1 Corinthians 5:12

KJV

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

KJV (with Strong's)

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}?

Complete Jewish Bible

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?

Berean Standard Bible

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

American Standard Version

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

Commentary

### SUMMARY
In 1 Corinthians 5:12, the Apostle Paul sharply clarifies the boundaries of the Corinthian church's authority and responsibility concerning moral judgment. Amidst their failure to address a severe case of sexual immorality within their community, Paul asserts that the church's mandate for discipline and discernment applies exclusively to those who identify as believers and are "within" the fellowship, while the judgment of those "without" the church, or unbelievers, is reserved solely for God. This verse serves as a foundational principle for understanding the distinct spheres of the church's internal purity and its external evangelistic mission.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse is situated within Paul's impassioned and authoritative rebuke to the Corinthian church regarding their scandalous tolerance of a man living in open incestuous sin with his stepmother, a sin "not so much as named among the Gentiles" [1 Corinthians 5:1](/1_corinthians/5-1 "1 Corinthians 5:1 - Scandalous Immorality"). Paul expresses astonishment and grief that the church, instead of mourning and exercising discipline, had become arrogant. He had already commanded them 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 Corinthians 5:5](/1_corinthians/5-5 "1 Corinthians 5:5 - Excommunication for Restoration"). The immediate verses leading up to 1 Corinthians 5:12 involve Paul's prior instruction (perhaps in a lost letter) not to associate with sexually immoral people, which the Corinthians had evidently misinterpreted as applying to the world at large. Paul clarifies this misunderstanding, stating that his instruction was specifically for those who claim to be brothers or sisters yet live in unrepentant sin, culminating in the explicit command in [1 Corinthians 5:13](/1_corinthians/5-13 "1 Corinthians 5:13 - Expel the Wicked Person") to "put away from among yourselves that wicked person."
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** First-century Corinth was a major Roman port city, renowned for its wealth, diverse population, and notorious immorality, particularly associated with the temple of Aphrodite. The city's pervasive pagan culture and lax moral standards likely influenced the Corinthian believers, leading to their complacency regarding the sin within their midst. Paul's letters to Corinth often address the challenges of maintaining Christian distinctiveness and holiness in such an environment. The concept of "judgment" (κρίνω, *krínō*) in the Greco-Roman world could encompass legal proceedings, moral assessment, or discerning between right and wrong. Paul's teaching here distinguishes the church's internal spiritual jurisdiction from the broader societal judgment, which was typically handled by civil authorities or divine intervention. The sharp distinction between "those without" (unbelievers) and "those within" (believers) reflects the early church's developing identity as a distinct community, set apart from the surrounding pagan world.
* **Key Themes:** This verse powerfully contributes to several major themes in 1 Corinthians and the broader New Testament. It underscores the critical importance of **church discipline** as a means of maintaining the purity, holiness, and witness of the body of Christ. Paul's insistence on internal accountability highlights that the church is not merely a social club but a community called to reflect God's character. Furthermore, it clarifies the **boundaries of Christian judgment**, emphasizing that believers' primary responsibility for moral discernment and correction lies within their own fellowship, not over the unredeemed world. This theme is echoed in Jesus' teaching on dealing with sin within the community in [Matthew 18:15-17](/matthew/18-15-17 "Matthew 18:15-17 - Restorative Church Discipline"). Finally, the verse implicitly points to **God's ultimate sovereignty in judgment**, asserting that the final verdict on those outside the church belongs to Him alone, aligning with the principle that God "will judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ" [Romans 2:16](/romans/2-16 "Romans 2:16 - God's Judgment Through Christ").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **judge (Greek, _krínō_):** This verb, G2919, means "to distinguish, i.e. decide (mentally or judicially); by implication, to try, condemn, punish." In this context, Paul uses it to refer to the act of discerning, evaluating, and issuing a verdict on moral conduct, particularly in the context of church discipline. It implies the authority to assess sin and determine appropriate action, including exclusion from the community.
* **without (Greek, _éxō_):** This adverb, G1854, means "out(-side, of doors), literally or figuratively." Here, it is used figuratively to denote those who are outside the Christian community, i.e., unbelievers or those who do not profess faith in Christ. Paul uses this term to clearly demarcate the sphere of the church's internal jurisdiction from the broader world.
* **within (Greek, _ésō_):** This word, G2080, means "inside (as preposition or adjective)." It stands in direct antithesis to "without" and refers to those who are inside the Christian community, i.e., believers who are part of the church fellowship. This distinction is crucial for Paul's argument about the proper scope of the church's disciplinary authority.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"For what have I to do to judge them also that are without?"**: Paul begins with a rhetorical question, emphasizing his lack of jurisdiction over those outside the church. The phrase "what have I to do" (literally, "what to me") conveys a sense of irrelevance or lack of responsibility. He is stating that it is not his, nor the church's, role or concern to pass judgment on the moral conduct of unbelievers. Their accountability is to God, not to the Christian community. This clarifies that his previous instruction about avoiding immoral people was not a call for Christians to become moral police of the world.
* **"do not ye judge them that are within?"**: This second rhetorical question serves as a strong assertion and a command. Paul implies that the Corinthians *do* have a clear responsibility and indeed an obligation to judge—to discern and address—the moral conduct of those who are "within" the church, meaning fellow believers. This question highlights their dereliction of duty in the case of the incestuous man and underscores the necessity of internal accountability for the sake of the church's purity and witness. The contrast between "without" and "within" is central to Paul's argument about the proper scope of church authority.

#### Literary Devices
Paul employs several potent **literary devices** in this concise verse to convey his urgent message. The most prominent is **Rhetorical Question**, used twice. "For what have I to do to judge them also that are without?" and "do not ye judge them that are within?" are not requests for information but emphatic statements designed to provoke thought and underscore Paul's point. They serve to guide the Corinthians to the correct conclusion about their responsibilities. Secondly, **Antithesis** is powerfully utilized through the stark contrast between "them that are without" (ἔξω, *éxō*) and "them that are within" (ἔσω, *ésō*). This direct opposition clearly delineates the two distinct spheres of judgment, highlighting the church's internal mandate versus its non-existent external one. Finally, there is an implied **Metaphor** of the church as a distinct household or community with its own internal rules and governance, separate from the "outside" world. This metaphorical boundary reinforces the idea of the church as a unique, holy body set apart for God.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
The theological implications of 1 Corinthians 5:12 are profound, establishing a crucial distinction between the church's internal responsibility for holiness and its external mission of evangelism. Paul's teaching here emphasizes that while believers are called to be salt and light in the world, influencing it through their witness and good works, their direct moral jurisdiction and disciplinary authority are confined to the community of faith. This principle safeguards the church from becoming a self-righteous condemning force against unbelievers, allowing it instead to focus on its primary call to internal purity and external proclamation of the Gospel. It underscores the truth that God alone is the ultimate judge of all humanity, whether inside or outside the covenant community, and that His judgment will be perfectly just and righteous.

* [Matthew 7:1-5](/matthew/7-1-5 "Matthew 7:1-5 - Judging Others")
* [Romans 2:1-3](/romans/2-1-3 "Romans 2:1-3 - God's Impartial Judgment")
* [James 4:12](/james/4-12 "James 4:12 - One Lawgiver and Judge")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
1 Corinthians 5:12 provides timeless wisdom for believers and the church today, calling us to a careful balance of discernment, love, and mission. It challenges us to prioritize the spiritual health and moral integrity of our own Christian communities, recognizing that genuine holiness within is foundational to effective witness without. This means fostering an environment where accountability is practiced with grace and truth, where sin among believers is addressed not with condemnation but with a view towards repentance and restoration. Simultaneously, the verse warns against adopting a judgmental or condemning posture toward those outside the faith. Our posture towards unbelievers should be one of compassion, evangelism, and demonstrating the transformative power of the Gospel, rather than attempting to enforce Christian morality on those who do not acknowledge Christ's lordship. This distinction frees us to love the world as God does, while diligently striving for purity within the household of faith.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does understanding the boundaries of judgment (internal vs. external) shape your interactions with both fellow believers and unbelievers?**
* **In what ways might the church today sometimes overstep its boundaries by judging "those without," and what are the consequences of such actions?**
* **What practical steps can your local church take to cultivate healthy, loving, and restorative church discipline for "those within," as implied by Paul's instruction?**
* **How does the call to judge "those within" align with or challenge common perceptions of Christian love and acceptance?**

### FAQ

**Does this verse mean Christians should never have an opinion on the morality of society or engage in social issues?**

Answer: Not at all. Paul's instruction in [1 Corinthians 5:12](/1_corinthians/5-12 "1 Corinthians 5:12 - Judging Within vs. Without") is about the *sphere of the church's disciplinary authority*, not about Christians abstaining from moral discernment or public engagement. Believers are called to be "salt and light" [Matthew 5:13-16](/matthew/5-13-16 "Matthew 5:13-16 - Salt and Light") in the world, which implies influencing society with biblical values and speaking truth to power. However, this influence comes through witness, proclamation, and living out Christian ethics, not through imposing church discipline on non-believers or condemning them for not adhering to standards they do not acknowledge. Our role is to lovingly present the Gospel, inviting people to repentance and faith, while reserving the ultimate judgment of those outside the church to God.

**What is "church discipline" and why is it necessary according to this verse?**

Answer: Church discipline, as implied by Paul's command to "judge them that are within," refers to the process by which the Christian community addresses unrepentant sin among its members. It's a loving, though often painful, process intended to restore the erring believer, protect the purity and witness of the church, and honor God's holiness. It typically involves a series of steps, from private confrontation to public admonition and, in severe cases of unrepentance, excommunication (as seen in [1 Corinthians 5:5](/1_corinthians/5-5 "1 Corinthians 5:5 - Excommunication for Restoration") and [Matthew 18:15-17](/matthew/18-15-17 "Matthew 18:15-17 - Restorative Church Discipline")). It's necessary because the church is the body of Christ, called to reflect His character, and unaddressed sin compromises its integrity and witness.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
1 Corinthians 5:12, while addressing practical church discipline, finds its ultimate Christ-centered fulfillment in the person and work of Jesus Christ, who is both the perfect Judge and the ultimate Lamb of God. Christ Himself is the standard of holiness by which "those within" are called to live, and His redemptive work is the very basis for the church's existence and its distinct identity. Jesus, in His earthly ministry, demonstrated compassion for sinners while simultaneously calling for repentance and holiness, embodying the very balance Paul advocates. He is the one to whom "all judgment has been committed" [John 5:22](/john/5-22 "John 5:22 - Jesus, the Judge"), meaning that the final, righteous judgment of "those without" ultimately rests with Him. The church, as Christ's body [1 Corinthians 12:27](/1_corinthians/12-27 "1 Corinthians 12:27 - The Body of Christ"), is entrusted with the stewardship of His holiness within its own ranks, not as a means of earning salvation, but as a reflection of the sanctifying work of the Holy Spirit. Moreover, the goal of church discipline, as seen in [1 Corinthians 5:5](/1_corinthians/5-5 "1 Corinthians 5:5 - Excommunication for Restoration"), is the restoration of the individual, mirroring Christ's own redemptive mission to seek and save the lost [Luke 19:10](/luke/19-10 "Luke 19:10 - Jesus Seeks the Lost"). Thus, the church's internal judgment is a Christ-like act of love, aimed at preserving the purity of His bride and ultimately pointing both "those within" and "those without" to the saving grace found in Him.

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

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?