1 Corinthians 5:12 - Exposition

For what have I to do to judge them also that are without? To pass sentence on heathens is no concern of mine; it is no part of my office. The phrase "them that are without" was originally a Jewish phrase. To the Jews all men were outsiders ( chitsonin ) except themselves. The phrase was adopted by Christians, but in a less contemptuous sense ( 1 Thessalonians 4:12 ; Colossians 4:5 ). We find a description of "those that were without"—"aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenant of promise"—in Ephesians 2:12 . Do not ye judge them that are within! An appeal to their own practice and to common sense. Christian rules can, of course, only apply to Christian communities.