And ye are puffed up, and have not rather mourned, that he that hath done this deed might be taken away from among you.
And {G2532} ye {G5210} are {G2075} puffed up {G5448}, and {G2532} have {G3996} not {G3780} rather {G3123} mourned {G3996}, that {G2443} he that hath done {G4160} this {G5124} deed {G2041} might be taken away {G1808} from {G1537} among {G3319} you {G5216}.
And you stay proud? Shouldn’t you rather have felt some sadness that would have led you to remove from your company the man who has done this thing?
And you are proud! Shouldn’t you rather have been stricken with grief and have removed from your fellowship the man who did this?
And ye are puffed up, and did not rather mourn, that he that had done this deed might be taken away from among you.
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Revelation 2:20
Notwithstanding I have a few things against thee, because thou sufferest that woman Jezebel, which calleth herself a prophetess, to teach and to seduce my servants to commit fornication, and to eat things sacrificed unto idols. -
Revelation 2:22
Behold, I will cast her into a bed, and them that commit adultery with her into great tribulation, except they repent of their deeds. -
2 Corinthians 7:7
And not by his coming only, but by the consolation wherewith he was comforted in you, when he told us your earnest desire, your mourning, your fervent mind toward me; so that I rejoiced the more. -
2 Corinthians 7:11
For behold this selfsame thing, that ye sorrowed after a godly sort, what carefulness it wrought in you, yea, [what] clearing of yourselves, yea, [what] indignation, yea, [what] fear, yea, [what] vehement desire, yea, [what] zeal, yea, [what] revenge! In all [things] ye have approved yourselves to be clear in this matter. -
2 Corinthians 12:21
[And] lest, when I come again, my God will humble me among you, and [that] I shall bewail many which have sinned already, and have not repented of the uncleanness and fornication and lasciviousness which they have committed. -
Numbers 25:6
¶ And, behold, one of the children of Israel came and brought unto his brethren a Midianitish woman in the sight of Moses, and in the sight of all the congregation of the children of Israel, who [were] weeping [before] the door of the tabernacle of the congregation. -
Ezra 9:2
For they have taken of their daughters for themselves, and for their sons: so that the holy seed have mingled themselves with the people of [those] lands: yea, the hand of the princes and rulers hath been chief in this trespass.
1 Corinthians 5:2 is a poignant verse where the Apostle Paul expresses his dismay at the Corinthian church's complacent and arrogant attitude regarding a severe case of sexual immorality within their community. Instead of grieving over the sin, they were "puffed up" with a prideful self-satisfaction, failing to take action against the unrepentant offender.
Context
This verse immediately follows 1 Corinthians 5:1, where Paul addresses a scandalous situation: a man in the church was living with his father's wife (likely his stepmother), a relationship forbidden by Mosaic Law and considered abhorrent even by pagans. Paul's expectation was that the church would be filled with sorrow and take decisive action to remove the unrepentant individual, thereby safeguarding the integrity and witness of the body of Christ. However, he finds them behaving in the exact opposite manner, exhibiting spiritual pride rather than appropriate godly sorrow.
Key Themes
Linguistic Insights
The phrase "puffed up" translates the Greek word physioō (φυσιόω), which literally means "to inflate" or "to swell up." Paul uses this term frequently in 1 Corinthians (e.g., 1 Corinthians 4:6, 1 Corinthians 8:1) to describe spiritual arrogance or conceit that often accompanies a focus on human wisdom or worldly status rather than humble dependence on God. In this context, it suggests a proud indifference or even a misguided tolerance. The word "mourned" comes from the Greek pentheō (πενθέω), which signifies deep sorrow, lamentation, or grief, often associated with death or profound loss. Paul expected a heartfelt, humble sorrow over the sin that defiled the community, rather than a proud detachment.
Significance and Application
This verse serves as a timeless reminder for believers and churches about the seriousness of sin and the importance of a right response to it. True spiritual maturity is characterized not by indifference or pride, but by humility and a willingness to grieve over sin, both personal and corporate. The failure to address blatant sin can lead to spiritual decay within the community, compromising its witness and hindering its growth. While church discipline is a difficult and often misunderstood practice, Paul emphasizes its necessity for the purity of the church and, ultimately, for the potential restoration of the erring individual, as suggested in 2 Corinthians 2:6-8. It calls us to examine our own hearts: do we mourn over sin, or are we "puffed up" in our own perceived righteousness or tolerance?