Note: Words are shown in their original Greek order, which differs from English translations. This reflects the emphasis and structure of Scripture as originally written. Click any word to see its full lexicon entry.
1It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you, and of a kind that is intolerable even among pagans: A man has his father’s wife.
3Although I am absent from you in body, I am present with you in spirit, and I have already pronounced judgment on the one who did this, just as if I were present.
8Therefore let us keep the feast, not with the old bread, leavened with malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and of truth.
11But now I am writing you not to associate with anyone who claims to be a brother but is sexually immoral or greedy, an idolater or a verbal abuser, a drunkard or a swindler. With such a man do not even eat.
First Corinthians 5 addresses a serious moral crisis in the church at Corinth: a believer is openly living in sexual sin with his stepmother, and the congregation has done nothing to address it. Rather than mourning this scandal, the church seems proud or indifferent. Paul responds with apostolic authority, commanding the church to exercise church discipline by removing this person from their fellowship, with the ultimate goal of bringing him to repentance. This chapter establishes the biblical principle that the church must maintain moral boundaries and confront sin within its own membership, while remaining compassionate toward those outside the faith.
Paul begins by noting that word has reached him of widespread immorality in Corinth, specifically that a man is living with his father's wife—a union even pagan societies condemned (v. 1). Rather than being grieved by this open scandal, the Corinthians are "puffed up" with pride, possibly boasting about their spiritual freedom or tolerance (v. 2). Paul's language here suggests the church may have misunderstood Christian liberty as permission for license.
Though physically absent, Paul pronounces judgment "in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ" (vv. 3–4). This is not personal vindictiveness but apostolic authority exercised under Christ's authority. His verdict is severe: the offender must be delivered "unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus" (v. 5). This phrase means removing the person from church protection and fellowship, allowing natural consequences and worldly suffering to produce repentance. The goal is redemptive—spiritual salvation remains possible. Church discipline, properly understood, is an act of love, not cruelty.
Paul uses the metaphor of leaven (yeast) to warn that sin tolerated in the church will spread and corrupt the whole community (v. 6). A "little leaven leaveneth the whole lump" became a proverbial expression for how small compromises lead to widespread corruption. The Corinthians must "purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump" (v. 7).
Paul then connects this to the Passover tradition. Just as Israel removed all leaven before the Passover feast to commemorate their deliverance from Egypt, the church must remove sin to honor Christ, "our passover," who has been sacrificed for us (vv. 7–8). The Passover imagery emphasizes that Christ's work is finished and complete; believers now live as the redeemed, called to maintain holiness. The "unleavened bread of sincerity and truth" (v. 8) describes the ethical character God desires in His people.
Paul clarifies a potential misunderstanding. He had previously written against keeping company with fornicators (v. 9), but he does not mean believers should withdraw entirely from the non-Christian world (vv. 9–10). If we did that, we would have to "go out of the world." Instead, the rule applies specifically to those "called a brother"—professing believers (v. 11). If such a person is living in flagrant sin, believers are to refuse ordinary social fellowship, including shared meals, as a corrective measure.
Paul distinguishes the church's internal responsibility from God's ultimate judgment: "What have I to do to judge them also that are without? Do not ye judge them that are within?" (v. 12). The church's task is to maintain its own purity; God alone judges those outside. Therefore, the congregation must "put away from among yourselves that wicked person" (v. 13).
Application for Today
This passage calls modern churches to take sin seriously while remaining loving and redemptive. Church discipline today may look different than in Paul's time, but the principle stands: Christian community must gently confront unrepentant believers while showing grace to seekers outside the faith. We are neither to be silent enablers of sin nor harsh judges of the world. Our integrity as God's people depends on maintaining biblical standards within our own fellowship, always with the hope that discipline may lead to restoration and deeper faith.
Study Notes — 1 Corinthians 5
4 sectionsFirst Corinthians 5 addresses a serious moral crisis in the church at Corinth: a believer is openly living in sexual sin with his stepmother, and the congregation has done nothing to address it. Rather than mourning this scandal, the church seems proud or indifferent. Paul responds with apostolic authority, commanding the church to exercise church discipline by removing this person from their fellowship, with the ultimate goal of bringing him to repentance. This chapter establishes the biblical principle that the church must maintain moral boundaries and confront sin within its own membership, while remaining compassionate toward those outside the faith.
Paul begins by noting that word has reached him of widespread immorality in Corinth, specifically that a man is living with his father's wife—a union even pagan societies condemned (v. 1). Rather than being grieved by this open scandal, the Corinthians are "puffed up" with pride, possibly boasting about their spiritual freedom or tolerance (v. 2). Paul's language here suggests the church may have misunderstood Christian liberty as permission for license.
Though physically absent, Paul pronounces judgment "in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ" (vv. 3–4). This is not personal vindictiveness but apostolic authority exercised under Christ's authority. His verdict is severe: the offender must be delivered "unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus" (v. 5). This phrase means removing the person from church protection and fellowship, allowing natural consequences and worldly suffering to produce repentance. The goal is redemptive—spiritual salvation remains possible. Church discipline, properly understood, is an act of love, not cruelty.
Paul uses the metaphor of leaven (yeast) to warn that sin tolerated in the church will spread and corrupt the whole community (v. 6). A "little leaven leaveneth the whole lump" became a proverbial expression for how small compromises lead to widespread corruption. The Corinthians must "purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump" (v. 7).
Paul then connects this to the Passover tradition. Just as Israel removed all leaven before the Passover feast to commemorate their deliverance from Egypt, the church must remove sin to honor Christ, "our passover," who has been sacrificed for us (vv. 7–8). The Passover imagery emphasizes that Christ's work is finished and complete; believers now live as the redeemed, called to maintain holiness. The "unleavened bread of sincerity and truth" (v. 8) describes the ethical character God desires in His people.
Paul clarifies a potential misunderstanding. He had previously written against keeping company with fornicators (v. 9), but he does not mean believers should withdraw entirely from the non-Christian world (vv. 9–10). If we did that, we would have to "go out of the world." Instead, the rule applies specifically to those "called a brother"—professing believers (v. 11). If such a person is living in flagrant sin, believers are to refuse ordinary social fellowship, including shared meals, as a corrective measure.
Paul distinguishes the church's internal responsibility from God's ultimate judgment: "What have I to do to judge them also that are without? Do not ye judge them that are within?" (v. 12). The church's task is to maintain its own purity; God alone judges those outside. Therefore, the congregation must "put away from among yourselves that wicked person" (v. 13).
This passage calls modern churches to take sin seriously while remaining loving and redemptive. Church discipline today may look different than in Paul's time, but the principle stands: Christian community must gently confront unrepentant believers while showing grace to seekers outside the faith. We are neither to be silent enablers of sin nor harsh judges of the world. Our integrity as God's people depends on maintaining biblical standards within our own fellowship, always with the hope that discipline may lead to restoration and deeper faith.