1 Corinthians 5:12

For what have I to do to judge them also that are without? do not ye judge them that are within?

For {G1063} what {G5101} have I {G3427} to do to judge {G2919} them also {G2532} that are without {G1854}? do {G2919} not {G3780} ye {G5210} judge {G2919} them that are within {G2080}?

For what business is it of mine to judge outsiders? Isn’t it those who are part of the community that you should be judging?

What business of mine is it to judge those outside the church? Are you not to judge those inside?

For what have I to do with judging them that are without? Do not ye judge them that are within?

In 1 Corinthians 5:12, the Apostle Paul continues his urgent instruction to the church in Corinth regarding a severe case of immorality (incest) among their members, which they had failed to address. This verse clarifies the boundaries of Christian judgment and responsibility.

Context

This verse comes in the middle of Paul's strong rebuke to the Corinthian church for their complacency concerning a man living in open sexual sin, specifically with his stepmother (1 Corinthians 5:1). The church, instead of mourning and removing the offender, was proud. Paul had already commanded them to "put away from among yourselves that wicked person" (1 Corinthians 5:13). In this verse, Paul addresses a potential misunderstanding: his call for judgment and discipline was strictly for those within the Christian community, not for those outside it.

Key Themes

  • Boundaries of Judgment: Paul clearly delineates the sphere of the church's authority and responsibility. Christians are not called to judge the world (those "without"), but rather to exercise discernment and discipline among themselves (those "within").
  • Church Discipline: The verse underscores the necessity of internal accountability and discipline within the Christian fellowship. This is crucial for maintaining the holiness, purity, and witness of the church. It's a painful but necessary act of love, intended for the restoration of the individual and the protection of the community.
  • God's Ultimate Judgment: Paul implies that the judgment of those outside the church belongs solely to God. This perspective aligns with passages like Romans 2:1, which speaks of God's righteous judgment on all humanity.

Linguistic Insights

The distinction between "them that are without" (Greek: tous exō, literally "the ones outside") and "them that are within" (Greek: tous esō, "the ones inside") is central to the verse. These terms clearly define the two groups: unbelievers outside the Christian community and believers who are part of the church. Paul is emphasizing that the church's jurisdiction for moral and spiritual judgment extends only to its members.

Practical Application

This verse offers vital guidance for believers today:

  • Focus on Internal Purity: Our primary concern should be the spiritual health and moral integrity of the church. We are called to hold one another accountable in love, encouraging repentance and holiness. This principle is foundational for healthy church discipline processes described by Jesus.
  • Avoid Condemnation of Outsiders: Christians are not to adopt a condemning or judgmental stance towards unbelievers. Our mission to those outside the church is to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ, demonstrating God's love and inviting them to repentance and faith, not to pronounce judgment on their lifestyles.
  • Discernment, Not Hypocrisy: While we don't judge unbelievers, we are to exercise discernment regarding their actions and the world's values. However, this discernment should not lead to self-righteous hypocrisy, but rather to a clear understanding of the need for separation from worldly influences (2 Corinthians 6:14).
Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • Mark 4:11

    And he said unto them, Unto you it is given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God: but unto them that are without, all [these] things are done in parables:

  • Luke 12:14

    And he said unto him, Man, who made me a judge or a divider over you?

  • 1 Timothy 3:7

    Moreover he must have a good report of them which are without; lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.

  • 1 Corinthians 5:3

    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,

  • 1 Corinthians 5:5

    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.

  • 1 Thessalonians 4:12

    That ye may walk honestly toward them that are without, and [that] ye may have lack of nothing.

  • 1 Corinthians 6:1

    ¶ Dare any of you, having a matter against another, go to law before the unjust, and not before the saints?

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