Tyndale Open Study Notes1 Corinthians 5

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

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).

• 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).

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

• 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.

• 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.

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.

The church should guide and correct anyone known to be living in sin.

• 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).

Paul usually advised believers to stay connected with sinful non-believers (for example, 1 Corinthians 10:27).

Separating from a believer living in sin was intended to uphold the Christian community's high moral standards. This social pressure might also encourage a brother or sister to repent (see 2 Thessalonians 3:6, 14).

Christians should not judge or discipline the sins of non-believers, but they should address the sins of fellow believers.