Paul's shocking juxtaposition of Christ as Passover sacrifice with church discipline creates the New Testament's most explicit connection between sacrificial purity and congregational holiness.
1 Corinthians 5
Church Discipline for Sexual Immorality
1It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you, and such sexual immorality as is not even named among the Gentiles, that one has his father’s wife.
2You are arrogant, and didn’t mourn instead, that he who had done this deed might be removed from among you.
3For I most certainly, as being absent in body but present in spirit, have already, as though I were present, judged him who has done this thing.
4In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, when you are gathered together with my spirit with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ,
5you are to deliver such a one to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.
6Your boasting is not good. Don’t you know that a little yeast leavens the whole lump?
7Purge out the old yeast, that you may be a new lump, even as you are unleavened. For indeed Christ, our Passover, has been sacrificed in our place.
8Therefore let’s keep the feast, not with old yeast, neither with the yeast of malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.
9I wrote to you in my letter to have no company with sexual sinners;
10yet not at all meaning with the sexual sinners of this world, or with the covetous and extortionists, or with idolaters, for then you would have to leave the world.
11But as it is, I wrote to you not to associate with anyone who is called a brother who is a sexual sinner, or covetous, or an idolater, or a slanderer, or a drunkard, or an extortionist. Don’t even eat with such a person.
12For what do I have to do with also judging those who are outside? Don’t you judge those who are within?
13But those who are outside, God judges. “Put away the wicked man from among yourselves.”
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Theme
Paul addresses a shocking case of sexual immorality within the Corinthian church, where a man is living with his father's wife, and condemns the congregation's failure to discipline him. He instructs them to remove the offender from their fellowship, using the metaphor of leaven to explain how unchecked sin corrupts the entire community. Paul clarifies that while Christians must interact with sinners in the world, they should not tolerate persistent immoral behavior among church members.
Context
This chapter continues Paul's correction of problems in Corinth following his discussion of divisions in chapters 1-4, and precedes his teaching on lawsuits and sexual ethics in chapter 6.
Key Themes
Outline
- 1-2 The Scandal and Church's Response Paul confronts the congregation about tolerating a case of incest and their arrogant attitude toward it.
- 3-5 Apostolic Judgment and Discipline Paul pronounces judgment on the offender and commands the church to deliver him to Satan for correction.
- 6-8 The Leaven Principle Using the metaphor of yeast, Paul explains how sin spreads and calls for purification in light of Christ's sacrifice.
- 9-13 Boundaries of Church Discipline Paul clarifies that discipline applies to professing believers, not unbelievers in the world whom God will judge.
Church Discipline for Sexual Immorality
5:1–5:13 epistle rebuke wrathful
Paul condemns the Corinthian church for tolerating sexual immorality and commands them to expel the offender to maintain church purity. He uses the metaphor of leaven and references Christ as the Passover sacrifice to emphasize the need for moral purity within the church community.
person_contrast
Paul's shocking juxtaposition of Christ as Passover sacrifice with church discipline creates the New Testament's most explicit connection between sacrificial purity and congregational holiness.
Insights
Cross-References
Connected passages across Scripture
1 Corinthians 5:3 5 references
Lexicals 5
2 Corinthians 13:10 Lexical
For this cause I write these things while absent, that I may not deal sharply when present, according to the authority w…
2 Corinthians 13:2 Lexical
I have warned previously, and I warn again, as when I was present the second time, so now, being absent, I write to thos…
2 Corinthians 10:11 Lexical
Let such a person consider this, that what we are in word by letters when we are absent, such are we also in deed when w…
1 Peter 4:6 Lexical
For to this end the Good News was preached even to the dead, that they might be judged indeed as men in the flesh, but l…
Romans 8:10 Lexical
If Christ is in you, the body is dead because of sin, but the spirit is alive because of righteousness.
1 Corinthians 5:5 3 references
Lexicals 3
Hebrews 5:7 Lexical
He, in the days of his flesh, having offered up prayers and petitions with strong crying and tears to him who was able t…
Mark 13:20 Lexical
Unless the Lord had shortened the days, no flesh would have been saved; but for the sake of the chosen ones, whom he pic…
Matthew 24:22 Lexical
Unless those days had been shortened, no flesh would have been saved. But for the sake of the chosen ones, those days wi…
1 Corinthians 5:6 3 references
Lexicals 3
Galatians 5:9 Lexical
A little yeast grows through the whole lump.
Matthew 13:33 Lexical
He spoke another parable to them. “The Kingdom of Heaven is like yeast which a woman took and hid in three measures of m…
Luke 13:21 Lexical
It is like yeast, which a woman took and hid in three measures of flour, until it was all leavened.”
1 Corinthians 5:7 5 references
Lexicals 5
Mark 14:12 Lexical
On the first day of unleavened bread, when they sacrificed the Passover, his disciples asked him, “Where do you want us…
Luke 22:7 Lexical
The day of unleavened bread came, on which the Passover must be sacrificed.
Galatians 5:9 Lexical
A little yeast grows through the whole lump.
Luke 22:1 Lexical
Now the feast of unleavened bread, which is called the Passover, was approaching.
Matthew 26:17 Lexical
Now on the first day of unleavened bread, the disciples came to Jesus, saying to him, “Where do you want us to prepare f…
1 Corinthians 5:8 1 reference
1 Corinthians 5:10 5 references
Lexicals 5
Ephesians 5:5 Lexical
Know this for sure, that no sexually immoral person, nor unclean person, nor covetous man (who is an idolater), has any…
1 Corinthians 6:9 Lexical
Or don’t you know that the unrighteous will not inherit God’s Kingdom? Don’t be deceived. Neither the sexually immoral,…
1 Corinthians 6:10 Lexical
nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor slanderers, nor extortionists, will inherit God’s Kingdom.
Revelation 21:8 Lexical
But for the cowardly, unbelieving, sinners, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars…
Revelation 22:15 Lexical
Outside are the dogs, the sorcerers, the sexually immoral, the murderers, the idolaters, and everyone who loves and prac…
1 Corinthians 5:11 5 references
Lexicals 5
1 Corinthians 6:10 Lexical
nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor slanderers, nor extortionists, will inherit God’s Kingdom.
Ephesians 5:5 Lexical
Know this for sure, that no sexually immoral person, nor unclean person, nor covetous man (who is an idolater), has any…
1 Corinthians 6:9 Lexical
Or don’t you know that the unrighteous will not inherit God’s Kingdom? Don’t be deceived. Neither the sexually immoral,…
1 Corinthians 10:7 Lexical
Don’t be idolaters, as some of them were. As it is written, “The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play.”
Ephesians 5:3 Lexical
But sexual immorality, and all uncleanness or covetousness, let it not even be mentioned among you, as becomes saints;
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