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1
Corinthians Chapter Five
1 Corinthians 5
He begins to treat the details of conduct and of
discipline; and
first of all
the carnal defilement carried on in their midst
to the last degree of hardness of conscience. Those who sought their own
personal influence as teachers allowed them to go on in it. He condemns it
without reservation. Discipline follows; for Christ had been offered up as the
Paschal Lamb
and they were to keep the feast without leaven
keeping
themselves from the old leaven; in order that they might be in fact
what they
were before God-an unleavened lump. As to discipline
it was this: before they
knew that it was their duty to cut off the wicked person
and that God had
given them the power and imposed on them the obligation to do so
a moral sense
of evil ought
at least
to have led them to humble themselves before God
and
to pray that He would take him away. On the contrary
they were puffed up with
pride. But now the apostle teaches them what must be done
and enforces it with
all his apostolic authority. He was among them in spirit if not in body
and
with the power of the Lord Jesus Christ
they being gathered together
to
deliver such a one to Satan; but as a brother for the destruction of the flesh
that his spirit might be saved in the day of Christ.
Here all the power of the assembly in its normal condition
united to
and led by the apostolic energy
is displayed. Its members; the apostle
vessel
and channel of the power of the Spirit; and the power of the Lord Jesus Himself
the Head of the body. Now the world is the theatre of Satan's power; the
assembly
delivered from his power
is the habitation of God by the Spirit. If
the enemy had succeeded in drawing aside by the flesh a member of Christ
so
that he dishonours the Lord by walking after the flesh as men of the world do
he is put outside
and by the power of the Spirit
as then exercised in their
midst by the apostle
delivered up to the enemy
who is in spite of himself the
servant of the purposes of God (as in the case of Job)
in order that the flesh
of the Christian (which
from his not being able to reckon it dead
had brought
him morally under the power of Satan) should be physically destroyed and broken
down. Thus would he be set free from the illusions in which the flesh held him
captive. His mind would learn how to discern the difference between good and
evil
to know what sin was. The judgment of God would be realised within him
and would not be executed upon him at that day when it would be definitive for
the condemnation of those who should undergo it. This was a great blessing
although its form was terrible. Marvellous example of the government of God
which uses the adversary's enmity against the saints as an instrument for their
spiritual blessing! We have such a case fully set before us in the history of
Job. Only we have here. in addition
the proof that in its normal state
[1] being there
the assembly exercised this judgment
herself
having discernment by the Spirit and the authority of Christ to do it.
Moreover
whatever may be the spiritual capacity of the assembly to wield this
sword of the Lord (for this is power)
her positive and ordinary duty is stated
at the end of the chapter.
The assembly was an unleavened lump
looked at in the
Spirit as an assembly
and not individually. It is thus that we must view it
for it is only in the Spirit that it is so. The assembly is seen of God as
being before Him in the new nature in Christ. Such she ought to be in practice
by the power of the Spirit
in spite of the existence of the flesh
which by
faith she ought to count as dead
and allow nothing in her walk that is
contrary to this state. The assembly ought to be a "new lump
" and
was not if evil was allowed
and
consequently
ought to purge herself from the
old leaven
because she is unleavened in God's thoughts. Such is her position
before God. For Christ our Passover has been sacrificed for us: therefore we
ought to keep the feast with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth. They
did wrong therefore in boasting while this evil was in their midst
however
great their gifts might be. A little leaven leavens the whole lump. The evil
did not attach to that man alone who was personally guilty of it. The assembly
was not clear till the evil was put out (2 Cor. 7:11). They could not
dissociate themselves in the intercourse of ordinary life from all those who
in the world
walked corruptly
for in that case they would have to go out of
the world. But if any one called himself a brother and walked in this
corruption
with such a one they ought not even to eat. God judges those who
are outside. The assembly must herself judge those that are within
and put out
whatever must be called "wicked."
[1] The
apostle (1 Tim. 1:20) exercises this power alone as to certain blasphemers. It
is power
not mere duty
and it is important clearly to distinguish the two:
though the apostle here did it in and with the gathered assembly
yet he says
"I have judged already to deliver such an one to Satan. In verse 13 we
have the positive duty of the assembly without the question of special power.
── John Darby《Synopsis of 1 Corinthians》
1 Corinthians 5
Chapter Contents
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)
Commentary on 1 Corinthians 5:1-8
(Read 1 Corinthians 5:1-8)
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.
Commentary on 1 Corinthians 5:9-13
(Read 1 Corinthians 5:9-13)
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!
── Matthew Henry《Concise Commentary on 1 Corinthians》
1 Corinthians 5
Verse 1
[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.
Fornication —
The original word implies criminal conversation of any kind whatever.
His father's wife —
While his father was alive.
Verse 2
[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.
Are ye puffed up? Should ye not rather have
mourned - Have solemnly humbled yourselves
and at that time of solemn mourning
have expelled that notorious sinner from your communion?
Verse 3
[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
I verily
as present in spirit — Having a full (it seems
a miraculous) view of the whole fact. Have
already
as if I were actually present
judged him who hath so scandalously
done this.
Verse 4
[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
And my spirit —
Present with you.
With the power of the Lord Jesus Christ — To confirm my sentence.
Verse 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.
To deliver such an one — This was the highest degree of punishment in the Christian church; and
we may observe
the passing this sentence was the act of the apostle
not of
the Corinthians.
To Satan —
Who was usually permitted
in such cases
to inflict pain or sickness on the
offender.
For the destruction —
Though slowly and gradually.
Of the flesh —
Unless prevented by speedy repentance.
Verse 6
[6] Your
glorying is not good. Know ye not that a little leaven leaveneth the whole
lump?
Your glorying — Either
in your gifts or prosperity
at such a time as this
is not good. Know ye not
that a little leaven - One sin
or one sinner.
Leaveneth the whole lump — Diffuses guilt and infection through the whole congregation.
Verse 7
[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:
Purge out therefore the old leaven — Both of sinners and of sin.
That ye may be a new lump
as ye are
unleavened — That is
that being unleavened ye may be a
new lump
holy unto the Lord.
For our passover is slain for us — The Jewish passover
about the time of which this epistle was wrote
1 Corinthians 5:11
was only a type of this.
What exquisite skill both here and everywhere conducts the zeal of the inspired
writer! How surprising a transition is here
and yet how perfectly natural! The
apostle
speaking of the incestuous criminal
slides into his darling
topic
-crucified Saviour. Who would have expected it on such an occasion. Yet
when it is thus brought in
who does not see and admire both the propriety of
the subject
and the delicacy of its introduction?
Verse 8
[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.
Therefore let us keep the feast — Let us feed on him by faith. Here is a plain allusion to the Lord's
supper
which was instituted in the room of the passover.
Not with the old leaven — Of heathenism or Judaism. Malignity is stubbornness in evil. Sincerity
and truth seem to be put here for the whole of true
inward religion.
Verse 9
[9] I
wrote unto you in an epistle not to company with fornicators:
I wrote to you in a former epistle — And
doubtless
both St. Paul and the other apostles wrote many things
which are not extant now.
Not to converse —
Familiarly; not to contract any intimacy or acquaintance with them
more than
is absolutely necessary.
Verse 10
[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.
But I did not mean that you should altogether
refrain from conversing with heathens
though they are guilty in some of these
respects.
Covetous
rapacious
idolaters — Sinners against themselves
their neighbour
God.
For then ye must go out of the world — Then all civil commerce must cease. So that going out of the world
which some account a perfection
St. Paul accounts an utter absurdity.
Verse 11
[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.
Who is named a brother — That is
a Christian; especially if a member of the same congregation.
Rapacious —
Guilty of oppression
extortion
or any open injustice.
No
not to eat with him — Which is the lowest degree of familiarity.
Verse 12
[12] For
what have I to do to judge them also that are without? do not ye judge them
that are within?
I speak of Christians only. For what have I
to do to judge heathens? But ye
as well as I
judge those of your own
community.
Verse 13
[13] But them
that are without God judgeth. Therefore put away from among yourselves that
wicked person.
Them that are without God will judge — The passing sentence on these he hath reserved to himself.
And ye will take away that wicked person — This properly belongs to you.
── John Wesley《Explanatory Notes on 1
Corinthians》
Chapter 5. No Adultery
Hand Over to
Satan
Destroy the Sinful Nature
I. The Apostle
Exercises His Authority
II. Keep the
Church Holy
III. Six
Categories to be Expelled
── Chih-Hsin Chang《An Outline of The New Testament》
Chapter Five General Review OBJECTIVES IN STUDYING THIS CHAPTER
1) To understand the need for proper church discipline 2) To understand the nature of church discipline SUMMARY
Having dealt with the problem of division in the first four chapters
Paul now addresses the problem of immorality in the church at Corinth He describes the particular case at hand
one which even pagan Gentiles would find shameful (1). Rebuking them for being "puffed up" instead of mourning (2)
Paul then instructs them to "deliver such a one to Satan"
giving them reasons why this action is necessary (3-8). Clarifying what may have been written in an unknown earlier epistle
Paul concludes by limiting towards whom such action is to be taken
and describing how it is to be carried out in practice (9-13). OUTLINE