# Overview 1 Corinthians Chapter 5 addresses a serious issue of immorality within the #Corinthian church, specifically a case of sexual immorality that even the #pagans would not tolerate—a man has his father's wife. #Paul expresses his shock and disappointment at the church's arrogance and their failure to mourn over such sin. He instructs them to remove the offender from their midst, emphasizing the need for church discipline to maintain holiness within the body of #Christ. Paul uses the metaphor of #leaven, warning that a little leaven leavens the whole lump, and encourages the church to be like unleavened bread, free from malice and wickedness, and full of sincerity and truth. Furthermore, Paul clarifies his previous letter, explaining that his admonition not to associate with sexually immoral people did not refer to outsiders but to those who claim to be believers yet engage in such behavior. He insists that the church should judge those within, while God judges those outside. This chapter highlights the importance of maintaining purity and accountability within the church community, and serves as a reminder of the call to live holy lives in obedience to the Lord. Paul concludes with the directive to "purge the evil person from among you," echoing the Old Testament command to remove sin from the community of #Israel. ## Theological Insights 1 Corinthians 5 presents a critical insight into the life of the early #ChristianChurch, emphasizing the need for holiness and purity among believers. This chapter addresses a case of immorality within the #Corinthian church, highlighting the responsibility of the community to uphold #moralstandards and exercise discipline. The apostle #Paul admonishes the church for their tolerance of sin, calling them to "purge the evil person from among you" (1 Corinthians 5:13), echoing the language found in the #OldTestament Law, such as in [[Deuteronomy/Deuteronomy Chapter 17]]. The chapter illustrates the tension between the transformative power of the #Gospel and the persistent reality of sin. Paul’s instruction to "deliver this man to #Satan for the destruction of the flesh, so that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord" (1 Corinthians 5:5) underscores the seriousness of sin and the ultimate goal of restoration and salvation. This is a reflection of the broader biblical theme of repentance and redemption seen throughout the Scriptures, including the parable of the prodigal son in [[Luke/Luke Chapter 15]]. Paul’s metaphor of leaven (1 Corinthians 5:6-8) serves as a powerful theological insight into the pervasive nature of sin and the community's call to purity. The reference to the #Passover lamb, which is #Christ, connects this call to holiness with the sacrificial death of Jesus. It underscores the new identity of believers as those who are unleavened, purified by Christ’s sacrifice, and called to live out their faith in integrity (see also [[Exodus/Exodus Chapter 12]] for the Passover context). The chapter also addresses the issue of association with those who are sexually immoral, not in the world but within the church, drawing a distinction between how believers are to interact with insiders versus outsiders. This indicates the church's role as a distinct community called to reflect the holiness of #God among themselves and to the world. This theme is consistent with Jesus' teaching on discipline and forgiveness in [[Matthew/Matthew Chapter 18]]. Overall, 1 Corinthians 5 calls the church to a higher ethical standard, rooted in their identity in Christ. It challenges believers to reflect the holiness of God in their communal life, recognizing the serious implications of sin but also the profound hope in the redemptive work of [[Jesus Christ (Multiple)|Jesus Christ]]. ## Thematic Connections ### Church Discipline and Purity In 1 Corinthians 5, the theme of #churchdiscipline is emphasized as Paul addresses the issue of immorality within the #Corinthian church. This connects to the need for holiness and purity among God’s people, as seen in the #OldTestament, where God commands Israel to be holy because He is holy ([[Leviticus/Leviticus Chapter 19]]). The call for the church to remove the wicked person from among them (1 Corinthians 5:13) is reminiscent of the commands given to Israel to purge evil from their midst ([[Deuteronomy/Deuteronomy Chapter 17]]). ### The Leaven Metaphor Paul's use of the leaven metaphor in 1 Corinthians 5:6-8 draws thematic connections to the #Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread, where leaven represents sin and corruption ([[Exodus/Exodus Chapter 12]]). The call to be a new batch without leaven is an exhortation to maintain purity and sincerity, paralleling the Christian life to the preparation for the ultimate Passover, fulfilled in #Christ. ### The New Community in Christ The chapter also highlights the theme of the new community in #Christ. By emphasizing the need for moral integrity within the church, Paul underscores the concept of believers being distinct from the world, akin to Israel's call to be a separate and distinct nation ([[Exodus/Exodus Chapter 19]]). This new identity in Christ demands a lifestyle that reflects the values and holiness of God's kingdom. ### Judgment and Accountability within the Church 1 Corinthians 5 presents the theme of judgment and accountability within the church, indicating that believers have a responsibility to judge those within their community ([[1 Corinthians/1 Corinthians Chapter 5|verses 12-13]]). This aligns with Jesus’ teaching on church discipline in [[Matthew/Matthew Chapter 18]], where the process of confronting sin within the community is outlined. The church is called to exercise discernment and corrective measures to uphold the integrity of the body of Christ. ### Christ as Our Passover Lamb The reference to Christ as our Passover lamb in 1 Corinthians 5:7 connects to the sacrificial system of the #OldTestament, particularly the Passover lamb that was slain for Israel’s deliverance from Egypt ([[Exodus/Exodus Chapter 12]]). This underscores the theme of redemption and deliverance through Christ's sacrifice, which purifies and sanctifies believers, enabling them to live in holiness and truth. ## Prophetic Fulfillments ### The Call to Holiness In 1 Corinthians 5, the Apostle #Paul addresses moral purity within the #Christian community, emphasizing the need for holiness. This aligns with the Old Testament call to holiness found in [[Leviticus/Leviticus Chapter 11|Leviticus 11:44-45]], where God commands His people to be holy as He is holy. The demand for purity and the separation from sin within the #Church echoes the prophetic call for a sanctified people, set apart for God’s purposes. This New Testament passage fulfills the Old Testament vision of a holy community by urging believers to uphold moral standards and expel wickedness from among them, reflecting God's desire for a pure and dedicated people. ### The Passover Lamb Paul’s reference to Christ as our Passover Lamb in 1 Corinthians 5:7 fulfills the imagery of the Passover Lamb from [[Exodus/Exodus Chapter 12|Exodus 12]], where the blood of the lamb protected the Israelites during the final plague in Egypt. This identification of [[Jesus Christ (Multiple)|Jesus Christ]] as the Passover Lamb signifies the ultimate fulfillment of the sacrificial system and the deliverance it foreshadowed. Just as the Israelites were spared and set free from bondage, believers are delivered from the bondage of sin through the sacrifice of Jesus. This fulfillment highlights Jesus' role as the perfect and final sacrifice, inaugurating a new covenant between God and His people. ### The Leaven of Sin Paul’s instruction to remove the “old leaven” of sin (1 Corinthians 5:7-8) draws on the Old Testament practice during the Feast of Unleavened Bread, as described in [[Exodus/Exodus Chapter 12|Exodus 12:15]], where leaven represents sin and corruption. By urging the removal of leaven, Paul is calling the Church to live in sincerity and truth, free from the corruption of sin. This metaphor fulfills the prophetic symbolism of unleavened bread, representing a life purified by Christ’s atoning work. The exhortation to live as unleavened bread is a call to embody the holiness and purity that God desires for His covenant people. ## Verses - **1 Corinthians 5:1** - "I can hardly believe the report about the sexual immorality going on among you—something that even pagans don’t do. I am told that a man in your church is living in sin with his stepmother." - Notes: Sexual immorality is a serious issue addressed in other parts of Scripture, such as in [[Leviticus/Leviticus Chapter 18]] and [[Ephesians/Ephesians Chapter 5]]. - **1 Corinthians 5:2** - "You are so proud of yourselves, but you should be mourning in sorrow and shame. And you should remove this man from your fellowship." - Notes: The concept of mourning over sin is echoed in [[James/James Chapter 4]]:9. - **1 Corinthians 5:3** - "Even though I am not with you in person, I am with you in the Spirit. And as though I were there, I have already passed judgment on this man" - Notes: Paul's spiritual presence and authority is similar to his relationship with other churches, as seen in [[Philippians/Philippians Chapter 1]]:27. - **1 Corinthians 5:4** - "in the name of the Lord Jesus. You must call a meeting of the church. I will be present with you in spirit, and so will the power of our Lord Jesus." - Notes: The gathering in the name of the Lord is also referenced in [[Matthew/Matthew Chapter 18]]:20. - **1 Corinthians 5:5** - "Then you must throw this man out and hand him over to Satan so that his sinful nature will be destroyed and he himself will be saved on the day the Lord returns." - Notes: The concept of delivering someone to Satan is also mentioned in [[1 Timothy/1 Timothy Chapter 1]]:20. - **1 Corinthians 5:6** - "Your boasting about this is terrible. Don’t you realize that this sin is like a little yeast that spreads through the whole batch of dough?" - Notes: The analogy of yeast is also used by Jesus in [[Matthew/Matthew Chapter 16]]:6. - **1 Corinthians 5:7** - "Get rid of the old 'yeast' by removing this wicked person from among you. Then you will be like a fresh batch of dough made without yeast, which is what you really are. Christ, our Passover Lamb, has been sacrificed for us." - Notes: References to Christ as our Passover Lamb can be found in [[Exodus/Exodus Chapter 12]] and [[John/John Chapter 1]]:29. - **1 Corinthians 5:8** - "So let us celebrate the festival, not with the old bread of wickedness and evil, but with the new bread of sincerity and truth." - Notes: The contrast between old and new is similar to themes in [[Ephesians/Ephesians Chapter 4]]:22-24. - **1 Corinthians 5:9** - "When I wrote to you before, I told you not to associate with people who indulge in sexual sin." - Notes: Prior instructions are consistent with Paul's teachings in other letters, such as [[2 Thessalonians/2 Thessalonians Chapter 3]]:14. - **1 Corinthians 5:10** - "But I wasn’t talking about unbelievers who indulge in sexual sin, or are greedy, or cheat people, or worship idols. You would have to leave this world to avoid people like that." - Notes: The presence of sin in the world is acknowledged in [[John/John Chapter 17]]:15-16. - **1 Corinthians 5:11** - "I meant that you are not to associate with anyone who claims to be a believer yet indulges in sexual sin, or is greedy, or worships idols, or is abusive, or is a drunkard, or cheats people. Don’t even eat with such people." - Notes: The call to separate from sinful believers is echoed in [[2 Corinthians/2 Corinthians Chapter 6]]:14. - **1 Corinthians 5:12** - "It isn’t my responsibility to judge outsiders, but it certainly is your responsibility to judge those inside the church who are sinning." - Notes: The distinction between judging insiders and outsiders is further explained in [[Romans/Romans Chapter 14]]:4. - **1 Corinthians 5:13** - "God will judge those on the outside; but as the Scriptures say, 'You must remove the evil person from among you.'" - Notes: The directive to remove evil from the community can be found in [[Deuteronomy/Deuteronomy Chapter 17]]:7.