1 Corinthians 5:7

KJV

¶ Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us:

KJV (with Strong's)

Purge out {G1571} therefore {G3767} the old {G3820} leaven {G2219}, that {G2443} ye may be {G5600} a new {G3501} lump {G5445}, as {G2531} ye are {G2075} unleavened {G106}. For {G1063} even {G2532} Christ {G5547} our {G2257} passover {G3957} is sacrificed {G2380} for {G5228} us {G2257}:

Complete Jewish Bible

Get rid of the old hametz, so that you can be a new batch of dough, because in reality you are unleavened. For our Pesach lamb, the Messiah, has been sacrificed.

Berean Standard Bible

Get rid of the old leaven, that you may be a new unleavened batch, as you really are. For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed.

American Standard Version

Purge out the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, even as ye are unleavened. For our passover also hath been sacrificed, even Christ:

Commentary

### SUMMARY
First Corinthians 5:7 delivers a powerful injunction for the Christian community to actively rid itself of moral corruption, symbolized by "old leaven." This command is rooted in the profound theological truth that believers are already, by virtue of their union with Christ, a "new lump"—positionally pure and unleavened. The verse culminates in the foundational declaration that Christ Himself is our Passover sacrifice, a completed act that provides the basis for their new identity and the imperative for practical holiness.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse stands as the climactic command within Paul's severe rebuke of the Corinthian church for their egregious tolerance of sexual immorality, specifically an incestuous relationship, as detailed in [1 Corinthians 5:1](/1_corinthians/5-1 "1 Corinthians 5:1 - Paul's Rebuke of Immorality"). Paul has just warned them in [1 Corinthians 5:6](/1_corinthians/5-6 "1 Corinthians 5:6 - The Danger of Leaven") that "a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump," setting up the metaphor that the presence of unaddressed sin can corrupt the entire body of believers. The instruction to "purge out" is therefore a direct application of this principle, demanding decisive action against sin to preserve the purity and witness of the church. The verse transitions from a stern warning about the pervasive nature of sin to the redemptive truth that undergirds the call to holiness.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The imagery of "leaven" (ζύμη, _zymē_) and "unleavened" (ἄζυμος, _ázymos_) is deeply rooted in Jewish tradition, particularly the annual celebration of Passover. Before Passover, Jewish families meticulously cleansed their homes of all leaven, symbolizing the haste of their ancestors' departure from Egypt (where there was no time for bread to rise) and the removal of corruption or sin. This practice, commanded in passages like [Exodus 12:15](/exodus/12-15 "Exodus 12:15 - Removal of Leaven for Passover") and [Deuteronomy 16:3](/deuteronomy/16-3 "Deuteronomy 16:3 - Unleavened Bread of Affliction"), served as a powerful annual reminder of God's deliverance and the necessity of holiness in His presence. Paul leverages this well-understood cultural and religious practice to communicate a spiritual imperative to his largely Gentile, but culturally aware, Corinthian audience.
* **Key Themes:** The verse powerfully contributes to several major themes present in 1 Corinthians and the broader New Testament. Firstly, it underscores the theme of **Spiritual Purity and Holiness**, emphasizing that the church, as God's redeemed community, must actively separate itself from sin and maintain a holy witness in the world. Secondly, it highlights the theme of **Identity in Christ**, asserting that believers are already "unleavened" in their spiritual standing before God due to Christ's work, making the call to "purge out" a call to live consistently with their new, pure identity in [2 Corinthians 5:17](/2_corinthians/5-17 "2 Corinthians 5:17 - New Creation in Christ"). Finally, and most profoundly, it introduces the theme of **Christ as the Ultimate Passover Sacrifice**, directly linking Jesus' atoning death to the Old Testament Passover lamb, whose blood secured deliverance for Israel. This connection reveals Christ as the fulfillment of the Old Covenant rituals, providing a once-for-all salvation that cleanses and redeems His people, as seen in [Hebrews 9:26](/hebrews/9-26 "Hebrews 9:26 - Christ's Once-for-All Sacrifice").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **Purge out (Greek, _ekkathaírō_):** This verb, a compound of _ek_ (out) and _kathaírō_ (to cleanse), means "to cleanse thoroughly" or "to purify completely." It implies a deliberate, vigorous, and comprehensive removal of something undesirable. In this context, it is not a passive waiting for sin to disappear but an active, intentional expulsion of moral corruption from the community.
* **Leaven (Greek, _zýmē_):** Derived from a root meaning "to boil up" or "ferment," _zymē_ refers to fermented dough used to make bread rise. In Jewish and New Testament thought, it frequently symbolizes pervasive evil, corruption, or false doctrine due to its spreading nature. Here, it specifically represents the moral impurity and unrepentant sin tolerated within the Corinthian church.
* **Passover (Greek, _páscha_):** This term directly references the Jewish festival commemorating the Israelites' deliverance from slavery in Egypt, marked by the sacrifice of a lamb. By identifying "Christ our Passover," Paul makes a profound theological statement, declaring Jesus as the ultimate fulfillment of this ancient ritual, whose sacrificial death secures deliverance from sin and spiritual death for believers.
* **Is sacrificed (Greek, _thýō_):** This verb means "to sacrifice," "to immolate," or "to slay" for a ritual purpose. The perfect passive tense ("is sacrificed," _etythē_) emphasizes that Christ's sacrifice is a completed action with ongoing, permanent results. It highlights the definitive and efficacious nature of His atoning work, which has already secured the "unleavened" status of believers.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"Purge out therefore the old leaven":** This is a direct command (imperative mood) for the Corinthian believers to actively and thoroughly remove the moral corruption (symbolized by "old leaven") from their midst. The "old leaven" refers to the pervasive influence of sin, particularly the unrepentant immorality Paul has just addressed, which characterized their former, unregenerate lives. The "therefore" links this command to the preceding warning about the corrupting power of leaven.
* **"that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened":** This clause explains the purpose and basis for the purging. The goal is for the church to manifest its true identity as a "new lump"—a fresh, uncorrupted community. The crucial phrase "as ye are unleavened" highlights their positional truth in Christ. Believers are already, by virtue of their union with Christ and His finished work, spiritually pure and set apart. The purging is not to *become* unleavened, but to *live in accordance with* their already established, redeemed, and holy status.
* **"For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us":** This is the theological foundation for the entire command. The "For" (γάρ, _gar_) introduces the reason and motivation. Paul declares that Christ Himself is the true Passover Lamb, whose sacrificial death on the cross has already been accomplished ("is sacrificed"). This once-for-all sacrifice provides the ultimate cleansing and deliverance from sin, making believers inherently "unleavened" in God's sight and enabling them to live lives consistent with that new reality.

#### Literary Devices
Paul masterfully employs several literary devices in this verse. The most prominent is **Metaphor**, where "leaven" serves as a vivid representation of sin and moral corruption. Just as a small amount of leaven permeates and transforms an entire batch of dough, so too can unaddressed sin corrupt an entire community. This metaphor is extended to describe the church as a "lump" of dough, which is to be "new" and "unleavened." Furthermore, the verse contains profound **Symbolism**, particularly in the identification of "Christ our passover." This is a direct **Allusion** to the Old Testament Passover event, where the sacrificial lamb's blood protected Israel from death. By equating Christ with the Passover lamb, Paul elevates Jesus' sacrifice to the ultimate act of redemption, fulfilling the Old Covenant type. The use of the perfect passive tense for "is sacrificed" (ἐτύθη, _etythē_) emphasizes the **Completed Action with Enduring Results**, highlighting the definitive and efficacious nature of Christ's atoning work.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
This verse is a cornerstone for understanding Christian sanctification, both individual and corporate. It beautifully intertwines the indicative (what is true about us in Christ) with the imperative (what we are commanded to do). Because Christ has already accomplished our spiritual cleansing through His sacrifice, we are called to live out that reality. This means actively putting off the "old self" and its sinful practices and putting on the "new self" created in righteousness and holiness. The church, as the body of Christ, is therefore responsible for maintaining its purity, reflecting the holiness of its Head. This involves not only personal repentance but also, when necessary, corporate discipline to protect the integrity and witness of the community. The identification of Christ as "our Passover" establishes Him as the definitive fulfillment of Old Testament sacrificial systems, providing the ultimate and perfect atonement for sin.

* [Romans 6:6](/romans/6-6 "Crucifixion of the Old Self")
* [Colossians 3:5](/colossians/3-5 "Put Off Earthly Things")
* [Hebrews 12:14](/hebrews/12-14 "Pursue Holiness")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
First Corinthians 5:7 calls believers to a radical commitment to purity, both personally and corporately. It challenges us to confront the "old leaven" in our lives—those lingering sinful patterns, attitudes, or compromises that contradict our identity in Christ. This isn't about earning salvation, but about living consistently with the profound truth that we have already been made "unleavened" by Christ's sacrifice. For the church, it means taking seriously the call to be a holy community, not tolerating unrepentant sin that could corrupt the whole. This requires discernment, courage, and a deep love for God's honor and the spiritual well-being of fellow believers. It reminds us that our positional holiness in Christ demands practical holiness in our daily walk, reflecting the glorious reality of our redemption.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **What "old leaven" (sinful habits, attitudes, or compromises) might I need to actively "purge out" from my own life to live more consistently with my identity as "unleavened" in Christ?**
* **How does understanding Christ as "our Passover" deepen my appreciation for His sacrifice and its implications for my daily walk?**
* **In what ways can my local church community better reflect its identity as a "new lump," free from the corrupting influence of unaddressed sin?**

### FAQ
**Why does Paul use the imagery of "leaven" to represent sin?**

Answer: Paul uses "leaven" because of its well-understood properties and its significant symbolic meaning in Jewish tradition. Leaven (fermented dough) has the characteristic of permeating and expanding throughout an entire batch of dough, causing it to rise. Similarly, sin, if left unchecked, has a pervasive and corrupting influence that can spread throughout an individual's life or an entire community. In the Old Testament, particularly during the Passover, the removal of all leaven from homes symbolized purity and separation from the old life of bondage in Egypt, making it a fitting metaphor for the active removal of moral corruption within the Christian community, as seen in [Exodus 12:15](/exodus/12-15 "Exodus 12:15 - Removal of Leaven for Passover").

**What does it mean that believers "are unleavened"? Is this a command or a statement of fact?**

Answer: The phrase "as ye are unleavened" (καθὼς ἔστε ἄζυμοι, _kathōs este ázymoi_) is primarily a statement of fact, an indicative truth about the believer's new identity in Christ. By virtue of their union with Christ and His completed work, believers are positionally holy and pure in God's sight—they are already "unleavened." The preceding command to "purge out therefore the old leaven" is the imperative, calling them to live out this established reality. It's a call to practical holiness that flows from their positional holiness, urging them to align their conduct with their true spiritual status in [Ephesians 4:22-24](/ephesians/4-22-24 "Ephesians 4:22-24 - Putting Off and Putting On").

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
The declaration "For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us" is the theological bedrock upon which the entire command for purity rests. This statement reveals Christ as the ultimate fulfillment of the Old Testament Passover, transforming a historical event and ritual into a profound spiritual reality. Just as the blood of the Passover lamb protected Israel from the angel of death in Egypt, so the shed blood of Jesus, the Lamb of God, secures eternal deliverance from the penalty and power of sin for all who believe, as proclaimed by John the Baptist in [John 1:29](/john/1-29 "John 1:29 - Jesus, the Lamb of God"). His sacrifice is not merely a parallel but the very culmination of all previous sacrifices, a once-for-all atonement that perfectly cleanses and consecrates His people, rendering them "unleavened" in God's sight ([Hebrews 9:12](/hebrews/9-12 "Hebrews 9:12 - Christ's Eternal Redemption")). Therefore, the call to "purge out the old leaven" is a call to live consistently with the new, pure identity that Christ has already secured for us through His redemptive work, walking in the newness of life that His resurrection provides ([Romans 6:4](/romans/6-4 "Romans 6:4 - Newness of Life")).

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

1 Peter 1:19

But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:

1 Peter 1:20

Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you,

Ephesians 4:22

That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts;

Colossians 3:5

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

Colossians 3:9

Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds;

John 1:29

¶ The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.

Exodus 13:6

Seven days thou shalt eat unleavened bread, and in the seventh day [shall be] a feast to the LORD.