Read the Passage: 1 Corinthians 5

Listen to the Redeemed Mind Podcast: 1 Corinthians 5

Immorality Identified (5:1–5)

Beginning at 1 Cor. 5:1, and running all the way through 1 Cor. 11:16, Paul addresses various personal moral issues in the Corinthian church. It is likely that in this section Paul was responding to questions, and to other news, that he had received from Corinth. In this chapter Paul addresses sexual immorality, specifically the topic of incest. Paul begins this section by noting the shocking nature of this sin, as he writes that incest was “not even named among the Gentiles” of Corinth (1 Cor. 5:1). Observe that while incest was clearly prohibited within the Old Testament civil law (cf. Lev. 18:6–18), prior to the giving of the civil law, a variety of incest was practiced—without condemnation—by individuals such as Abraham, Nahor, and Amram. It is possible that believers in Corinth were justifying their incest by pointing to the pre-exodus narratives where the sin was present and tolerated.

Paul’s critique in this passage not only focuses on the sin of incest, but also he confronts the Corinthians’ acceptance of the practice. Perhaps the church viewed their tolerance of incest as a mark of liberality or open-mindedness. In any event, Paul sharply rebuked the church and recorded his own fatherly condemnation of the offender, writing, “I . . . have already judged (as though I were present) him who has so done this deed” (1 Cor. 5:3). Furthermore, in 1 Cor. 5:4–5, Paul instructed the believers in Corinth to practice church discipline. Here Paul taught that the church should engage in discipline “when you are gathered together, along with my spirit” (1 Cor. 5:4). Paul was likely referring to the fact that the church had his written teachings and knew his mind. Note that incest is practiced after the exodus by Amnon, Absalom, and Herod, and is clearly condemned in each instance.

Rationale Stated (5:6–8)

Earlier, at 1 Cor. 5:2, Paul wrote about the Corinthians, “You are puffed up.” Now, at 1 Cor. 5:5. Paul similarly declares, “Your glorying is not good.” Indeed, one of the many liabilities of pride is that it is so self-focused, that it results in a failure to see and to address the sins of others. This is why Paul exhorts the church toward sanctification in this passage, as he uses a picture of the unleavened bread of the Passover at 1 Cor. 5:7–8. The rationale that Paul gives for sanctification here is, “You truly are unleavened” (1 Cor. 5:7). The idea is that believers have been imputed with the righteousness of Christ; therefore, they should strive to become like that which they are already considered to be. Said differently, sanctification (or one’s practice) should reflect the reality of justification (or one’s position). This is possible, for “Christ, our Passover [Lamb], was sacrificed for us” (1 Cor. 5:8; cf. John 1:29).

Principle Given (5:9–13)

Perhaps a reason why some in Corinth didn’t confront the sinning church member who was engaged in incest is that they had misunderstood Paul’s prior teachings about personal holiness. It is also possible that Paul feared some in the church would misconstrue his exhortation in 1 Cor. 5:5 about church discipline, interpreting it to mean that they were to isolate themselves from the world. In any case, at 1 Cor. 5:9–13 Paul was compelled to give a clear principle about believers’ interaction with the world. At 1 Cor. 5:9 Paul references an earlier non-canonical letter, known as the lost epistle, in which he had given instructions about not socializing with sexually immoral people (cf. 2 Thess. 3:6). Apparently, some in the church had understood this earlier teaching to mean that they should seclude themselves from the world. Here Paul clarifies that his exhortation to purity was not a call for isolation.

By way of clarifying his earlier directions about church discipline, in 1 Cor. 5:11 Paul is unambiguous as he teaches that church discipline is intended for Christians. Earlier, when Paul wrote, “Deliver such a one to Satan” (1 Cor. 5:5), he was referring to sinning believers. In regard to unbelievers, Paul did not want the church to separate from the secular culture, for that would entail needing “to go out of the world” (1 Cor. 5:10), thereby losing one’s spiritual influence. Furthermore, as Paul explains in 1 Cor. 5:12–13, the judgment of unbelievers by Christians is unnecessary, for all “those who are [on the] outside God judges” (1 Cor. 5:13). To summarize Paul’s principles from this passage: (1) within the church, believers are to separate from an unrepentant, sinning believer; however, (2) within the world, Christians are not to isolate themselves from unbelievers, for the lost world needs the presence of Christ.

Application Questions:

1. What is the relationship between theology (or one’s beliefs about God) and ethics (or one’s actions)?
2. How can we explain instances in Scripture where sins like incest and polygamy are tolerated?
3. How can we explain the relative lack of church discipline, over all issues, in the contemporary church?
4. What does it mean that Jesus is the Passover? What parallels can you draw between the OT Passover and the NT atonement?
5. How ought Christians to interact with the culture? What are the parameters for proper interaction between the church and state?