1 Corinthians 5:7

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 1 Corinthians 5:7-8

Here the apostle exhorts them to purity, by purging out the old leaven. In this observe, I. The advice itself, addressed either, 1. To the church in general; and so purging out the old leaven, that they might be a new lump, refers to the putting away from themselves that wicked person, 1 Cor. 5:13. Note, Christian churches should be pure and holy, and not bear such corrupt and scandalous members. They are to be unleavened, and should endure no such heterogeneous mixture to sour and corrupt... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - 1 Corinthians 5:1-8

5:1-8 It is actually reported that there is unchastity among you, and unchastity so monstrous that it does not even exist among the heathen, unchastity the consequence of which is that a certain man has formed a union with his father's wife; and you have regarded the matter with inflated self-complacency and you have not--as you should have--regarded it with a grief so bitter that it would take steps to see that the perpetrator of this deed should be removed from your midst. Now I, absent in... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Corinthians 5:7

Purge out therefore the old leaven ,.... Meaning either the incestuous person, whose crime might well be compared to sour "leaven", and be called old because of his long continuance in it; whom the apostle would have removed from them; this is properly the act of excommunication, which that church was to perform, as a quite distinct thing from what the apostle himself determined to do. The allusion is to the strict search the Jews made F7 Misn Pesachim, c. 1. sect. 1. 2. Maimon. Hilch.... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Corinthians 5:7

Purge out therefore the old leaven - As it is the custom of the Jews previously to the passover to search their houses in the most diligent manner for the old leaven, and throw it out, sweeping every part clean; so act with this incestuous person. I have already shown with what care the Jews purged their houses from all leaven previously to the passover; see the note on Exodus 12:8-19 ; (note), and on the term passover, and Christ as represented by this ancient Jewish sacrifice; see on ... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Corinthians 5:7

Verse 7 7.Purge out therefore Having borrowed a similitude from leaven, he pursues it farther, though he makes a transition from a particular point to a general doctrine. For he is no longer speaking of the case of incest, but exhorts them generally to purity of life, on the ground that we cannot remain in Christ if we are not cleansed. He is accustomed to do this not infrequently. When he has made a particular statement, he takes occasion to pass on to general exhortations. He had made mention... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Corinthians 5:1-7

Church discipline. I. FLAGRANT SIN IS NOT TO BE TOLERATED IN THE CHURCH . Though the precepts of Christianity are most pure, professors are sometimes impure. The Corinthian Church furnished a deplorable example. The sin of one of its members was a sin which was "not even among the Gentiles." Occasionally occurring among them, but exceptional even in such debased communities; held in general reprobation, not countenanced by their laws. Into the purest society a great... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Corinthians 5:1-8

Excommunication of an incestuous offender. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Corinthians 5:6-7

"Purge out the old leaven." The apostle sought the illustrations with which he enforced Christian doctrine and duty from every source, Hebrew and Gentile alike. In this passage he derives, from the practices of his countrymen during the festival of the Passover, a figure by which he brings before his readers the necessity of moral purity in life and in fellowship. As the Jews were accustomed at the approach of the feast to search out every scrap of leaven to be found in their houses, that... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Corinthians 5:6-13

The true Church a feast. "Your glorying is not good," etc. There are numerous Churches, but only one true Church, viz. that community of men who possess the Spirit and exemplify the character of Jesus Christ. These verses lead us to look upon the true Church— I. In its INTERNAL ENJOYMENTS . It is called here a "feast." Truly the association of such Christly spirited men is a "feast" of the sublimest kind, a feast to each and all. A "feast:" 1. Because it contains the choicest... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Corinthians 5:6-13

Supplementary views and explanations. Was nothing necessary except to get rid of the offender? That was to be done, but something else was quite as much of an exigency. Here, then, we see the extent to which the enormous evil had spread, for the whole Church had been infected. If the vice had assumed in one man the completest form of social iniquity, what was the state of the atmosphere in which this was possible? Such corruption was not sporadic: the whole air was poisoned; and in this... read more

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