Church Discipline for Immorality
1 Corinthians 5:1-13
1Cor.5.1 - Details
Translation
Original Text
Morphology
- Ολως: ADV
- ακουεται: VERB,pres,pass,ind,3,sg
- εν: PREP
- υμιν: PRON,dat,pl,2
- πορνεια: NOUN,nom,sg,f
- και: CONJ
- τοιαυτη: ADJ,nom,sg,f
- πορνεια: NOUN,nom,sg,f
- ητις: PRON,rel,nom,sg,f
- ουδε: CONJ,neg
- εν: PREP
- τοις: ART,dat,pl,n
- εθνεσιν: NOUN,dat,pl,n
- ωστε: CONJ
- γυναικα: NOUN,acc,sg,f
- τινα: PRON,acc,sg,m
- του: ART,gen,sg,n
- πατρος: NOUN,gen,sg,m
- εχειν: VERB,pres,act,inf
Parallels
- Leviticus 18:8 (allusion): OT prohibition against uncovering a father's wife—legal background for condemning this specific incestuous act.
- Leviticus 20:11 (thematic): Prescribes severe penalty for a man who lies with his father's wife, underscoring the gravity of the offense in Israelite law.
- Genesis 35:22 (thematic): Narrative example (Reuben’s union with Bilhah) of the same kind of paternal‑household sexual violation referenced by Paul.
- 2 Samuel 13:1-22 (thematic): Amnon’s sexual violence against Tamar is another Israelite example of incestuous/household sexual scandal and its consequences.
- 1 Corinthians 6:18 (verbal): Paul’s broader injunction to ‘flee sexual immorality’ (porneia) reflects the same moral concern and vocabulary applied to the Corinthian case.
Alternative generated candidates
- It is actually reported that sexual immorality is among you, and such sexual immorality as is not even named among the Gentiles—namely, that a man has his father's wife.
- It is actually reported that immorality exists among you—immorality of a kind not even among the Gentiles: a man has his father's wife.
1Cor.5.2 - Details
Translation
Original Text
Morphology
- και: CONJ
- υμεις: PRON,nom,pl,2
- πεφυσιωμενοι: VERB,perf,pass,part,nom,pl,m
- εστε: VERB,pres,act,ind,2,pl
- και: CONJ
- ουχι: PART
- μαλλον: ADV
- επενθησατε: VERB,aor,act,ind,2,pl
- ινα: CONJ
- αρθη: VERB,aor,pass,subj,3,sg
- εκ: PREP
- μεσου: NOUN,gen,sg,m
- υμων: PRON,gen,pl,2
- ο: ART,nom,sg,m
- το: ART,acc,sg,n
- εργον: NOUN,acc,sg,n
- τουτο: PRON,nom,sg,n
- ποιησας: VERB,aor,act,part,nom,m,sg
Parallels
- 1 Corinthians 5:5 (verbal): Same disciplinary context in the chapter — Paul commands that the offender be 'delivered to Satan' so that he might be disciplined, closely tied to the call to remove him from the fellowship.
- 1 Corinthians 5:13 (verbal): Paul reiterates the corporate action: 'Remove the wicked person from among you,' echoing the language and practice of exclusion referenced in 5:2.
- Matthew 18:15-17 (thematic): Jesus' procedure for church discipline—private rebuke, escalation, and finally treating an unrepentant person 'as a Gentile and tax collector'—parallels the Corinthian injunction to mourn and expel a persistent offender.
- 2 Corinthians 2:6-8 (thematic): Paul describes the punishment imposed on a sinner and then urges forgiveness and restoration when repentance is evident — a companion text to 1 Cor 5's call for exclusion followed by later reconciliation.
- Galatians 6:1 (thematic): Instruction to restore a brother caught in transgression 'in a spirit of gentleness' complements 1 Cor 5 by emphasizing both corrective action and the pastoral aim of restoration.
Alternative generated candidates
- And you are arrogant and have not mourned instead, that the one who did this deed might be removed from your midst.
- And yet you are arrogant! Should you not rather mourn and remove the one who has done this from among you?
1Cor.5.3 - Details
Translation
Original Text
Morphology
- Εγω: PRON,nom,sg,1
- μεν: PART
- γαρ: PART
- απων: VERB,pres,act,part,nom,sg,m
- τω: ART,dat,sg,m
- σωματι: NOUN,dat,sg,n
- παρων: VERB,pres,act,part,nom,sg,m
- δε: CONJ
- τω: ART,dat,sg,m
- πνευματι: NOUN,dat,sg,n
- ηδη: ADV
- κεκρικα: VERB,perf,act,ind,1,sg
- ως: ADV
- παρων: VERB,pres,act,part,nom,sg,m
- τον: ART,acc,sg,m
- ουτως: ADV
- τουτο: PRON,nom,sg,n
- κατεργασαμενον: VERB,aor,mid,part,acc,sg,m
Parallels
- Matthew 18:15-17 (thematic): Prescribes communal discipline for an unrepentant member (private warning, then public exclusion) — parallels Paul’s call to remove the immoral person from the fellowship.
- Matthew 18:18 (thematic): Speaks of the church’s authority to bind and loose — relates to Paul’s exercise of disciplinary authority (even while absent in body) in 1 Corinthians 5.
- 2 Corinthians 2:6-8 (verbal): Paul refers to punishment of the same offender and urges forgiveness and reaffirmation of love, showing continuity with his earlier judgment in 1 Cor 5 and its pastoral follow-up.
- Galatians 2:11-14 (thematic): Paul’s public confrontation of Peter for hypocrisy demonstrates his willingness and authority to rebuke and judge leaders and members for scandalous behavior, similar to his action in 1 Cor 5.
- Titus 1:13 (thematic): An explicit apostolic injunction to ‘rebuke sharply’ so opponents may be sound in the faith — parallels Paul’s decisive disciplinary stance and instruction regarding the immoral member.
Alternative generated candidates
- For though I am absent in body, yet I am present in spirit; and as if present, I have already pronounced judgment on the one who has done this.
- For I, though absent in body but present in spirit, have already, as though present, judged the one who has so acted.
1Cor.5.4 - Details
Translation
Original Text
Morphology
- εν: PREP
- τω: ART,dat,sg,m
- ονοματι: NOUN,dat,sg,n
- του: ART,gen,sg,n
- κυριου: NOUN,gen,sg,m
- ημων: PRON,gen,pl,1
- Ιησου: NOUN,gen,sg,m
- συναχθεντων: VERB,aor,pass,ptcp,gen,pl,m
- υμων: PRON,gen,pl,2
- και: CONJ
- του: ART,gen,sg,n
- εμου: PRON,gen,sg,1
- πνευματος: NOUN,gen,sg,n
- συν: PREP
- τη: ART,dat,sg,f
- δυναμει: NOUN,dat,sg,f
- του: ART,gen,sg,n
- κυριου: NOUN,gen,sg,m
- ημων: PRON,gen,pl,1
- Ιησου: NOUN,gen,sg,m
Parallels
- 1 Corinthians 5:3 (verbal): Paul speaks of being 'absent in body, present in spirit,' closely paralleling 5:4's 'and my spirit is present'—same argument for exercised authority despite physical absence.
- Matthew 18:20 (verbal): 'For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them' echoes 5:4's 'in the name of our Lord Jesus... gathered,' invoking Christ's presence and authority when the community assembles.
- Matthew 18:15-17 (structural): Passage prescribes communal procedures for addressing sin (private correction, escalation to the church), paralleling 1 Cor 5's communal exercise of discipline and exclusion.
- Acts 3:6 (verbal): Uses the formula 'in the name of Jesus Christ' to effect authoritative action—parallels 5:4's appeal to acting 'in the name of our Lord Jesus' as ground for exercising power.
- 2 Corinthians 2:6-8 (thematic): Paul urges that the punishment administered by the majority was sufficient and calls for forgiveness and reaffirmation—connects thematically to 1 Cor 5's disciplinary action and the community's role in subsequent restoration.
Alternative generated candidates
- When you are assembled in the name of our Lord Jesus and my spirit is present with the power of our Lord Jesus,
- When you are assembled in the name of the Lord Jesus and my spirit is present—with the power of our Lord Jesus—
1Cor.5.5 - Details
Translation
Original Text
Morphology
- παραδουναι: VERB,pres,act,inf
- τον: ART,acc,sg,m
- τοιουτον: ADJ,acc,sg,m
- τω: ART,dat,sg,m
- Σατανα: NOUN,gen,sg,m
- εις: PREP
- ολεθρον: NOUN,acc,sg,n
- της: ART,gen,sg,f
- σαρκος: NOUN,gen,sg,f
- ινα: CONJ
- το: ART,acc,sg,n
- πνευμα: NOUN,acc,sg,n
- σωθη: VERB,aor,pass,sub,3,sg
- εν: PREP
- τη: ART,dat,sg,f
- ημερα: NOUN,dat,sg,f
- του: ART,gen,sg,n
- κυριου: NOUN,gen,sg,m
Parallels
- 1 Timothy 1:20 (verbal): Paul speaks of handing individuals over to Satan (παραδωκας τω Σατανα) — similar language and purpose of discipline to correct and restrain sinful behavior.
- 2 Corinthians 2:6-11 (structural): Paul addresses the same case of severe discipline and urges later forgiveness and restoration, warning about Satan’s possible advantage — continuation and reversal of the Corinthian punishment.
- Matthew 18:15-17 (thematic): Jesus’ procedure for church discipline culminates in treating an unrepentant offender as ‘a Gentile and a tax collector,’ paralleling communal exclusion for the sake of repentance and restoration.
- 1 Thessalonians 5:23 (thematic): Appeal to preservation of spirit/soul until the Lord’s coming (ἁγιασθῆτε ὑμᾶς ὁλόκληρους) echoes the eschatological hope that the person’s spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord.
- James 5:19-20 (thematic): Turning a sinner from error ‘will save his soul from death,’ closely paralleling the disciplinary aim in 1 Cor 5:5 to save the person’s spiritual life through corrective action.
Alternative generated candidates
- hand this man over to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord.
- you are to hand this man over to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, so that his spirit may be saved on the day of the Lord.
1Cor.5.6 - Details
Translation
Original Text
Morphology
- Ου: PART,neg
- καλον: ADJ,nom/acc,sg,neut
- το: ART,acc,sg,n
- καυχημα: NOUN,nom,sg,neut
- υμων: PRON,gen,pl,2
- ουκ: PART,neg
- οιδατε: VERB,perf,act,ind,2,pl
- οτι: CONJ
- μικρα: ADJ,nom,sg,fem
- ζυμη: NOUN,nom,sg,f
- ολον: ADJ,acc,sg,m
- το: ART,acc,sg,n
- φυραμα: NOUN,acc,sg,neut
- ζυμοι: VERB,pres,act,ind,3,sg
Parallels
- Galatians 5:9 (verbal): Uses the identical proverb—'A little leaven leavens the whole lump'—employing the same image to warn that a small corrupting influence can affect the whole community.
- Matthew 16:6, 11-12 (allusion): Jesus warns against the 'leaven' of the Pharisees (and Herod/Sadducees), using the leaven metaphor to denote corrupting teaching or influence that spreads through the group.
- Matthew 13:33 (thematic): Parable of the leaven: a small amount of yeast permeates the whole dough—same metaphor of a small element producing a pervasive transformation, applied here to moral/teaching influence.
- 1 Corinthians 5:7-8 (structural): Immediate context: Paul develops the leaven image with Passover/unleavened-bread language, urging purging the 'old leaven'—the same thematic argument about removing corrupting influence.
- 1 Corinthians 15:33 (thematic): Warning that 'bad company ruins good morals' conveys the same principle as the leaven proverb: a small corrupting presence can spoil the whole community's conduct.
Alternative generated candidates
- Your boasting is not good. Do you not know that a little leaven leavens the whole lump?
- Your boasting is not good. Do you not know that a little leaven leavens the whole lump?
1Cor.5.7 - Details
Translation
Original Text
Morphology
- εκκαθαρατε: VERB,aor,act,imp,2,pl
- την: ART,acc,sg,f
- παλαιαν: ADJ,acc,sg,f
- ζυμην: NOUN,acc,sg,f
- ινα: CONJ
- ητε: VERB,impf,act,ind,2,pl
- νεον: ADJ,acc,sg,m
- φυραμα: NOUN,nom,sg,n
- καθως: CONJ
- εστε: VERB,pres,act,ind,2,pl
- αζυμοι: ADJ,nom,pl,m
- και: CONJ
- γαρ: PART
- το: ART,acc,sg,n
- πασχα: NOUN,nom,sg,n
- ημων: PRON,gen,pl,1
- ετυθη: VERB,aor,pass,ind,3,sg
- Χριστος·: NOUN,nom,sg,m
Parallels
- Exodus 12:15-20 (thematic): Passover regulation to remove leaven and eat unleavened bread provides the OT background for Paul’s image of cleansing out 'old leaven' and being 'unleavened.'
- John 1:29 (thematic): John’s identification of Jesus as 'the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world' parallels Paul’s designation of Christ as our Passover (sacrificial lamb) who has been sacrificed.
- Matthew 16:6,11-12 (thematic): Jesus’ warning about the 'leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees' uses the leaven metaphor for corrupting influence/false teaching, analogous to Paul’s use of leaven to signify moral/spiritual corruption that must be removed.
- 1 Corinthians 5:8 (structural): Immediate literary parallel in the same context: v.8 develops v.7’s imagery (celebrate with 'sincerity and truth'), linking removal of leaven to a renewed, sincere festival life in Christ.
- 1 Corinthians 11:23-26 (thematic): Paul’s account of the Lord’s Supper emphasizes Christ’s death ('for you') and sacrificial significance of his body and blood, echoing the sacrificial/passover language of Christ 'being sacrificed' in 5:7.
Alternative generated candidates
- Cleanse out the old leaven, that you may be a new lump, as you are unleavened. For Christ, our Passover, was sacrificed for us.
- Purge out the old leaven, that you may be a new lump, as you are unleavened. For Christ, our Passover, has been sacrificed.
1Cor.5.8 - Details
Translation
Original Text
Morphology
- ωστε: CONJ
- εορταζωμεν: VERB,pres,act,subj,1,pl
- μη: PART
- εν: PREP
- ζυμη: NOUN,nom,sg,f
- παλαια: ADJ,dat,sg,f
- μηδε: CONJ
- εν: PREP
- ζυμη: NOUN,nom,sg,f
- κακιας: NOUN,gen,sg,f
- και: CONJ
- πονηριας: NOUN,gen,sg,f
- αλλ᾽εν: CONJ
- αζυμοις: ADJ,dat,pl,n
- ειλικρινειας: NOUN,gen,sg,f
- και: CONJ
- αληθειας: NOUN,gen,sg,f
Parallels
- Exodus 12:15 (allusion): The command to remove leaven and eat unleavened bread during the Passover/Feast of Unleavened Bread is the OT background for Paul’s use of 'leaven' as impurity to be removed.
- Leviticus 23:6 (thematic): Prescribes the Feast of Unleavened Bread; Paul’s exhortation 'let us keep the feast' echoes this cultic observance as a moral/eschatological image.
- 1 Corinthians 5:7 (structural): The immediately preceding verse identifies Christ as our Passover lamb, framing the call to celebrate with 'unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.'
- Galatians 5:9 (verbal): Paul’s figurative use 'a little leaven leavens the whole lump' parallel’s 5:8’s leaven‑metaphor warning about corrupting moral influence in the community.
- Luke 12:1 (verbal): Jesus’ warning to 'beware the leaven of the Pharisees' (explained as hypocrisy) uses the same leaven‑imagery for moral/spiritual corruption that Paul calls 'leaven of malice and wickedness.'
Alternative generated candidates
- Therefore let us keep the feast—not with the old leaven, nor with the leaven of malice and wickedness—but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.
- Therefore let us celebrate the festival—not with the old leaven, nor with the leaven of malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.
1Cor.5.9 - Details
Translation
Original Text
Morphology
- Εγραψα: VERB,aor,act,ind,1,sg
- υμιν: PRON,dat,pl,2
- εν: PREP
- τη: ART,dat,sg,f
- επιστολη: NOUN,dat,sg,f
- μη: PART
- συναναμιγνυσθαι: VERB,pres,mid/pass,inf
- πορνοις: NOUN,dat,pl,m
Parallels
- 1 Corinthians 5:11 (verbal): Immediate continuation/clarification of 5:9—Paul explains he meant not to associate with sexually immoral persons within the church, distinguishing believers from worldly sinners.
- 1 Corinthians 6:9-11 (thematic): Addresses sexual immorality and its consequences for fellowship/kingdom membership, urging moral separation and transformation of those formerly guilty.
- Ephesians 5:11 (thematic): Commands believers to have no fellowship with unfruitful works of darkness—parallels the injunction to avoid association with sinful behavior.
- Matthew 18:15-17 (structural): Gives the procedure for confronting and, if necessary, excluding an unrepentant member from the community—analogous to Paul's disciplinary exclusion implied in 5:9.
- Romans 16:17 (thematic): Urges believers to watch out for and avoid those who cause divisions and oppose sound teaching—similar ethic of separation to preserve the church.
Alternative generated candidates
- I wrote to you in my letter not to associate with sexually immoral persons,
- I wrote to you in my letter not to associate with sexually immoral people—
1Cor.5.10 - Details
Translation
Original Text
Morphology
- ου: PART,neg
- παντως: ADV
- τοις: ART,dat,pl,n
- πορνοις: NOUN,dat,pl,m
- του: ART,gen,sg,n
- κοσμου: NOUN,gen,sg,m
- τουτου: DEM,gen,sg,m
- η: ART,nom,sg,f
- τοις: ART,dat,pl,n
- πλεονεκταις: NOUN,dat,pl,m
- και: CONJ
- αρπαξιν: NOUN,dat,pl,m
- η: ART,nom,sg,f
- ειδωλολατραις: NOUN,dat,pl,m
- επει: CONJ
- ωφειλετε: VERB,impf,act,ind,2,pl
- αρα: PART
- εκ: PREP
- του: ART,gen,sg,n
- κοσμου: NOUN,gen,sg,m
- εξελθειν: VERB,aor,act,inf
Parallels
- 1 Cor 5:9 (verbal): Paul's earlier statement in the same letter: he had written not to associate with sexually immoral people—directly prefaces and is reiterated by 5:10.
- 1 Cor 5:11-13 (structural): Immediate context that specifies whom to disassociate from (including immoral brothers, covetous, idolaters) and explains the disciplinary action—continues and applies the principle stated in 5:10.
- 2 Cor 6:14-17 (thematic): Paul commands separation from unbelievers and things associated with idolatry (‘what agreement… with an unbeliever?’ / ‘come out from among them’) echoing the call to leave the world of idolaters in 5:10.
- 1 John 2:15-16 (thematic): Warnings against loving the world and its sinful desires (lust of the flesh, eyes, pride of life) parallel the moral/theological rationale for not remaining 'of this world' and avoiding idolaters and immoral practices.
- Eph 5:11-12 (thematic): Believers are told to have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness but to expose them—similar concern about association with immoral, covetous, or idolatrous behavior and its social boundaries.
Alternative generated candidates
- not meaning the sexually immoral of this world, or the greedy and swindlers or idolaters, for then you would have to go out of the world.
- I did not mean the sexually immoral of the world, or the greedy, swindlers, or idolaters—for then you would have to go out of the world.
1Cor.5.11 - Details
Translation
Original Text
Morphology
- νυν: ADV
- δε: CONJ
- εγραψα: VERB,aor,act,ind,1,sg
- υμιν: PRON,dat,pl,2
- μη: PART
- συναναμιγνυσθαι: VERB,pres,mid/pass,inf
- εαν: CONJ
- τις: PRON,nom,sg,?
- αδελφος: NOUN,nom,sg,m
- ονομαζομενος: VERB,pres,pass,part,nom,sg,m
- η: ART,nom,sg,f
- πορνος: NOUN,nom,sg,m
- η: ART,nom,sg,f
- πλεονεκτης: NOUN,nom,sg,m
- η: ART,nom,sg,f
- ειδωλολατρης: NOUN,nom,sg,m
- η: ART,nom,sg,f
- λοιδορος: NOUN,nom,sg,m
- η: ART,nom,sg,f
- μεθυσος: NOUN,nom,sg,m
- η: ART,nom,sg,f
- αρπαξ: NOUN,nom,sg,m
- τω: ART,dat,sg,m
- τοιουτω: ADJ,dat,sg,m
- μηδε: CONJ
- συνεσθιειν: VERB,pres,act,inf
Parallels
- 1 Corinthians 5:9 (structural): Paul's earlier instruction referenced in 5:11 ('I wrote to you')—the present verse clarifies and expands the prior admonition not to associate with sexually immoral persons.
- 2 Thessalonians 3:14 (verbal): Paul's command to 'have nothing to do with' a disobedient brother echoes the same formula of social exclusion used here to enforce discipline.
- Titus 3:10 (thematic): Instruction to warn a divisive person and then have nothing more to do with him parallels the practice of separation from unrepentant wrongdoers.
- Matthew 18:15-17 (thematic): Jesus' procedure for dealing with an unrepentant brother—culminating in treating him as a Gentile/tax collector—provides the Gospel basis for communal exclusion in cases of persistent sin.
- Romans 16:17 (thematic): Paul's admonition to 'watch out for those who cause divisions' and to avoid them is thematically parallel in prescribing avoidance of harmful or false influencers within the community.
Alternative generated candidates
- But I wrote to you not to associate with anyone who bears the name of brother if he is sexually immoral, or greedy, or an idolater, or a reviler, or a drunkard, or a swindler; not even to eat with such a one.
- But I wrote to you not to associate with anyone who is called a brother and is sexually immoral, or greedy, or an idolater, or a reviler, or a drunkard, or a swindler. Do not even eat with such a one.
1Cor.5.12 - Details
Translation
Original Text
Morphology
- τι: PRON,int,nom,sg,n
- γαρ: PART
- μοι: PRON,dat,sg,1
- τους: ART,acc,pl,m
- εξω: ADV
- κρινειν: VERB,pres,act,inf
- ουχι: PART
- τους: ART,acc,pl,m
- εσω: ADV
- υμεις: PRON,nom,pl,2
- κρινετε: VERB,pres,act,imp,2,pl
Parallels
- 1 Corinthians 6:1-6 (verbal): Same letter dealing with adjudication; Paul rebukes believers for taking disputes before secular courts and argues the church should judge matters among its own (echoes 'do you not judge those inside?').
- Matthew 18:15-17 (structural): Jesus' procedural teaching for confronting and disciplining a sinning brother within the community parallels Paul's expectation that the church, not outsiders, address internal sin.
- Galatians 6:1 (thematic): Paul instructs believers to restore a brother caught in sin gently—an internal corrective practice that aligns with judging/disciplining those 'inside' the community.
- 2 Thessalonians 3:14-15 (thematic): Paul directs the community to mark and have nothing to do with an unrepentant brother—an example of church discipline applied from within rather than by outsiders.
- Matthew 7:1-5 (thematic): Jesus warns against hypocritical external judgment and calls for self-examination before correcting others, resonating with the concern that judgment should be rightly administered within the community.
Alternative generated candidates
- For what have I to do with judging those outside? Do you not judge those who are inside?
- For what business is it of mine to judge those outside? Are you not to judge those who are inside?
1Cor.5.13 - Details
Translation
Original Text
Morphology
- τους: ART,acc,pl,m
- δε: CONJ
- εξω: ADV
- ο: ART,nom,sg,m
- θεος: NOUN,nom,sg,m
- κρινει: VERB,pres,act,ind,3,sg
- εξαρατε: VERB,aor,act,imp,2,pl
- τον: ART,acc,sg,m
- πονηρον: ADJ,acc,sg,n
- εξ: PREP
- υμων: PRON,gen,pl,2
- αυτων: PRON,gen,pl,m
Parallels
- 1 Corinthians 5:11 (verbal): Immediate context: Paul instructs believers not to associate with a brother who is sexually immoral—same concern with removing the wicked from the congregation.
- Matthew 18:15-17 (structural): Gives the procedure for church discipline that culminates in treating an unrepentant offender as an outsider (Gentile/tax collector), paralleling 'God will judge the outside; expel the wicked.'
- Titus 3:10 (verbal): Commands to warn a divisive person and then have nothing more to do with him—similar language and intent of exclusion for the sake of the community.
- 2 Thessalonians 3:14 (verbal): Paul instructs believers to keep away from any brother who does not obey his instruction—parallel practice of withdrawal to correct or discipline.
- Romans 16:17 (thematic): Paul warns to watch out for those who cause divisions and to avoid them, reflecting the theme of protecting the church by excluding harmful members.
Alternative generated candidates
- God will judge those outside. Drive out the wicked person from among you.
- God will judge those outside. 'Purge the evil person from among you.'
It is actually reported that sexual immorality exists among you, and of a kind not even among the Gentiles—that one has his father's wife. And you are arrogant! Ought you not rather to mourn and remove the one who has done this from among you?
For I, though absent in body but present in spirit, have already judged concerning the one who has so acted.
In the name of our Lord Jesus, when you are assembled and my spirit is present with the power of our Lord Jesus,
you are to hand over such a one to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that his spirit may be saved on the day of the Lord Jesus.
Your boasting is not good. Do you not know that a little leaven leavens the whole lump?
Purge out the old leaven, that you may be a new lump, as you are unleavened. For Christ, our Passover, has been sacrificed.
Therefore let us celebrate the festival—not with the old leaven of malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.
I wrote to you in my letter not to associate with sexually immoral people—
I did not mean the sexually immoral of this world, or the greedy and swindlers, or idolaters; for then you would need to go out of the world. But I wrote to you not to associate with anyone who calls himself a brother if he is sexually immoral, or greedy, or an idolater, or a reviler, or a drunkard, or a swindler—not even to eat with such a one.
For what have I to do with judging those outside? Do you not judge those who are within?
God will judge those outside. Remove the wicked person from among yourselves.