Bible Study/Commentary
1 Corinthians 5: Dealing With a Sexual Sin in the Church!
Overview
In this chapter , Paul addresses the issue of sexual immorality.
Paul rebukes the Corinthian church for its tolerance of this sin.
He provides instructions on how to apply church discipline in such cases.
Verses 1-5: Immorality in the Church:
Paul begins by addressing a reported case of sexual immorality among the Corinthians, which involved a man having a sexual relationship with his father's wife.
This was a sin not even tolerated among pagans.
He confronts the church for their pride, and lack of appropriate action.
Instead of mourning, and removing the wrongdoer from their midst, they were tolerating the sin.
Paul, although absent in body, but present in spirit, has already passed judgment on the man.
He instructs the Corinthians, that when they are assembled together in the name of the Lord Jesus, and his power, to deliver this man to Satan for the destruction of the flesh.
The hope is that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord.
Verses 6-8: The Leaven of Malice and Evil:
Using the metaphor of leaven, which is yeast, Paul warns the Corinthians that a little leaven, leavens the whole lump; meaning a little sin, can corrupt the entire church at Corinth.
He urges them to remove the old leaven of sin, so that they may become new, as they are unleavened.
Paul encourages them to celebrate the feast of the Passover, which is the Lord's Supper, not with the old leaven of malice and evil, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.
Verses 9-13: Dealing with Immorality in the Church:
Paul refers to a previous letter in which he advised them not to associate with sexually immoral people. He says that he didn't mean the immoral, or the greedy and robbers, or idolaters of the world. He clarifies that if that were the case, believers would need to go out of the world.
He writes to them to not associate with anyone who is called a brother, if he is guilty of sexual immorality or greed, or is an idolater, reviler, drunkard or swindler. They were not even to eat with such a person.
Paul concludes by stating that while it is not their responsibility to judge those outside the church, they are to judge those who are inside.
God will judge those who are outside the church, but they were to "purge the evil person from among them."
Overall Summary:
1 Corinthians Chapter 5 is a significant part of Paul's letter that confronts a case of sexual immorality, within the Corinthian church.
Paul addresses the church's lack of action and their tolerance of the sin, urging them to exercise church discipline.
He uses the metaphor of leaven, to illustrate the pervasive influence of sin within the church, and calls for purity.
Paul concludes by providing clear instructions on how the church, should discipline such sin.
He insists that they have a responsibility to judge those within the church and remove the wrongdoer from their midst.
1 Corinthians 5
Immorality Defiles the Church
5 It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you, and such sexual immorality as is not even named among the Gentiles—that a man has his father’s wife! 2 And you are puffed up, and have not rather mourned, that he who has done this deed might be taken away from among you. 3 For I indeed, as absent in body but present in spirit, have already judged (as though I were present) him who has so done this deed. 4 In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, when you are gathered together, along with my spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ, 5 deliver such a one to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.
6 Your glorying is not good. Do you not know that a little leaven leavens the whole lump? 7 Therefore purge out the old leaven, that you may be a new lump, since you truly are unleavened. For indeed Christ, our Passover, was sacrificed for us. 8 Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, nor with the leaven of malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.
Immorality Must Be Judged
9 I wrote to you in my epistle not to keep company with sexually immoral people. 10 Yet I certainly did not mean with the sexually immoral people of this world, or with the covetous, or extortioners, or idolaters, since then you would need to go out of the world. 11 But now I have written to you not to keep company with anyone named a brother, who is sexually immoral, or covetous, or an idolater, or a reviler, or a drunkard, or an extortioner—not even to eat with such a person.
12 For what have I to do with judging those also who are outside? Do you not judge those who are inside? 13 But those who are outside God judges. Therefore “put away from yourselves the evil person.”
Q&A
1 Corinthians 5:1
Q1: What does Paul say about the reported immorality among the Corinthians?
A1: It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you, and of a kind that is not tolerated even among pagans, for a man has his father's wife.
1 Corinthians 5:2
Q2: How does Paul criticize the Corinthians regarding this matter?
A2: And you are arrogant! Ought you not rather to mourn? Let him who has done this be removed from among you.
1 Corinthians 5:3
Q3: How does Paul express his presence with the Corinthians in spirit?
A3: For though absent in body, I am present in spirit, and as if present, I have already pronounced judgment on the one who did such a thing.
1 Corinthians 5:4
Q4: What does Paul instruct the Corinthians to do when assembled in the name of the Lord Jesus?
A4: When you are assembled in the name of the Lord Jesus and my spirit is present, with the power of our Lord Jesus,
1 Corinthians 5:5
Q5: What does Paul suggest about the man involved in immorality?
A5: you are to deliver this man to Satan for the destruction of the flesh so that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord.
1 Corinthians 5:6
Q6: What does Paul say about boasting in the Corinthians?
A6: Your boasting is not good. Do you not know that a little leaven leavens the whole lump?
1 Corinthians 5:7
Q7: What analogy does Paul use to illustrate the Corinthians' need to cleanse out the old leaven?
A7: Cleanse out the old leaven that you may be a new lump, as you really are unleavened. For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed.
1 Corinthians 5:8
Q8: How does Paul suggest the Corinthians celebrate the festival?
A8: Let us therefore celebrate the festival, not with the old leaven, the leaven of malice and evil, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.
1 Corinthians 5:9
Q9: What did Paul say about his previous letter to the Corinthians?
A9: I wrote to you in my letter not to associate with sexually immoral people—
1 Corinthians 5:10
Q10: What clarification does Paul make regarding associating with the immoral people of the world?
A10: not at all meaning the sexually immoral of this world, or the greedy and swindlers, or idolaters, since then you would need to go out of the world.
1 Corinthians 5:11
Q11: Whom does Paul advise not to associate with?
A11: But now I am writing to you not to associate with anyone who bears the name of brother if he is guilty of sexual immorality or greed, or is an idolater, reviler, drunkard, or swindler—not even to eat with such a one.
1 Corinthians 5:12
Q12: What does Paul say about judging those outside the church?
A12: For what have I to do with judging outsiders? Is it not those inside the church whom you are to judge?
1 Corinthians 5:13
Q13: What does Paul say about removing the evil person from among the Corinthians?
A13: God judges those outside. "Purge the evil person from among you."