INTRODUCTION TO 1 CORINTHIANS 5 In this chapter the apostle blames the Corinthians for conniving at a sin committed by one of their members; declares what he was determined to do, and what should be done by them in this case; and in general advises to shun conversation with wicked men; in 1 Corinth... [ Continue Reading ]
IT IS REPORTED COMMONLY THAT THERE IS FORNICATION AMONG YOU,.... The apostle having reproved the Corinthians for their schisms and divisions about their ministers, proceeds to charge them with immoralities committed among them, and which were connived at, and took no notice of by them; and particula... [ Continue Reading ]
AND YE ARE PUFFED UP,.... Either with the gifts, learning, and eloquence of their preachers, and particularly of this man, who, by some, is thought to be one of their teachers; and though he was guilty of so foul a crime, yet they still applauded him, and cried him up for a wonderful preacher: or on... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR I VERILY, AS ABSENT IN BODY,.... As he really was, being now at Philippi, if any dependence is to be had upon the subscription of this epistle; or rather at Ephesus; however, wherever he was, it is certain he was not at Corinth: BUT PRESENT IN SPIRIT; in his affection to them, care of them, and... [ Continue Reading ]
IN THE NAME OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST,.... These words contain an account of the several things and circumstances, that should attend the awful act of the apostle, in delivering this man to Satan; it would be done "in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ"; by his command, power, and authority, and for h... [ Continue Reading ]
TO DELIVER SUCH AN ONE UNTO SATAN,.... This, as before observed, is to be read in connection with 1 Corinthians 5:3 and is what the apostle there determined to do with this incestuous person; namely, to deliver him unto Satan; by which is meant, not the act of excommunication, or the removing of him... [ Continue Reading ]
YOUR GLORYING IS NOT GOOD,.... Their glorying in their outward flourishing condition, in their riches and wealth, and in their ministers, in their wisdom and parts when under such an humbling dispensation; and especially if their glorying was in the sin itself, and their connivance at it, it was far... [ Continue Reading ]
PURGE OUT THEREFORE THE OLD LEAVEN,....] Meaning either the incestuous person, whose crime might well be compared to sour "leaven", and be called old because of his long continuance in it; whom the apostle would have removed from them; this is properly the act of excommunication, which that church w... [ Continue Reading ]
THEREFORE LET US KEEP THE FEAST,.... Not the feast of the passover, which was now ceased, though this is said in allusion to it; when the master of the house used to say l, "everyone that is hungry, let him come and eat; he that hath need, let him come ויפסח, "and paschatize", or keep the feast of... [ Continue Reading ]
I WROTE UNTO YOU IN AN EPISTLE,..... Not in this same epistle, and in 1 Corinthians 5:2 as some think; for what is here observed is not written in either of those verses, but in some other epistle he had sent them before, as is clear from 1 Corinthians 5:11 which either came not to hand, or else was... [ Continue Reading ]
YET NOT ALTOGETHER WITH THE FORNICATORS OF THIS WORLD,.... By "the fornicators of this world" are meant, such as were guilty of this sin, who were the men of the world, mere worldly carnal men, who were never called out of it, or ever professed to be; in distinction from those that were in the churc... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT NOW HAVE I WRITTEN UNTO YOU,.... Which shows, that what he had written before was at another time, and in another epistle; but not that what he was now writing was different from the former, only he explains the persons of whom, and the thing about which he has before written: NOT TO KEEP COMPA... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR WHAT HAVE I TO DO TO JUDGE,.... To admonish, reprove, censure, and condemn: THEM ALSO THAT ARE WITHOUT? without the church, who never were in it, or members of it; to whom ecclesiastical jurisdiction does not reach; and with whom the apostle had no more concern, than the magistrates of one city... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT THEM THAT ARE WITHOUT GOD JUDGETH,.... Or "will judge", in the great day of judgment; wherefore though such persons did not fall under the censures and punishment of the apostle, nor of a church of Christ, yet they shall not go unpunished; God will call them to an account for their fornication,... [ Continue Reading ]