1 Corinthians 5:1

1Co 5:1-13. The Incestuous Person at Corinth: The Corinthians Reproved for Connivance, and Warned to Purge Out the Bad Leaven. Qualification of His Former Command as to Association with Sinners of the World. 1. commonly--rather, "actually" [Alford]. Absolutely [Bengel]. "It is reported," implies, that the Corinthians, though they "wrote" (1Co 7:1) to Paul on other points, gave him no information on those things which bore against themselves. These latter matters reached the apostle indirectly (1Co 1:11). so much as named--The oldest manuscripts and authorities omit "named": "Fornication of such a gross kind as (exists) not even among the heathen, so that one (of you) hath (in concubinage) his father's wife," that is, his stepmother, while his father is still alive (2Co 7:12; compare Le 18:8). She was perhaps a heathen, for which reason he does not direct his rebuke against her (compare 1Co 5:12, 13). Alford thinks "have" means have in marriage: but the connection is called "fornication," and neither Christian nor Gentile law would have sanctioned such a marriage, however Corinth's notorious profligacy might wink at the concubinage.

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Introduction to 1st Corinthians Chapter 5

CHAPTER V

This chapter is entirely occupied with a notice of an offence which existed in the church at Corinth, and with a statement of the measures which the apostle expected them to pursue in regard to it. Of the existence of this offence he had been informed, probably by "those of the house of Chloe," 1Cor 1:11, and there is reason to suppose that they had not even alluded to it in the letter which they had sent to him asking advice. See 1Cor 7:1. Comp. the Introduction. The apostle 1Cor 5:1 reproves them for tolerating a species of licentiousness which was not tolerated even by the heathens; he reproves them 1Cor 5:2 for being puffed up with pride even while this scandal existed in their church; he ordered them forthwith to purify the church by removing the incestuous person, 1Cor 5:4,5 and exhorted them to preserve themselves from the influence which a single corrupt person might have, operating like leaven in a mass 1Cor 5:6,7. Then, lest they should mistake his meaning, and suppose that by commanding them not to keep company with licentious persons, 1Cor 5:9, he meant to say, that they should withdraw from all intercourse with the heathen, who were known to be idolaters and corrupt, he says that that former command was not designed to forbid all intercourse with them, 1Cor 5:9-12); but that he meant his injunction now to extend particularly to such as as were professed members of the church; that they were not to cut off all intercourse with society at large because it was corrupt; that if any man professed to be a Christian and yet was guilty of such practices, they were to disown him, 1Cor 5:11; that it was not his province, nor did he assume it, to judge the heathen world which was without the church, 1Cor 5:12; but that this was entirely consistent with the view that eh had a right to exercise discipline within the church, on such as professed to be Christians; and that therefore they were bound to put away that wicked person.

Verse 1. It is reported. Greek, It is heard. There is a rumour. That rumour had been brought to Paul, probably by the members of the family of Chloe, 1Cor 1:11.

Commonly. ολως. Everywhere. It is a matter of common fame. It is so public that it cannot be concealed; and so certain that it cannot be denied. This was an offence, he informs us, which even the heathen would not justify or tolerate; and, therefore, the report had spread not only in the churches, but even among the heathen, to the great scandal of religion. When a report obtains such a circulation, it is certainly time to investigate it, and to correct the evil.

That there is fornication. Acts 15:20. The word is here used to denote incest; for the apostle immediately explains the nature of the offence.

And such fornication, etc. An offence that is not tolerated or known among the heathen. This greatly aggravated the offence, that in a Christian church a crime should be tolerated among its members which even gross heathens would regard with abhorrence. That this offence was regarded with abhorrence by even the heathens has been abundantly proved by quotations from classic writers. See Weststein, Bloomfield, and Whitby. Cicero says of the offence, expressly, that "it was an incredible and unheard-of crime." Pro Cluen. 6, 6. When Paul says that it was not "so much as named among the Gentiles," he doubtless uses the word ονομαζεται in the sense of named with approbation, tolerated, or allowed. The crime was known in a few instances, but chiefly of those who were princes and rulers; but it was nowhere regarded with approbation, but was always treated as abominable wickedness. All that the connexion requires us to understand by the word "named" here is, that it was not tolerated or allowed; it was treated with abhorrence, and it was therefore more scandalous that it was allowed in a Christian church. Whitby supposes that this offence that was tolerated in the church at Corinth gave rise to the scandals that were circulated among the heathen respecting the early Christians, that they allowed of licentious intercourse among the members of their churches. This reproach was circulated extensively among the heathen, and the primitive Christians were at much pains to refute it.

That one should have. Probably as his wife; or it may mean simply that he had criminal intercourse with her. Perhaps some man had parted with his wife, on some account, and his Son had married her, or maintained her for criminal intercourse. It is evident from 2Cor 7:12, that the person who had suffered the wrong, as well as he who had done it, was still alive. Whether this was marriage or concubinage has been disputed by commentators, and it is not possible, perhaps, to determine. See the subject discussed in Bloomfield.

(*) "fornication" "impurity" (a) "one should" De 27:20

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Introduction

Account of the incestuous person, or of him who had married his father's wife, 1Cor 5:1. The apostle reproves the Corinthians for their carelessness in this matter, and orders them to excommunicate the transgressor, 1Cor 5:2-5. They are reprehended for their glorying, while such scandals were among them, 1Cor 5:6. They must purge out the old leaven, that they may properly celebrate the Christian passover, 1Cor 5:7-9. They must not associate with any who, professing the Christian religion, were guilty of any scandalous vice, and must put away from them every evil person, 1Cor 5:10-13. Verse 1 There is fornication among you - The word πορνεια, which we translate fornication in this place, must be understood in its utmost latitude of meaning, as implying all kinds of impurity; for, that the Corinthians were notoriously guilty of every species of irregularity and debauch, we have already seen; and it is not likely that in speaking on this subject, in reference to a people so very notorious, he would refer to only one species of impurity, and that not the most flagitious. That one should have his father's wife - Commentators and critics have found great difficulties in this statement. One part of the case is sufficiently clear, that a man who professed Christianity had illegal connections with his father's wife; but the principal question is, was his father alive or dead? Most think that the father was alive, and imagine that to this the apostle refers, 2Cor 7:12, where, speaking of the person who did the wrong, he introduces also him who had suffered the wrong; which must mean the father and the father then alive. After all that has been said on this subject, I think it most natural to conclude that the person in question had married the wife of his deceased father, not his own mother, but stepmother, then a widow. This was a crime which the text says was not so much as named among the Gentiles; the apostle must only mean that it was not accredited by them, for it certainly did often occur: but by their best writers who notice it, it was branded as superlatively infamous. Cicero styles it, scelus incredibile et inauditum, an incredible and unheard of wickedness; but it was heard of and practised; and there are several stories of this kind in heathen authors, but they reprobate not commend it. The word ονομαζεται, named, is wanting in almost every MS. and version of importance, and certainly makes no part of the text. The words should be read, and such fornication as is not amongst the Gentiles, i.e., not allowed. Some think that this woman might have been a proselyte to the Jewish religion from heathenism; and the rabbins taught that proselytism annulled all former relationship, and that a woman was at liberty in such a case to depart from an unbelieving husband, and to marry even with a believing son, i.e., of her husband by some former wife.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Chapter Outline

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) Verses 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.

Matthew Henry, 1706 · public domain