The analogy of the Passover 5:6-8Paul argued for the man’s removal from the church with this analogy. It was primarily for the sake of the church that they should remove him, not for the man’s sake. read more
(b) 5:1-13. The Case of ImmoralityThe Apostle had written (1 Corinthians 4:21) of coming to exercise authority. Here was a case in which it was needed. A man had created a scandal by marrying his stepmother, and the Corinthians had done nothing. They had allowed him to retain his membership in the Church. St. Paul instructs them to excommunicate the offender, and keep the Church pure.1-8. Paraphrase. ’A rumour has reached me that unchastity exists among you, and that one of your number has... read more
(6) Your glorying is not good.—There is possibly a reference here to some boasting regarding their spiritual state contained in the letter which had reached St. Paul from Corinth, and to which part of this Epistle is a reply. (See 1 Corinthians 7:1.) So long as there is that one bad person amongst you it gives a bad character to the whole community, as leaven, though it may not have pervaded the entire lump, still makes it not the unleavened bread which was necessary for the Paschal Feast. This... read more
1 Corinthians 5:6-7 The 'eternal vigilance' required to maintain not only liberty but purity, should have for its guide a principle just opposite to the principle commonly followed. Most men, alike in public affairs and private business-affairs, assume that things are going right until it is proved they are going wrong; whereas their assumption should be that things are going wrong until it is proved they are going right. Spencer, Principles of Ethics (§ 470). References. IV. 21. Expositor... read more
Chapter 8EXCOMMUNICATION; OR, PURGING OUT THE OLD LEAVENFROM the subject of the factions in the Corinthian Church, which has so long detained Paul, he now passes to the second division of his Epistle, in which he speaks of the relation the Christians should hold to the heathen population around them. The transition is easy and such as befits a letter. Paul had thought it advisable to send Timothy, who perfectly understood his mind, and could represent his views more fully than a letter; but it... read more
3. Corinthian Failures. Chapters 5-6. CHAPTER 5 1. The Tolerated Case of Gross Immorality. (1 Corinthians 5:1-5 ). 2. The Call to Separation. (1 Corinthians 5:6-13 ). The spiritual declension, the carnal spirit which prevailed among them, had brought forth fruit. One of their members had committed an act of the grossest immorality, which was an unspeakable outrage, such as was not even named in a licentious city like Corinth, where licentiousness of life was a broadly marked feature of... read more
5:6 {7} Your glorying {d} [is] not good. Know ye not that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump?(7) Another goal of excommunication is that others are not infected, and therefore it must of necessity be retained in the Church, so that one is not infected by the other.(d) Is nothing and not grounded upon good reason, as though you were excellent, and yet there is such wickedness found among you. read more
The emphasis on human wisdom in Corinth was sadly accompanied by a case of revolting moral corruption. Philosophy is far removed from spiritual power, very commonly. Paul speaks here of a case well known, that of a man having his own stepmother. Such fornication as this was not even considered among the ungodly nations. This illustrates the fact that grace, once known, may be taken advantage of in a most unholy way, if it does not hold living power over the soul. And a believer may slip into... read more
SANCTITY OF THE HUMAN BODY One of the demoralizing things reported to Paul was the incest dealt with in chapter 5, and aggravated by the fact that the church instead of excommunicating the offender had become “puffed up” over it! His was an illustration of what their worldly wisdom in the Gospel had resulted in (1 Corinthians 5:1-2 ). Paul had already “judged” this person and directed the church to come together and solemnly deliver him “to Satan for the destruction of the flesh that the... read more
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Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - 1 Corinthians 5:6
It was not good for the Corinthians to feel proud of their permissiveness (cf. 1 Corinthians 5:2). Sin spreads in the church as yeast does in dough (cf. Galatians 5:9; Mark 8:15). Eventually the whole moral fabric of the congregation would suffer if the believers did not expunge this sin from its midst. read more