I Corinthians
Chapter
5
1a~~
It is actually reported
that
there is fornication among you. [porneia]
1b~~And
such a type of fornication [porneia]
as
is not so much as named among the Gentiles -
that
one should have his father's woman/wife! [gune]
[Note: This should shock those in the congregation who were uninformed on this matter. A member of the Corinthian Church was committing incest. It was widely known so either he was bragging about it or this "pornea" was the pure sense of the word - "sex in conjunction with religion". Based on the punishment about to be administered, probably this person was fornicating with his mother or step-mother in a pagan temple. Others in the congregation were then boasting that even the unbelievers would not do that! This "brother" of theirs was "unique" in a very bad way!]
2~~
And you are "puffed up"/"proud about it"
["almost bragging about it"]
and
have not rather mourned
for
the purpose that [hina]
he
who has done this deed
might
be taken away from among you.
[Note: As an Apostle, Paul could judge and also decree the "Sin unto Death" to this man and will (though apparently later it is rescinded - see II Corinthians 2:5 and following).]
{Verses
3-5: Mechanics of Discipline for This Sinner}
3~~
For I verily,
as
absent in body,
but
present in spirit,
have
judged already . . .
as
though I were present . . .
concerning
him who has so done this deed.
4-5~~
In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,
when
you are gathered together,
and
my spirit with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ, 5~~
to
deliver [paradidomi] such a one unto Satan
for
the destruction of the flesh,
that
the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.
[Note: "Paradidomi" is an interesting word. It means to "turn one over" or to "betray". Once this person is turned over to Satan, he can expect a terrible death. But, this man did not lose his salvation (once saved always saved). This is the mature believer's understanding and absolute confidence in the doctrine of everlasting salvation. You did nothing to earn salvation. You can do nothing to lose it once you have believed. That is the "Grace of God!"]
6a~~Your boasting is not good.
6b~~Don't
you know that a little leaven
leavens
the whole lump?
{Note:
This is an idiom similar to one bad apple in a barrel today. Paul
also used this is Galatians 5:9.}
7a~~Purge
out therefore the old leaven,
that
you may be a new lump, as you are unleavened.
7b~~For
even Christ . . .
our
Passover/"paschal lamb" . . . [pascha]
is
sacrificed "as a substitute for" [huper] us.
[Note: Paul is saying that the Jewish tradition of Passover was a representation of Christ as our savior. Jesus was the "lamb without spot" who would be sacrificed as a substitute for us.]
8~~
Therefore let us keep the feast not with old leaven,
neither
with the leaven of malice
{refers to mental attitude sins}
and
wicked deeds
but
with the unleavened bread of sincerity
{hold it up to the Word of God}
even
the truth/doctrine.
{Clarification
of previous instructions}
9~~
I wrote unto you in an epistle
not
to company with fornicators/
"those
who have sex in conjunction with idolatry".
[Note: Paul wrote other epistles/letters to the Corinthians. Only 2 of those written to the Corinthians were saved and included in the Canon of Scripture. Paul wrote many many letters in his lifetime we can be sure. Not all were Divinely Inspired.]
[Note: The basic principle here is that of separation from those who do activities that might influence you to do evil. In the day the Bible was written, the appeal of sex in conjuction with religion was great. Moses had to kill tens of thousands of Israelites who joined the Phallic Cult rites in the desert (see Numbers 25:9).]
10~~
Yet not altogether
with
"the fornicators"/
"those
who have illicit sex in conjunction with idolatry"
of
this world,
or
with the covetous/"greedy of gain", [pleonektes]
or
extortionists/rapacious/ravenous, [harpax]
or
with idolaters/
"those
who attend sacrificial feasts and eat of the remains
of offered animals sacrificed to idols" [eidololatres]
for
then must you need to go out into the world.
[Note: The Bible tells us that we are all sinners. It also says the worst types of sins are the mental attitude sins of idol worship (covert or overt), lust (sexual and otherwise), judging, gossip, false witness, etc. It is not possible to avoid all sinners unless you become a hermit. The point Paul is making is that there are certain sinners who by their very words or actions will seduce you to also sin. We are to avoid those types of people and their activities.]
11~~
But now I have written unto you not to keep company, if any man that
is called a "brother" be:
a fornicator/
"one who has sex in conjunction with idolatry", [pornos]
or covetous/"greedy of gain", [pleonektes (lust motivated)]
or an idolater/
"one who attends sacrificial feasts and eats of the remains
of offered animals sacrificed to idols", [eidololatres]
or a railer/gossiper/malinger, [loidoros]
or a drunkard/"one who drinks to excess", [methusos]
or an extortionists/one who is rapacious/ravenous, [harpax] . . .
with
such a one . . . do not eat/"have fellowship"
{idiom - literally is 'no not to eat'}.
12a~~For
what have I to do
to
judge them also that are without?
[Note: Paul is referring to those who are outside the Church - unbelievers. This is saying that it is not Paul's job to judge the sins of the unbelievers.]
12b~~Do
not you judge them that are within?
{Note:
Paul is rebuffing them for NOT separating from the believer in incest.}
13a~~
But them that are without {unbelievers} . . .
God
judges.
13b~~Therefore
put away from among yourselves
that
wicked person.
[Note: Paul is telling them to excommunicate the believer involved in this harmful relationship. Later, we will see in II Corinthians 2:5 and following what appears to be a discussion again of this person. Apparently he has used I John 1:9 and recovered fellowship. God forgives him, but the congregation has not! Paul tells them to let him back into the Church! If God forgets, why are they still remembering?]
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