1 Corinthians 5:13

KJV

But them that are without God judgeth. Therefore put away from among yourselves that wicked person.

KJV (with Strong's)

But {G1161} them that are without {G1854} God {G2316} judgeth {G2919}. Therefore {G2532} put away {G1808} from {G1537} among yourselves {G5216} that {G846} wicked person {G4190}.

Complete Jewish Bible

God will judge those who are outside. Just expel the evildoer from among yourselves.

Berean Standard Bible

God will judge those outside. “Expel the wicked man from among you.”

American Standard Version

But them that are without God judgeth. Put away the wicked man from among yourselves.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
1 Corinthians 5:13 serves as the climactic summary of Paul's instruction regarding a severe case of immorality within the Corinthian church, sharply delineating the spheres of divine judgment and congregational responsibility. It asserts God's exclusive prerogative to judge those outside the Christian community while simultaneously issuing a forceful imperative for the church to actively remove unrepentant, scandalous sin from its midst, thereby preserving its corporate holiness and witness.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse concludes Paul's urgent and scathing rebuke of the Corinthian church, which had become arrogant and complacent in the face of a profoundly scandalous case of incestuous immorality ([1 Corinthians 5:1](/1_corinthians/5-1 "1 Corinthians 5:1 - Incest in the Church")). Paul had already called for the immediate expulsion of the offending individual ([1 Corinthians 5:2-5](/1_corinthians/5-2-5 "1 Corinthians 5:2-5 - Paul's Judgment and Deliverance to Satan")), emphasizing that a "little leaven leavens the whole lump" ([1 Corinthians 5:6](/1_corinthians/5-6 "1 Corinthians 5:6 - A Little Leaven")), a powerful metaphor for the corrupting influence of unaddressed sin. He then clarified that his previous letter's instruction not to associate with immoral people was specifically about immoral *believers*, not the immoral people of the world ([1 Corinthians 5:9-11](/1_corinthians/5-9-11 "1 Corinthians 5:9-11 - Clarifying Association with Immoral People")). Thus, [1 Corinthians 5:13](/1_corinthians/5-13 "1 Corinthians 5:13 - Expelling the Wicked Person") provides the final, definitive command, drawing a clear boundary between the church's internal purity and God's ultimate judgment of the world.

* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The city of Corinth was a bustling, cosmopolitan port city renowned for its wealth, diverse population, and notorious immorality, particularly associated with the temple of Aphrodite. In such an environment, the early Christian community faced immense pressure to conform to prevailing cultural norms. The specific sin of a man living with his stepmother was considered so egregious that it was even condemned by Roman law and pagan societal standards, making the Corinthian church's tolerance of it particularly shocking and damaging to their public witness. Paul's command for expulsion was not merely about moral purity but also about distinguishing the nascent Christian community from the surrounding pagan culture and upholding the unique ethical standards of the kingdom of God, demonstrating that believers were called to be set apart, a holy people in a corrupt world.

* **Key Themes:** The overarching theme of [1 Corinthians 5](/1_corinthians/5 "1 Corinthians 5 - Dealing with Immorality") is the **purity and holiness of the church** as the body of Christ. Paul emphasizes that the church, as a new lump, must be unleavened, reflecting its identity as those redeemed by Christ, our Passover Lamb ([1 Corinthians 5:7](/1_corinthians/5-7 "1 Corinthians 5:7 - Christ Our Passover")). This leads to the crucial theme of **church discipline**, which is presented not as a punitive act of condemnation but as a necessary measure for the health, integrity, and witness of the congregation, and ultimately for the restoration of the offender. The verse also highlights the **boundaries of judgment**, clearly distinguishing between God's role in judging the world and the church's responsibility to judge its own members, a distinction Paul elaborates on in [1 Corinthians 5:12](/1_corinthians/5-12 "1 Corinthians 5:12 - Judging Those Within"). This underscores the concept of **corporate responsibility**, where the sin of one unrepentant member can negatively impact the entire community.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **without (Greek, _éxō'_):** This adverb, derived from the preposition `ek` (out of), signifies being "outside" or "out of doors," both literally and figuratively. In this context, it refers to those external to the Christian fellowship, the non-believers, or the world at large. Paul uses it to clearly demarcate the boundary between the church and those who do not profess faith in Christ, emphasizing that the church's jurisdiction for judgment does not extend to them.
* **judgeth (Greek, _krínō'_):** Properly meaning "to distinguish," this verb carries the broader sense of "to decide (mentally or judicially)," and by implication, "to try, condemn, or punish." When applied to God, as it is in the first clause of this verse, it refers to His ultimate, sovereign, and righteous assessment and condemnation of humanity, particularly those who remain outside of His covenant and grace. It underscores that final, eternal judgment rests solely with God.
* **wicked person (Greek, _ponērós'_):** This adjective describes something as "hurtful," "evil" (in effect or influence), "calamitous," or "morally culpable, derelict, vicious." While it can refer to evil in general or even the devil, in this specific context, combined with the definite article `ton` (the), it refers to "the evil one" or "the wicked person" – specifically the unrepentant individual whose scandalous sin was actively corrupting the church and whose presence was a blight on its moral integrity. It denotes a severe moral depravity that required decisive action.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"But them that are without God judgeth."**: This clause establishes a crucial theological boundary. Paul asserts that the ultimate judgment of those outside the Christian community—those who do not identify as believers and are not subject to the church's internal discipline—belongs exclusively to God. The church's mission is not to condemn the world, but to preach the gospel to it. This statement provides a necessary counterbalance to the subsequent command for internal discipline, clarifying that believers are not to act as moral police for society at large.
* **"Therefore put away from among yourselves that wicked person."**: This is a direct, emphatic command, serving as the logical consequence of the preceding discussion. The Greek verb `exaírō` (put away) means "to remove" or "to take away," indicating a decisive act of expulsion. The phrase "from among yourselves" stresses the internal nature of this discipline, emphasizing that the church itself must take action to cleanse its own ranks. The "wicked person" refers specifically to the unrepentant individual whose sin was a source of scandal and potential corruption within the Corinthian congregation. This command underscores the church's solemn responsibility to maintain its holiness and protect its integrity by removing harmful, unrepentant influences.

#### Literary Devices
Paul employs several literary devices to convey his urgent message. The primary device is **Antithesis**, sharply contrasting "them that are without" (outsiders) with "yourselves" (insiders), and God's judgment with the church's discipline. This creates a clear dichotomy regarding the scope and nature of judgment. The phrase "put away" is an **Imperative Mood**, conveying a direct, non-negotiable command that demands immediate action from the Corinthian believers. While not directly in this verse, the broader context of [1 Corinthians 5](/1_corinthians/5 "1 Corinthians 5 - Dealing with Immorality") heavily relies on the **Metaphor** of "leaven" ([1 Corinthians 5:6-8](/1_corinthians/5-6-8 "1 Corinthians 5:6-8 - The Leaven of Malice and Wickedness")), where sin is likened to a pervasive, corrupting agent that can spoil the entire batch of dough (the church). The "wicked person" can also be seen as a form of **Synecdoche**, where the individual stands for the broader problem of unrepentant sin and its corrupting influence within the community.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
[1 Corinthians 5:13](/1_corinthians/5-13 "1 Corinthians 5:13 - Expelling the Wicked Person") profoundly shapes our understanding of the church's identity and responsibilities. Theologically, it affirms God's ultimate sovereignty as judge over all humanity, while simultaneously establishing the church's unique role as a distinct, holy community called to self-governance in matters of moral and spiritual integrity. This internal discipline is not about condemnation but about upholding God's standards, protecting the body from corrupting influence, and, ideally, bringing the unrepentant individual to repentance. It underscores the New Testament's consistent call for the church to reflect the holiness of God in its corporate life.

* [Matthew 18:17](/matthew/18-17 "Matthew 18:17 - Church Discipline")
* [2 Thessalonians 3:6](/2_thessalonians/3-6 "2 Thessalonians 3:6 - Withdrawal from Disorderly Brethren")
* [Deuteronomy 17:7](/deuteronomy/17-7 "Deuteronomy 17:7 - Expelling Evil from Israel")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
[1 Corinthians 5:13](/1_corinthians/5-13 "1 Corinthians 5:13 - Expelling the Wicked Person") presents a challenging yet vital truth for the contemporary church: the imperative to maintain internal holiness. In an age often characterized by tolerance and a reluctance to address sin directly, Paul's command reminds us that the church is called to be distinct, a beacon of light and truth in a dark world. This involves the difficult but loving act of church discipline when members persist in unrepentant, scandalous sin. Such discipline, when exercised biblically, is not punitive but redemptive, aiming to protect the integrity of the church's witness, prevent the spread of harmful influence, and, most importantly, call the erring individual to repentance and restoration. It forces us to consider our collective responsibility for the purity of the body of Christ and our individual commitment to living lives worthy of the Gospel, understanding that our actions impact the entire community.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does the church's reluctance to practice biblical discipline impact its witness to the world?**
* **In what ways can individual believers contribute to the overall holiness and purity of their local church community?**
* **How can we balance the call to love and grace with the necessity of upholding God's moral standards within the church?**

### FAQ

**What does it mean that "God judgeth" those "without"?**

Answer: This phrase means that God alone has the authority and prerogative to judge those who are outside the Christian faith, the non-believers, or the world at large. The church's role is not to condemn or pass final judgment on those who do not profess Christ, but rather to proclaim the Gospel to them. Final judgment for the unrighteous belongs to God at the end of time, as seen in passages like [Romans 2:16](/romans/2-16 "Romans 2:16 - God's Judgment Through Christ") and [Revelation 20:11-15](/revelation/20-11-15 "Revelation 20:11-15 - The Great White Throne Judgment").

**Is "put away from among yourselves that wicked person" a command for excommunication?**

Answer: Yes, in this context, "put away" (Greek: `exaírō`) is a strong command for the church to remove the unrepentant individual from their fellowship. This is commonly understood as a form of excommunication or disfellowshipping. The purpose, as implied by Paul in [1 Corinthians 5:5](/1_corinthians/5-5 "1 Corinthians 5:5 - Deliverance to Satan"), is not merely punitive but redemptive: "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." It aims to shock the individual into repentance and to protect the purity and witness of the church. This principle is consistent with other New Testament instructions on church discipline, such as [Matthew 18:15-17](/matthew/18-15-17 "Matthew 18:15-17 - Steps of Church Discipline") and [Titus 3:10](/titus/3-10 "Titus 3:10 - Reject a Divisive Person").

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
[1 Corinthians 5:13](/1_corinthians/5-13 "1 Corinthians 5:13 - Expelling the Wicked Person") finds its ultimate fulfillment in Christ, who is both the perfect judge and the source of the church's holiness. The command to "put away from among yourselves that wicked person" echoes the Old Testament's repeated call for Israel to "purge the evil from your midst" ([Deuteronomy 17:7](/deuteronomy/17-7 "Deuteronomy 17:7 - Expelling Evil from Israel")), a directive that ultimately pointed to the need for a truly holy people. Christ, as our Passover Lamb, has already been sacrificed ([1 Corinthians 5:7](/1_corinthians/5-7 "1 Corinthians 5:7 - Christ Our Passover")), perfectly cleansing us from sin and making us a "new lump." He is the one who purifies His church, not with external rituals, but by His own blood, presenting her to Himself "without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but holy and blameless" ([Ephesians 5:25-27](/ephesians/5-25-27 "Ephesians 5:25-27 - Christ's Love for the Church")). The church's act of discipline, therefore, is an earthly reflection of Christ's ongoing work of sanctification, a means by which the body strives to live out the holiness already imputed to it by Christ. Furthermore, while the church judges those "within," Christ is the righteous judge of all, the one to whom "all judgment has been committed" by the Father ([John 5:22](/john/5-22 "John 5:22 - The Son as Judge")). Thus, the church's discipline is a temporal and redemptive act, pointing to the ultimate, perfect judgment and purification that Christ alone will accomplish.

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

Deuteronomy 17:7

The hands of the witnesses shall be first upon him to put him to death, and afterward the hands of all the people. So thou shalt put the evil away from among you.

Deuteronomy 13:5

And that prophet, or that dreamer of dreams, shall be put to death; because he hath spoken to turn [you] away from the LORD your God, which brought you out of the land of Egypt, and redeemed you out of the house of bondage, to thrust thee out of the way which the LORD thy God commanded thee to walk in. So shalt thou put the evil away from the midst of thee.

Deuteronomy 21:21

And all the men of his city shall stone him with stones, that he die: so shalt thou put evil away from among you; and all Israel shall hear, and fear.

Matthew 18:17

And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell [it] unto the church: but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a publican.

Deuteronomy 22:24

Then ye shall bring them both out unto the gate of that city, and ye shall stone them with stones that they die; the damsel, because she cried not, [being] in the city; and the man, because he hath humbled his neighbour's wife: so thou shalt put away evil from among you.

Deuteronomy 17:12

And the man that will do presumptuously, and will not hearken unto the priest that standeth to minister there before the LORD thy God, or unto the judge, even that man shall die: and thou shalt put away the evil from Israel.

Deuteronomy 22:21

Then they shall bring out the damsel to the door of her father's house, and the men of her city shall stone her with stones that she die: because she hath wrought folly in Israel, to play the whore in her father's house: so shalt thou put evil away from among you.