1 Corinthians 5

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5:1 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.
5:2 And ye are puffed up, and have not rather mourned, that he that hath done this deed might be taken away from among you.
5:3 For I verily, as absent in body, but present in spirit, have judged already, as though I were present, concerning him that hath so done this deed,
5:4 In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, when ye are gathered together, and my spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ,
5:5 To deliver such an one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.
5:6 Your glorying is not good. Know ye not that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump?
5:7 Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us:
5:8 Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness; but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.
5:9 I wrote unto you in an epistle not to company with fornicators:
5:10 Yet not altogether with the fornicators of this world, or with the covetous, or extortioners, or with idolaters; for then must ye needs go out of the world.
5:11 But now I have written unto you not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such an one no not to eat.
5:12 For what have I to do to judge them also that are without? do not ye judge them that are within?
5:13 But them that are without God judgeth. Therefore put away from among yourselves that wicked person.
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Everything King James Bible:1 Corinthians

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Whole Bible
back to: 1 Corinthians
Book: 1 Corinthians
Chapter: 5

Overview:
The Apostle blames the Corinthians for connivance at an
incestuous person; (1-8) and directs their behaviour towards
those guilty of scandalous crimes. (9-13)

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 would be
ashamed. Spiritual pride and false doctrines tend to bring in,
and to spread such scandals. How dreadful the effects of Sin!
The Devil reigns where Christ does not. And a Man is in his
kingdom, and under his power, when not in Christ. The bad
Example of a Man of influence is very mischievous; it spreads
far and wide. Corrupt principles and examples, if not corrected,
would hurt the whole Church. Believers must have new hearts, and
lead new lives. Their common Conversation and religious deeds
must be holy. So far is the Sacrifice of Christ our Passover for
us, from rendering personal and public Holiness unnecessary,
that it furnishes powerful reasons and motives for it. Without
Holiness we can neither live By Faith in him, nor join in his
ordinances with comfort and profit.

9-13 Christians are to avoid familiar converse with all who
disgrace the Christian name. Such are only fit companions for
their brethren in Sin, and to such company they should be left,
whenever it is possible to do So. Alas, that there are many
called Christians, whose Conversation is more dangerous than
that of heathens!