1 Corinthians5

Paul addresses a severe case of incest within the Corinthian church and rebukes their complacency. He instructs them to excommunicate the offender, emphasizing the need to purge sin from the community like old leaven. Paul clarifies that while they must separate from immoral believers, judging those outside the church is God's role.

Judging Immorality in the Church

1
It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you, and such sexual immorality as is not even named among the Gentiles, that one has his father’s wife. ​
2
You are puffed up, and didn’t rather mourn, that he who had done this deed might be removed from among you. ​
3
For I most certainly, as being absent in body but present in spirit, have already, as though I were present, judged him who has done this thing.
4
In the name of our Lord Yeshua the Messiah, you being gathered together, and my spirit, with the power of our Lord Yeshua the Messiah,
5
are to deliver such a one to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Yeshua. ​

The Danger of Leaven

6
Your boasting is not good. Don’t you know that a little yeast leavens the whole lump? ​
7
Purge out the old yeast, that you may be a new lump, even as you are unleavened. For indeed Messiah, our Passover, has been sacrificed in our place. ​
8
Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old yeast, neither with the yeast of malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth. ​

Clarification on Social Separation

9
I wrote to you in my letter to have no company with sexual sinners; ​
10
yet not at all meaning with the sexual sinners of this world, or with the covetous and extortionists, or with idolaters; for then you would have to leave the world. ​
11
But as it is, I wrote to you not to associate with anyone who is called a brother who is a sexual sinner, or covetous, or an idolater, or a slanderer, or a drunkard, or an extortionist. Don’t even eat with such a person. ​
12
For what have I to do with also judging those who are outside? Don’t you judge those who are within? ​
13
But those who are outside, God judges. “Put away the wicked man from among yourselves.” ​

Study Notes for 1 Corinthians 5

Verse 1

The specific sin (a man having his father’s wife) was considered incestuous even under Roman law (likely his stepmother, as the father was possibly still alive). Paul emphasizes the severity, noting it was scandalous even among non-Christians.

Verse 2

Paul condemns their 'puffed up' attitude, which suggests they tolerated the sin, perhaps viewing it as a sign of their radical freedom in Christ. They should have mourned the presence of sin and initiated discipline.

Verse 5

“Deliver such an one unto Satan” refers to excommunication, removing the person from the protective fellowship of the church. This harsh measure is intended to shock the individual into repentance, saving the spirit through the destruction of the flesh (the sinful nature).

Verse 6

The leaven metaphor, common in Judaism (especially around Passover), illustrates how a small amount of sin or false teaching can quickly corrupt the entire community. Paul warns that their tolerance endangers the whole church.

Verse 7

The command to 'purge out' links the removal of sin to the Jewish practice of removing all leaven before the Passover Feast. Christ is identified as the sacrificial Passover Lamb, establishing believers as inherently 'unleavened' (holy in status).

Verse 8

Since Christ has been sacrificed, believers are now perpetually 'keeping the feast' (living the Christian life), which must be characterized by sincerity and truth, not malice and wickedness (the spiritual leaven).

Verse 9

Paul begins clarifying a misunderstood instruction from a previous, non-extant letter, stressing that social separation is necessary to maintain the purity of the church community.

Verse 10

Paul notes that complete separation from sinners in the outside world is impossible and would require leaving society entirely. The responsibility of church discipline is focused internally.

Verse 11

The list defines what constitutes 'wickedness' among those 'called a brother.' The command 'with such an one no not to eat' signifies a complete break in fellowship, including exclusion from the Lord’s Supper, the ultimate step of excommunication.

Verse 12

Paul emphasizes the boundary of the church’s authority: they are responsible only for judging and disciplining their own members ('them that are within').

Verse 13

The chapter concludes with a direct command for excommunication, likely quoting or adapting the disciplinary principle found in Deuteronomy 13:5, demanding the removal of the wicked person from the community.

Use ← → arrow keys to navigate
Settings

Reading Style

Typeface

Font Size 19px

Reading Width 45 chars

Options