1 Corinthians 5

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.

Paul confronts the Corinthian church concerning a widely reported case of incest, a sin even uncommon among Gentiles, and criticizes their pride rather than mourning. Though absent, Paul spiritually judges the offender, instructing the church to gather and deliver the man to Satan for the destruction of his flesh, hoping for the salvation of his spirit. He warns against their glorying, using the metaphor that a little leaven corrupts the whole lump, urging them to purge out the old leaven of malice and wickedness. Paul connects this purification to Christ, their Passover sacrifice, calling them to live with sincerity and truth. He clarifies a previous instruction, explaining that the command not to associate with fornicators applies specifically to professing believers who persist in sin, not to the unbelievers of the world. The church is responsible for judging those within their fellowship, while God judges those outside, concluding with a command to remove the wicked person from their midst.

The Apostle Paul begins by addressing a scandalous report of fornication within the Corinthian church, specifically a man living with his father's wife, a transgression so severe it was not even named among the Gentiles. He expresses astonishment and condemnation for the church's arrogant and unmourning attitude, rather than taking action to remove the offender. Though physically absent, Paul asserts his spiritual presence and judgment, declaring that he has already decided on the matter. He instructs the Corinthians, when gathered in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and with his spirit, to deliver the man to Satan. This act of excommunication is intended for the destruction of the flesh, with the ultimate hope that the man's spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus. Paul then rebukes their "glorying," stating it is not good, and reminds them of the proverb: "a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump." This metaphor underscores how a single unaddressed sin can corrupt the entire community. He exhorts them to "purge out therefore the old leaven," so they may become a "new lump," emphasizing their identity as "unleavened" in Christ. He connects this purification to Christ, who is their Passover sacrifice. Therefore, they are called to keep the spiritual feast not with the "old leaven" of malice and wickedness, but with the "unleavened bread" of sincerity and truth. Paul then clarifies a previous letter where he instructed them "not to company with fornicators." He explains that this instruction was not a blanket prohibition against all immoral people in the world, as that would necessitate leaving the world entirely. Instead, the command specifically applies to any professing brother who is a fornicator, covetous, an idolater, a railer, a drunkard, or an extortioner, with whom they should not even eat. He distinguishes between judging those within the church and those outside, stating that the church's responsibility is to judge "them that are within." God, he asserts, judges "them that are without." The chapter concludes with a direct command to "put away from among yourselves that wicked person," reinforcing the necessity of church discipline.