1 Corinthians5
New American Standard
1It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you, and sexual immorality of such a kind as does not exist even among the Gentiles, namely, that someone has his father’s wife.
2You have become arrogant and have not mourned instead, so that the one who had done this deed would be removed from your midst.
3For I, on my part, though absent in body but present in spirit, have already judged him who has so committed this, as though I were present.
4In the name of our Lord Jesus, when you are assembled, and I with you in spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus,
5I have decided to turn such a person over to Satan for the destruction of his body, so that his spirit may be saved on the day of the Lord.
6Your boasting is not good. Do you not know that a little leaven leavens the whole lump of dough?
7Clean out the old leaven so that you may be a new lump, just as you are in fact unleavened. For Christ our Passover also has been sacrificed.
8Therefore let’s celebrate the feast, not with old leaven, nor with the leaven of malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.
9I wrote to you in my letter not to associate with sexually immoral people;
10I did not at all mean with the sexually immoral people of this world, or with the greedy and swindlers, or with idolaters, for then you would have to leave the world.
11But actually, I wrote to you not to associate with any so-called brother if he is a sexually immoral person, or a greedy person, or an idolater, or is verbally abusive, or habitually drunk, or a swindler—not even to eat with such a person.
12For what business of mine is it to judge outsiders? Do you not judge those who are within the church?
13But those who are outside, God judges. Remove the evil person from among yourselves.
Study Guide
Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for 1 Corinthians 5.
Chapter Summary
In this chapter: The apostle blames the Corinthians for connivance at an incestuous person; (1–8). and directs their behaviour towards those guilty of scandalous crimes. (9–13).
vv1-8
The apostle notices a flagrant abuse, winked at by the Corinthians. Party spirit, and a false notion of Christian liberty, seem to have saved the offender from censure. Grievous indeed is it that crimes should sometimes be committed by professors of the gospel, of which even heathens would be ashamed. Spiritual pride and false doctrines tend to bring in, and to spread such scandals. How dreadful the effects of sin! The devil reigns where Christ does not. And a man is in his kingdom, and under his power, when not in Christ. The bad example of a man of influence is very mischievous; it spreads far and wide. Corrupt principles and examples, if not corrected, would hurt the whole church. Believers must have new hearts, and lead new lives. Their common conversation and religious deeds must be holy. So far is the sacrifice of Christ our Passover for us, from rendering personal and public holiness unnecessary, that it furnishes powerful reasons and motives for it. Without holiness we can neither live by faith in him, nor join in his ordinances with comfort and profit.
vv9-13
Christians are to avoid familiar converse with all who disgrace the Christian name. Such are only fit companions for their brethren in sin, and to such company they should be left, whenever it is possible to do so. Alas, that there are many called Christians, whose conversation is more dangerous than that of heathens!
Key Words
ὅλως (hólōs): completely, i.e. altogether; (by analogy), everywhere; (negatively) not by any means
ἀκούω (akoúō): to hear (in various senses)
πορνεία (porneía): harlotry (including adultery and incest); figuratively, idolatry
ἐν (en): "in," at, (up-)on, by, etc.
ὑμῖν (hymîn): to (with or by) you
καί (kaí): and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words
ὅστις (hóstis): which some, i.e. any that; also (definite) which same
ὀνομάζω (onomázō): to name, i.e. assign an appellation; by extension, to utter, mention, profess
οὐδέ (oudé): not however, i.e. neither, nor, not even
ἔθνος (éthnos): a race (as of the same habit), i.e. a tribe; specially, a foreign (non-Jewish) one (usually, by implication, pagan)
Cross References
1 Corinthians 5Old Testament law defining and forbidding the incestuous act of having one's father's wife.
Supported by JFB
Paul's later reference to this specific situation, referring to the one who suffered the wrong.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
A parallel apostolic act of delivering blasphemers to Satan for discipline.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
The original Passover ordinance requiring the absolute purging of leaven from the house.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Christ's foundational instruction on church discipline and treating the unrepentant as an outsider.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Paul uses the exact same proverbial phrase: 'a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump.'
Supported by Matthew Henry
The historical sin of Reuben lying with his father's concubine, a notable Old Testament parallel.
Supported by John Calvin
The Mosaic curse pronounced on anyone who lies with his father's wife.
Supported by JFB
Parallel expression of being absent in body but present in spirit with a church.
Supported by JFB
Christ's promise to be present in power where his church is gathered in his name.
Supported by JFB
The corporate punishment inflicted by the majority on this offender, leading to his restoration.
Supported by JFB
The standard Deuteronomic formula for purging evil: 'put away the evil from among you.'
Supported by Matthew Poole
Connects back to the Corinthians' prideful state of being 'puffed up' in Paul's absence.
Supported by Matthew Poole
An Old Testament example of a sinner being subjected to the power of Satan.
Supported by JFB
Identifies Christ directly as the sacrificial Lamb of God, fulfilling the Passover type.
Supported by JFB