Study notes

1 Corinthians 5

Introducing 1 CorinthiansWho wrote it, when, why, and what to look for as you read

5:1

sexual immorality: A man was having sexual relations with his stepmother. Even pagans did not engage in such behavior. It violated both the law of Moses (see Leviticus 18:7–8) and Roman law (Gaius, Institutes 1.63).

5:1–8

Paul addresses sexual immorality in the church and tells the Christians to remove an unashamed wrongdoer from fellowship.

5:1–13 Section

The Corinthian church allowed believers to continue sinning and purposely causing harm. They were proud of this. They knew that Jesus had set them free from being slaves to sin. Christ did that when he sacrificed himself as the Lamb of God at the Passover Feast.

Because of this, the Corinthians didn’t treat sin as a serious problem. Paul described sin and evil like yeast that spreads throughout bread dough. The Corinthian believers had lived in sinful ways before they started following Jesus. Those ways included boasting, pride, hatred, sexual sin and wanting more and more things. They included telling lies, cheating and worshipping statues of false gods.

Paul made it very clear that believers must have nothing to do with sin. Instead, believers should live in ways that are honest and true. This is holy living. Paul described it like a new batch of dough without yeast. Bread without yeast is what Jews ate during the Passover Feast.

Paul explained how the Corinthians were to deal with believers who were proud of their sin. They were to judge them. This meant recognising the problem and taking action to stop it. They were to stay away from such people. People who were proud of their sin mustn’t be allowed to remain in the church community. This is because people who want to keep sinning aren’t serving Jesus as Lord. They are causing harm that might destroy the church. And the Corinthians had to hand such people over to Satan. Satan is another name for the devil.

This meant that such people must repent and turn away from their sin. Until then, they were to be considered part of the kingdom of Satan instead of the kingdom of God.

5:2

The Corinthian Christians were proud (see 1 Corinthians 4:8, 10, 18; 5:6), but they should have felt sorrow and shame for the sin among them.
have removed from your fellowship the man: This instruction suggests that the man ignored their requests, or that such obvious sin needed immediate discipline (compare Matthew 18:15–18).

5:3

in spirit: Paul shared a spiritual connection with them. He had authority from God through the Spirit, which worked well among them.

5:5

The instruction to remove this man is not directly in the Greek text but is suggested by 1 Corinthians 5:2, 13.
hand this man over to Satan: Compare with 1 Timothy 1:20. Those outside God's church fall under Satan's power and control (see Ephesians 2:2; 1 John 5:19).
for the destruction of the flesh: The flesh could mean his evil desires or his physical life (for example, so that he will die).
so that his spirit may be saved: He might repent and avoid condemnation (compare with 2 Corinthians 2:5–8).
on the Day of the Lord: This includes the final judgment.

5:6–7

Yeast often symbolized sin (see Matthew 16:6, 12; Mark 8:15; Luke 12:1; Galatians 5:9). Jews ceremonially removed yeast from their homes before the annual Passover meal (Exodus 12:19; 13:7).
Get rid of the old leaven: If left unchecked, sin could spread throughout the church, just as yeast spreads through dough.

5:7–8

Paul compares the Jewish Passover celebration to Christ's sacrifice. During Passover, people sacrificed a lamb and ate unleavened bread (see Exodus 12:1–27; 13:3–7). Christ's sacrifice, which happened at Passover (Matthew 26:2; compare John 1:29; 1 Peter 1:19), removes sin for believers.

5:9

I wrote you in my letter refers to an earlier letter that is now lost.
Sexual sin includes any form of illegal sexual activity (see also 1 Corinthians 6:9).

1 Corinthians 5

5:1

5:1–8

5:1–13 Section

5:2

5:3

5:5

5:6–7

5:7–8

5:9

5:9–13

5:10

5:11

5:12–13