The Greek word exaírō, represented by G1808, means to remove or put (take) away. It is a compound word derived from ἐκ and αἴρω. It appears only 2 times in 2 unique verses, both within the same chapter of the Bible, indicating a specific and focused application.
In its biblical usage, G1808 is used to command the removal of a person from the community of believers. In the context of church discipline, Paul instructs that a certain individual should be taken away from among the Corinthian believers due to a specific deed 1 Corinthians 5:2. This directive is repeated with the explicit command to put away from among themselves "that wicked person" 1 Corinthians 5:13, establishing the word's role in maintaining the purity of the church.
Several related words provide crucial context for the use of G1808:
- G5448 physióō (puff up): This word means "to inflate, i.e. (figuratively) make proud (haughty)". The Corinthian church was puffed up with pride instead of dealing with the sin in their midst 1 Corinthians 5:2.
- G3996 penthéō (mourn): Defined as "to grieve (the feeling or the act)", this is the response the church should have had. They failed to mourn the situation, which would have led to the sinner being taken away 1 Corinthians 5:2.
- G4190 ponērós (evil, wicked): This term means "hurtful, i.e. evil" and describes the person who was to be removed from the church as a wicked person 1 Corinthians 5:13.
The theological weight of G1808 is focused on the practical outworking of church life and purity.
- A Command for Church Purity: The use of G1808 is not a suggestion but a direct command for active purification. It underscores the responsibility of the believing community to put away influences that corrupt it 1 Corinthians 5:13.
- The Proper Response to Sin: The context of G1808 contrasts the church's prideful inaction with the correct response of mourning. Instead of being puffed up G5448, they should have mourned G3996, an act which would have naturally led to the sinner being taken away 1 Corinthians 5:2.
- Separation from Wickedness: The act of removal is specifically directed at "that wicked person" G4190. This highlights a theological principle of separation from unrepentant, damaging sin to preserve the integrity of the church body 1 Corinthians 5:13.
In summary, G1808 carries significant weight despite its limited use. It is not a general term for removal but a specific command for church discipline. The context in which it appears emphasizes that this act of putting away a wicked person should stem from a place of sober grief, not prideful judgment. It serves as a critical term for understanding the church's responsibility to maintain its own spiritual health by separating itself from overt, unrepentant sin.
TRV