Rob ReardonInterpretive Essay – 1 Corinthians 5:1-13Introduction to New Testament – BI172

Spring 2010

Paul was faced with a situation in the Corinthian church that is unfortunately not unlike what 21st

Century churches face on a regular basis. The issue of sexual immorality, specifically incest in Paul’s

case, within the church, while not readily aired publically is one of grave concern. A controversial report

by the Barna Research Group at the turn of the century revealed that “Christians are more likely than

others to experience divorce.”1 While I would concede that factors other than sexual immorality can lead

to divorce, it does serve as an indicator to how relational issues are dealt with largely in a church

context. What I will discuss in this essay will show how discipline, or lack thereof, in the Corinthian

church isn’t so far removed from how church discipline is carried out today within many of our

congregations. In a society where privacy and tolerance are highly regarded, it has become more

acceptable to endure abhorrent behavior in the church than to exercise biblical discipline and

reconciliation.

The passage in question is found within what is commonly known as the First Letter to the

Corinthians, although Paul refers to an earlier letter that outlines direction concerning association with

“sexually immoral persons” (5:9). Whatever the case, Paul’s concern in chapter five is about the

holiness of the believers in the church. Luke Timothy Johnson writes: “The church is to be holy,

otherwise it is not God’s people but just another part of the world.”2 A basic definition of holiness is to

be set apart or, as Phoebe Palmer describes, “a state of grace in which every one of the Lord’s redeemed

ones should live.”3 Paul reminds the Corinthian church that it is in this state of grace they live as

opposed to their former state: “…not many of you were wise by human standards, not many were

powerful, not many were of noble birth. But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise;

1 http://www.religioustolerance.org/chr_dira.htm2 Luke Timothy Johnson, The Writings of the New Testament: An Interpretation (Fortress Press, Minneapolis, MN, 1999), 3003 Phoebe Palmer, The Way of Holiness (Billy Graham Center/Institute of Evangelism: Wheaton, IL, 1996), 25

Rob ReardonInterpretive Essay – 1 Corinthians 5:1-13Introduction to New Testament – BI172

Spring 2010

God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; God chose what is low and despised in the

world, things that are not, to reduce to nothing things that are…” (1 Cor. 1:26b-28).

For the church to thrive and remain healthy and holy, Paul’s entreaty was that the community of

believers must take care to watch over one another and make certain that lives were lived according to

God’s ideal. “Paul’s ambition was not to simply get people converted and united with some local

church, but to ‘[present everyone mature in Christ]’ (Col. 1:28b).”4 Robert Banks states that within the

community of believers, “all were also responsible for each other’s welfare. This involves self-

examination on the part of individual members as well as alertness to the needs of others.”5 Within this

context therefore, we find the church at odds with Paul’s teaching and expectations. The report of sexual

immorality reaches Paul and his shock is palpable. Such immorality is not even found outside the

fellowship among pagans, yet within the community of believers it is not only tolerated, but the

insinuation is that such tolerance is applauded (5:2, 6).

In an effort to live in harmony, the Corinthian church made the erroneous decision to allow the

individual caught committing incest to remain as part of the fellowship. Using the analogy of yeast’s

effect on a batch of dough, Paul describes clearly what can happen in such a dangerous situation (5:6).

H.A. Ironside suggests that “if a church allows one wicked man to go unrebuked and undealt with after

the wickedness has been fully revealed, the evil will spread like an infection – working, working,

working to the ruin of others and to the harm of the testimony of the entire church.”6 The prescription

given to the church by Paul is equal to his voiced shock: “When you are assembled…you are to hand

this man over to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, so that his spirit may be saved in the day of the

4 Samuel Logan Brengle, Helps to Holiness (The Salvation Army Supplies & Purchasing Dept.: Atlanta, GA, 1903, 1990), 705 Robert Banks, Paul’s Idea of Community (Hendrickson Publishers, Peabody, MA, 1994, 2004), 1366 H.A. Ironside, Ironside Commentaries: 1 Corinthians (Loizeaux Brothers, Inc.: Neptune, NJ, 1938, 2001), 109

Rob ReardonInterpretive Essay – 1 Corinthians 5:1-13Introduction to New Testament – BI172

Spring 2010

Lord” (5:4b, 5). To act in such a fashion is entirely necessary “both for his own sake (5:5) and for the

sake of the community’s integrity (5:7).”7

With this pronouncement of “excommunication,” we return to the notion that holiness is at the

heart of the matter – both corporately and individually. God cannot abide sin. Paul reminds the church of

this concept in 1 Corinthians 3:16-17: “Do you not know that you are God’s temple and that God’s spirit

dwells in you? If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy that person. For God’s temple is holy,

and you are that temple.” “The holy purpose of God cannot be fulfilled in a life affected [by moral

corruption]. ‘The temple’ must be cleansed from defilement and separated from that which defiles.”8

Paul is directing the church to undertake a most serious cleansing, to put to death the old so that the new

can take its rightful place (5:7). Any human effort to rectify this situation is fruitless as Paul reminds that

“our paschal lamb, Christ, has been sacrificed. Therefore let us celebrate the festival, not with the old

yeast…” (5:7b, 8a). This is reinforced at the end of the chapter as Paul takes issue with the perceived

suggestion that he is judging those on the outside. “Not at all!” is his retort. His concern is “with anyone

who bears the name of brother or sister who is sexually immoral...” (5:11).

This passage, while uncomfortable and potentially volatile, has significant insight and

application for ministry within the 21st Century church. All too often, church leadership is leery of

severe discipline that could backfire and cause massive negative repercussions for the church. What is

not taken into consideration however is the spiritual nature of such discipline when administered

correctly in a godly and biblical fashion. Ironside illuminates this well: “When the apostle urged the

Corinthians to remove the leaven, he was not acting on mere hearsay; there was definite evidence of the

guilt of the accused man. Likewise the church of God today is not to jump to conclusions; we are not to

7 Luke Timothy Johnson, The Writings of the New Testament: An Interpretation (Fortress Press, Minneapolis, MN, 1999), 3028 The Salvation Army, Handbook of Doctrine (The Campfield Press, St. Albans, 1969), 155

Rob ReardonInterpretive Essay – 1 Corinthians 5:1-13Introduction to New Testament – BI172

Spring 2010

believe every rumor that people try to circulate. There is a specific rule for us to follow.”9 When

following the process as outlined by Jesus in Matthew 18:15-17, we are in good standing from a spiritual

standpoint. Also important to keep in mind through any delicate situation are the legal ramifications

presented from all sides. The protection and preservation of the innocent ought to far outweigh the

desire to be lenient and tolerant. In caring for the soul of the one who has gone astray it is far better to

situate such an individual in a setting where restoration can be made possible out of harm’s way.

Reconciliation then can come once repentance and rehabilitation have taken place and only when there

is little to no danger to those who may yet be vulnerable and susceptible to such history.

Of great importance to understand in this passage is that our attitude and behavior when faced

with similar issues of equal and/or greater gravity, our response should be as Paul expected from the

Corinthian church: “Should you not rather have mourned…?” (5:2b). In our mourning over such

situations, those involved and subsequent action, God will be revealed in such a way so that our

response will be one that is a reflection of all that God is – love, mercy, truth, justice and holiness.

9 H.A. Ironside, Ironside Commentaries: 1 Corinthians (Loizeaux Brothers, Inc.: Neptune, NJ, 1938, 2001), 109