Study Content

Paul begins the chapter by describing a situation that had become widely known within the church.

A man was involved in a relationship with his father’s wife.

This type of relationship violated both Jewish law and Roman cultural standards. Paul notes that even the surrounding society considered such behavior unacceptable.

The seriousness of the situation was not only the sin itself but the church’s response to it.

Instead of grieving over the matter, the Corinthians had become arrogant.

The Greek word translated as puffed up is physioō, meaning inflated or swollen with pride.

Rather than acknowledging the seriousness of the situation and seeking restoration, they had allowed the behavior to continue unchecked.

Paul explains that although he is physically absent, he has already judged the situation in the sense of recognizing its seriousness.

He instructs the church to gather together in the name of the Lord Jesus and take decisive action.

The phrase he uses is often difficult to understand. He says the man should be delivered to Satan for the destruction of the flesh so that the spirit may be saved.

This statement reflects the practice of removing someone from the protective fellowship of the church.

Outside that community, the person would experience the consequences of their actions and hopefully be brought to repentance.

The goal is not punishment for its own sake but the restoration of the individual.

Paul then addresses the deeper problem behind the Corinthians’ attitude.

Their boasting is not good.

They had allowed pride to replace humility, even while serious sin remained in their midst.

Paul uses an image familiar from the preparation of Passover.

He says that a little leaven affects the entire batch of dough.

The Greek word for leaven is zymē, referring to yeast used in bread making. Because yeast spreads through the entire mixture, it became a common symbol for influence in Scripture.

Just as yeast spreads through dough, unaddressed sin can influence the entire community.

Paul urges them to remove the “old leaven” so that they may become a new batch of dough.

He connects this imagery directly to Christ by saying that Christ, our Passover, has been sacrificed for us.

During Passover the Israelites removed all leaven from their homes as part of their preparation for the feast.

The practice symbolized leaving behind the old life associated with Egypt.

Paul applies this symbolism to the Christian life.

Believers are called to live as people who have been redeemed through the sacrifice of Christ.

Therefore the celebration of the new life in Christ should not include the “old leaven” of malice and wickedness.

Instead, Paul says believers should live with sincerity and truth.

The Greek word translated as sincerity is eilikrineia, meaning purity that has been tested and found genuine.

Paul then clarifies an earlier instruction he had given in a previous letter.

He had told them not to associate with sexually immoral people.

However, he explains that he did not mean avoiding all immoral people in the world.

Such complete separation would be impossible because believers live within society.

Instead, his concern is with someone who claims to belong to the Christian community yet continues in serious sin without repentance.

In such cases, Paul says believers should not even share a meal with the person.

Sharing meals in the early church carried deep relational significance, often connected with fellowship and the Lord’s Supper.

Refusing that fellowship communicates the seriousness of the situation while also calling the individual toward repentance.

Paul concludes by explaining that the church is responsible for addressing conduct within its own community.

God will judge those outside the church.

But the church must remove persistent evil from its own fellowship.

The phrase echoes language from the Law where Israel was instructed to remove corruption from among the people.

The purpose of such discipline is not exclusion for its own sake.

Rather, it protects the spiritual health of the community and invites the person involved to return through repentance.

1 Corinthians 5 therefore reminds believers that grace does not mean ignoring sin.

Instead, grace calls the community to pursue holiness while also seeking restoration for those who have fallen.