1 Corinthians
Chapter 5
Overview
Paul is writing from a distance to people who follow Jesus in Corinth after hearing about a sexual relationship that even their surrounding society would condemn. His sharper concern is not only the act but the community’s proud, careless response. He tells them to grieve, make a formal judgment, and remove the offender. Using Passover bread as his central image, Paul warns that a little yeast changes the whole batch. He then draws an important boundary: they are responsible for conduct within their own community, not for policing everyone outside it. Discipline here aims at rescue as well as protection.
1It is widely reported that there is sexual immorality among you—and of a kind not even found among non-Jews. A man is living in a sexual relationship with his father’s wife.
2Yet you are proud! Shouldn’t you instead have grieved and removed the man who did this from your community?
3Although I am physically absent, I am present with you in spirit. As though I were there, I have already passed judgment on the man who acted this way.
4When you gather in the name of our Lord Jesus, I will be with you in spirit, and the power of our Lord Jesus will be present.
5Hand this man over to Satan so that his sinful human nature may be destroyed and his spirit may ultimately be rescued on the day when the Lord judges the world.
6Your boasting is not good. Don’t you know that a little yeast spreads through the whole batch of dough?
7Clear out the old yeast so that you may be a fresh batch of dough, just as you truly are dough without yeast. For the Messiah, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed.
8So let us celebrate the festival, but not with the old yeast or the yeast of spite and evil. Let us celebrate with bread that has no yeast: sincerity and truth.
9I wrote to you in my letter not to associate with sexually immoral people.
10I did not mean all the sexually immoral people of this world, or all who are greedy, dishonest, or worship idols. Otherwise, you would have to leave the world entirely.
11What I meant was that you must not associate with anyone who claims to be one of your fellow believers but is sexually immoral, greedy, an idol worshiper, verbally abusive, a drunkard, or a cheat. Do not even eat with such a person.
12After all, why should I judge people outside the community? Aren’t you responsible for judging those inside it?
13God judges those outside. Remove the evil person from among you.