English Standard Version
1 Corinthians 5:1
1It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you, and of a kind that is not tolerated even among pagans, for a man has his father's wife.
1 Corinthians 5:1 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)It is reported commonly that there is fornication among you, and such fornication as is not so much as named among the Gentiles, that one should have his father’s wife.
- New International Version (NIV)It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you, and of a kind that even pagans do not tolerate: A man is sleeping with his father’s wife.
- New King James Version (NKJV)It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you, and such sexual immorality as is not even named among the Gentiles—that a man has his father’s wife!
- New Living Translation (NLT)I can hardly believe the report about the sexual immorality going on among you—something that even pagans don’t do. I am told that a man in your church is living in sin with his stepmother.
Context of 1 Corinthians 5:1
It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you, and of a kind that is not tolerated even among pagans, for a man has his father's wife. 2And you are arrogant! Ought you not rather to mourn? Let him who has done this be removed from among you. 3For though absent in body, I am present in spirit; and as if present, I have already pronounced judgment on the one who did such a thing.
Read all of 1 Corinthians 51 Corinthians 5:1 word by word
Ὅλως ἀκούεται ἐν ὑμῖν πορνεία, καὶ τοιαύτη πορνεία ἥτις οὐδὲ ἐν τοῖς ἔθνεσιν ὥστε γυναῖκά τινα τοῦ πατρὸς ἔχειν·Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- It is reportedἀκούωakouō · to hearG191
- commonlyὅλωςholōs · at allG3654
- fornicationπορνείαporneia · sexual sinG4202
- amongἐνen · in/on/amongG1722
- youσύsu · youG4771
- andκαίkai · andG2532
- suchτοιοῦτοςtoioutos · such as thisG5108
- as isὅστιςhostis hētis ho6ti · who/whichG3748
- not so much asοὐδέoude · norG3761
- namedὀνομάζωonomazō · to nameG3687
- the Gentilesὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
- the Gentilesἔθνοςethnos · GentilesG1484
- thatὥστεhōste · soG5620
- oneτιςtis · oneG5100
- should haveἔχωechō · to have/beG2192
- father’sπατήρpatēr · fatherG3962
- wifeγυνήgunē · woman: wifeG1135
Cross-references for 1 Corinthians 5:1
- 1 Corinthians 1:11For it has been reported to me by Chloe's people that there is quarreling among you, my brothers.
- Genesis 37:2These are the generations of Jacob. Joseph, being seventeen years old, was pasturing the flock with his brothers. He was a boy with the sons of Bilhah and Zilpah, his father's wives. And Joseph brought a bad report of them to their father.
- 1 Samuel 2:24No, my sons; it is no good report that I hear the people of the Lord spreading abroad.
- 1 Corinthians 5:11But now I am writing to you not to associate with anyone who bears the name of brother if he is guilty of sexual immorality or greed, or is an idolater, reviler, drunkard, or swindler—not even to eat with such a one.
- 1 Corinthians 6:9Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality,
- Acts 15:20but should write to them to abstain from the things polluted by idols, and from sexual immorality, and from what has been strangled, and from blood.
- 2 Corinthians 12:21I fear that when I come again my God may humble me before you, and I may have to mourn over many of those who sinned earlier and have not repented of the impurity, sexual immorality, and sensuality that they have practiced.
- Galatians 5:19Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality,
- Ephesians 5:3But sexual immorality and all impurity or covetousness must not even be named among you, as is proper among saints.
- Colossians 3:5Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry.
- 1 Thessalonians 4:7For God has not called us for impurity, but in holiness.
- Revelation 2:21I gave her time to repent, but she refuses to repent of her sexual immorality.
- Revelation 21:8But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable, as for murderers, the sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death."
- Jeremiah 2:33"How well you direct your course to seek love! So that even to wicked women you have taught your ways.
- Ezekiel 16:47Not only did you walk in their ways and do according to their abominations; within a very little time you were more corrupt than they in all your ways.
- Genesis 35:22While Israel lived in that land, Reuben went and lay with Bilhah his father's concubine. And Israel heard of it. Now the sons of Jacob were twelve.
Commentaries on 1 Corinthians 5:1
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 1There is fornication among you - The word , which we translate fornication in this place, must be understood in its utmost latitude of meaning, as implying all kinds of impurity; for, that the Corinthians were notoriously guilty of every species of irregularity and debauch, we have already seen; and it is not likely that in speaking on this subject, in reference to a people so very notorious, he would refer to only one species of impurity, and that not…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 1It is reported - Greek It is heard. There is a rumor. That rumor had been brought to Paul, probably by the members of the family of Chloe, 1 Corinthians 1:11. Commonly - ̔́ HolōsEverywhere. It is a matter of common fame. It is so public that it cannot be concealed; and so certain that it cannot be denied. This was all offence, he informs us, which even the pagan would not justify or tolerate; and, therefore, the report had spread not only in the…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 1The apostle blames the Corinthians for connivance at an incestuous person; (1-8) and directs their behaviour towards those guilty of scandalous crimes. (9-13) Verses 1-8 The apostle notices a flagrant abuse, winked at by the Corinthians. Party spirit, and a false notion of Christian liberty, seem to have saved the offender from censure. Grievous indeed is it that crimes should sometimes be committed by professors of the gospel, of which even heathens…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 1sexual 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).Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1-131Co 5:1-13. The Incestuous Person at Corinth: The Corinthians Reproved for Connivance, and Warned to Purge Out the Bad Leaven. Qualification of His Former Command as to Association with Sinners of the World. 1. commonly--rather, "actually" [Alford]. Absolutely [Bengel]. "It is reported," implies, that the Corinthians, though they "wrote" (1Co 7:1) to Paul on other points, gave him no information on those things which bore against themselves. These latter…Read the comment
Topics related to 1 Corinthians 5:1
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on 1 Corinthians 5
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Calvin’s Commentaries
- John Wesley’s Notes
- Illustrated New Testament
- Burkitt’s Expository Notes
- Darby Translation Notes
- Family Bible Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- Luther’s Commentary on Selected Bible Passages
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- The People’s New Testament
- Robertson’s Word Pictures
- Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
- Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
English Standard Version — © 2001 Crossway Bibles
Commentaries