5108} fornication {G4202} as {G3748} is {G3687} not so much {G3761} as named {G3687} among {G1722} the Gentiles {G1484}, that {G5620} one {G5100} should have {G2192} his father's {G3962} wife {G1135}.

Complete Jewish Bible

It is actually being reported that there is sexual sin among you, and it is sexual sin of a kind that is condemned even by pagans — a man is living with his stepmother!

Berean Standard Bible

It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you, and of a kind that is intolerable even among pagans: A man has his father’s wife.

American Standard Version

It is actually reported that there is fornication among you, and such fornication as is not even among the Gentiles, that oneof you hath his father’s wife.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
The Apostle Paul opens his fifth chapter to the Corinthian church by confronting a gravely scandalous report: a prominent case of sexual immorality, specifically incest, so egregious that it was not even tolerated among the pagan Gentiles. This verse immediately establishes the urgent need for the church to address moral purity and discipline, highlighting their shocking complacency in allowing such a flagrant sin to persist openly within their fellowship, thereby compromising their witness and the integrity of the Christian community.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse serves as a jarring pivot in Paul's letter, moving from addressing internal divisions and spiritual immaturity (chapters 1-4) to confronting a specific, deeply disturbing moral failure. Paul's previous arguments about the church being God's temple and the need for spiritual maturity (e.g., [1 Corinthians 3:16-17](/1_corinthians/3-16-17 "1 Corinthians 3:16-17 - The Church as God's Temple")) are now brought to bear on a concrete ethical issue. The phrase "It is reported commonly" suggests that this sin was widely known and tolerated, setting the stage for Paul's strong condemnation and his subsequent instructions on church discipline in [1 Corinthians 5:2-13](/1_corinthians/5-2-13 "1 Corinthians 5:2-13 - Instructions on Church Discipline"). This immediate transition emphasizes the critical importance of moral purity for the health and witness of the church.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** Corinth was a bustling, cosmopolitan port city in ancient Greece, renowned for its wealth, trade, and unfortunately, its rampant immorality and syncretistic paganism. The city was home to numerous temples, including one dedicated to Aphrodite, where sacred prostitution was practiced. The phrase "not so much as named among the Gentiles" is particularly potent given this backdrop. While pagan societies certainly had their vices, even they had taboos, and incest, particularly with a stepmother (a violation of Roman law and widespread social norms), was considered abhorrent. The fact that the Corinthian church, a community called to be set apart for Christ, was tolerating a sin more scandalous than what was acceptable in pagan society, underscored their profound spiritual malaise and lack of discernment.
* **Key Themes:** This verse introduces several critical themes that Paul develops throughout [1 Corinthians 5](/1_corinthians/5 "1 Corinthians 5 - Purity in the Church"). Firstly, it highlights the theme of **Church Purity and Holiness**, emphasizing that the Christian community must reflect the holiness of God and not tolerate unrepentant sin within its ranks. Secondly, it underscores the theme of **Church Discipline**, laying the groundwork for Paul's instructions on how to address such severe moral failings to preserve the integrity of the body (e.g., [1 Corinthians 5:4-5](/1_corinthians/5-4-5 "1 Corinthians 5:4-5 - Delivering to Satan")). Thirdly, the verse touches on the **Reputation and Witness of the Church**, demonstrating how the church's internal conduct directly impacts its credibility and evangelistic effectiveness in the wider world. The scandal of this sin not only defiled the church internally but also brought disrepute upon the name of Christ among unbelievers.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **fornication (Greek, _porneía'_):** From G4202, this term broadly refers to all forms of illicit sexual immorality, including prostitution, adultery, and, as in this specific case, incest. It encompasses any sexual activity outside the bounds of a covenant marriage between a man and a woman. Its repeated use here underscores the pervasive and serious nature of the sin.
* **Gentiles (Greek, _éthnos'_):** From G1484, this word denotes a race or tribe, specifically referring to foreign, non-Jewish people, often implying pagan or heathen. Paul's use of "Gentiles" here is a rhetorical device to highlight the shocking nature of the sin; even those without God's explicit law, guided by natural conscience or social norms, would condemn such an act, making the church's tolerance of it particularly egregious.
* **wife (Greek, _gynḗ'_):** From G1135, this term refers to a woman, and specifically a wife. In this context, "his father's wife" refers to the man's stepmother, not his biological mother. This specific relationship makes the act a clear case of incest, explicitly forbidden under Old Testament law (e.g., [Leviticus 18:8](/leviticus/18-8 "Leviticus 18:8 - Forbidden Sexual Relations")).

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"It is reported commonly [that there is] fornication among you":** Paul begins with a direct, unambiguous statement, indicating that the sin is not a rumor but a widely known and confirmed fact within the Corinthian community. The word "commonly" (G3654, _hólōs_) emphasizes that this was not a secret, isolated incident but something openly acknowledged or at least widely discussed.
* **"and such fornication as is not so much as named among the Gentiles":** This clause highlights the extreme nature of the sin. Paul uses a strong comparison, stating that this particular act of sexual immorality (incest with a stepmother) was considered so abhorrent that even the morally lax pagan society of Corinth would not tolerate or even speak of it. This serves as a stinging indictment of the church's moral blindness and spiritual apathy.
* **"that one should have his father's wife":** This specifies the exact nature of the "fornication." The phrase "should have" (G2192, _échō_) implies a continuous, ongoing relationship, not a one-time lapse. The sin is identified as a man having sexual relations with his stepmother, a clear violation of divine law and natural familial boundaries.

#### Literary Devices
Paul employs several powerful literary devices in this concise verse. The most prominent is **Hyperbole**, used to emphasize the shocking nature of the sin: "such fornication as is not so much as named among the Gentiles." While not literally true that *no* Gentile society ever had such a sin, Paul uses this exaggeration to underscore the extreme moral degradation of the Corinthian church's tolerance compared to even pagan standards. This hyperbole creates a strong sense of **Irony**, as the Christian community, called to be a beacon of light and holiness, is shown to be morally inferior to the very world it is meant to transform. Furthermore, the use of "Gentiles" can be seen as a form of **Synecdoche**, where a part (pagan society) represents the whole (the broader moral standard of the world), highlighting the church's failure to even meet basic human ethical expectations, let alone divine ones.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
1 Corinthians 5:1 serves as a stark reminder that the church, as the body of Christ, is called to a standard of holiness that reflects God's own character. The presence of unaddressed, flagrant sin within the community is not merely an individual failing but a corporate defilement that grieves the Holy Spirit and undermines the church's witness. This verse underscores the New Testament's consistent emphasis on purity and the necessity of church discipline, not as a punitive measure, but as a redemptive process aimed at restoring the erring individual and preserving the integrity and spiritual health of the entire congregation. It highlights that true fellowship in Christ demands a commitment to ethical conduct that distinguishes believers from the world.

* [Leviticus 18:8](/leviticus/18-8 "Leviticus 18:8 - Forbidden Sexual Relations"): Explicitly forbids a man from having sexual relations with his father's wife, establishing the Old Testament legal precedent for the incestuous nature of the sin in 1 Corinthians 5:1.
* [Deuteronomy 22:30](/deuteronomy/22-30 "Deuteronomy 22:30 - Forbidden Marriages"): Reinforces the prohibition against a man taking his father's wife, further demonstrating the severity and long-standing condemnation of such an act in God's law.
* [1 Peter 1:15-16](/1_peter/1-15-16 "1 Peter 1:15-16 - Be Holy"): Calls believers to be holy in all their conduct, just as God is holy, directly contrasting with the moral compromise seen in Corinth.

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
1 Corinthians 5:1 confronts us with the sobering reality that even within a Christian community, serious sin can take root and, if left unaddressed, can deeply corrupt the body. This passage challenges believers today to examine their own lives for areas of compromise and to uphold a high standard of personal holiness, recognizing that our bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit and that our actions reflect upon Christ. For the church collectively, this verse is a powerful call to courage and discernment in exercising loving, biblical discipline when necessary. It reminds us that overlooking or tolerating unrepentant sin, particularly that which is scandalous and public, is not an act of grace but a failure to protect the flock, preserve the church's purity, and maintain a credible witness to a watching world. True love for God and for one another compels us to confront sin for the sake of repentance, restoration, and the glory of God.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **In what ways might our contemporary church communities, like Corinth, be tolerating or overlooking sin that compromises our witness to the world?**
* **How does the church's failure to address serious sin impact its credibility and evangelistic effectiveness in our current cultural context?**
* **What is my personal responsibility in upholding the holiness of the church, both through my own conduct and by supporting biblical church discipline?**
* **How can we, as believers, balance grace and truth when confronting sin within the church, ensuring that our actions are motivated by love and aimed at restoration?**

### FAQ
**What does "his father's wife" specifically mean in this verse?**

Answer: In 1 Corinthians 5:1, "his father's wife" refers to the man's stepmother, not his biological mother. This means the man was engaged in an incestuous relationship with his father's current or former wife. This specific type of relationship was explicitly forbidden under Old Testament law, as seen in [Leviticus 18:8](/leviticus/18-8 "Leviticus 18:8 - Forbidden Sexual Relations") and [Deuteronomy 22:30](/deuteronomy/22-30 "Deuteronomy 22:30 - Forbidden Marriages"), making the sin particularly heinous in the eyes of God and even, as Paul points out, among the Gentiles.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
While 1 Corinthians 5:1 directly addresses a specific moral failing within the Corinthian church, its deeper Christ-centered fulfillment lies in the radical call to holiness and purity that defines the new covenant community, made possible through Christ's atoning work. The shocking nature of the sin in Corinth underscores the profound need for a Savior who not only forgives sin but also empowers believers to live lives set apart from the world's corruption. Christ, as the ultimate Lamb of God, [who takes away the sin of the world](/john/1-29 "John 1:29 - Jesus, the Lamb of God"), bore the penalty for such egregious sins, making reconciliation and transformation possible. The church's failure to address this immorality was a failure to reflect the very character of Christ, who [gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works](/titus/2-14 "Titus 2:14 - Christ's Redemption and Our Purpose"). Therefore, the call for discipline and purity in [1 Corinthians 5](/1_corinthians/5 "1 Corinthians 5 - Purity in the Church") is not merely about moral policing but about upholding the honor of Christ and demonstrating the transformative power of His indwelling Spirit, enabling believers to [be holy as He is holy](/1_peter/1-15-16 "1 Peter 1:15-16 - Be Holy"). The church, as Christ's body, is to be a pure bride, [without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but holy and blameless](/ephesians/5-27 "Ephesians 5:27 - Christ's Love for the Church"), reflecting His glory to a world desperately in need of His light.

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Revelation 21:8

But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.

Revelation 2:21

And I gave her space to repent of her fornication; and she repented not.

Colossians 3:5

¶ Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry:

Leviticus 18:8

The nakedness of thy father's wife shalt thou not uncover: it [is] thy father's nakedness.

Ephesians 5:3

¶ But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints;

Galatians 5:19

Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are [these]; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness,

1 Corinthians 6:18

Flee fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body.