1 Corinthians 5: Church Discipline and the Passover Lamb

Short answer: First Corinthians 5 addresses a case of sexual immorality in the church and Paul's instruction to remove the offender. It uses the imagery of yeast and the Passover lamb to call the church to purity and holiness.

What 1 Corinthians 5 says

Paul begins by reporting a specific case of sexual immorality in the Corinthian church, a man living with his father's wife. He notes that even the Gentiles do not tolerate such a thing. Instead of mourning over this sin, the Corinthians are arrogant. Paul, though absent in body, has already judged the one who did this. He instructs the church, when gathered in the name of the Lord Jesus and with his spirit and power, to deliver such a person to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, so that the spirit may be saved on the day of the Lord. This is a serious call to action, not out of vengeance but for the ultimate restoration of the sinner.

Paul then addresses the community's boasting, which is not good. He uses the metaphor of yeast, reminding them that a little yeast leavens the whole lump. He calls them to purge out the old yeast so they may be a new lump, just as they are unleavened. He connects this to Christ, our Passover lamb, who has been sacrificed. Therefore, they are to keep the feast not with old yeast, nor with the yeast of malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth. The point is that the church's life together must be marked by holiness because of Christ's sacrifice.

Paul clarifies a previous letter he wrote, in which he instructed them not to associate with sexually immoral people. He explains he did not mean the immoral of this world, or the covetous, extortionists, or idolaters, because then they would have to leave the world entirely. Rather, he meant not to associate with anyone who is called a brother but is sexually immoral, covetous, an idolater, a slanderer, a drunkard, or an extortionist. With such a person, they should not even eat. This distinction shows that the church's discipline is for those inside the community, not for outsiders.

Paul concludes by asking what he has to do with judging those outside the church. He says they are to judge those inside, while God judges those outside. He then quotes the instruction to put away the wicked man from among yourselves. This final charge reinforces the call to maintain the purity of the church community, entrusting the judgment of outsiders to God. The chapter ends with a clear directive to remove the wicked person, emphasizing the responsibility of the church to uphold holiness within its own ranks.

Verses that carry the chapter

• “It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you, and such sexual immorality as is not even named among the Gentiles, that one has his father’s wife.” (1 Corinthians 5:1) — This verse introduces the specific sin that occasions the chapter, showing the gravity of the situation and the need for church discipline.
• “are to deliver such a one to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.” (1 Corinthians 5:5) — This verse reveals the redemptive purpose behind the severe action: delivering the offender to Satan for the destruction of the flesh so that the spirit may be saved.
• “Purge out the old yeast, that you may be a new lump, even as you are unleavened. For indeed Christ, our Passover, has been sacrificed in our place.” (1 Corinthians 5:7) — This verse connects the call to purity with the sacrifice of Christ, our Passover lamb, grounding the ethical demand in the gospel.
• “But as it is, I wrote to you not to associate with anyone who is called a brother who is a sexual sinner, or covetous, or an idolater, or a slanderer, or a drunkard, or an extortionist. Don’t even eat with such a person.” (1 Corinthians 5:11) — This verse clarifies the scope of discipline, specifying that it applies to those who claim to be brothers but persist in sin, and that believers should not even eat with such a person.

Gospel connection

The chapter ties the church's call to holiness directly to the sacrifice of Christ, who is our Passover lamb. Just as Israel was to purge leaven at Passover, the church is to purge sin because Christ has been sacrificed. The deliverance of the sinner to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, with the hope of the spirit's salvation, reflects the gravity of sin and the ultimate goal of restoration. This points to the wider biblical story of redemption, where God judges sin but also provides a way of salvation through Jesus. The church's discipline is not punitive but redemptive, aiming to bring the sinner back to fellowship with God and his people.

Application

This chapter asks readers to take sin seriously within the church community. It calls for a willingness to confront persistent, unrepentant sin in a way that seeks the restoration of the sinner and the purity of the church. It also warns against arrogance and boasting, reminding believers that a little sin can spread and corrupt the whole community. Practically, it means examining our own lives, repenting of sin, and being willing to lovingly confront others. It also means recognizing that our identity as God's people is tied to Christ's sacrifice, so we should live in sincerity and truth, not in malice and wickedness.

Biblical fidelity check

The chapter does not specify the exact nature of the man's relationship beyond that he had his father's wife, nor does it give the outcome of the discipline. It does not claim that the church actually carried out the instruction, nor does it describe the man's response. It does not say that believers should avoid all contact with non-believers who sin, but rather clarifies that the restriction applies to those who claim to be brothers. It also does not provide a detailed procedure for church discipline beyond the specific case. The text is silent on the man's eternal destiny, leaving that to God's judgment.

Questions for study

1. Why does Paul consider the Corinthians' arrogance a problem in light of the sin in their midst?
2. What does Paul mean by delivering the offender to Satan, and how does that relate to the goal of salvation?
3. How does the metaphor of yeast explain the need for church discipline?
4. What is the difference between judging those inside the church and those outside, according to Paul?
5. How does the Passover imagery in this chapter shape our understanding of holiness and community life?

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Related studies: 1 Corinthians 1 Bible Study, 1 Corinthians 10 Bible Study, 1 Corinthians 11 Bible Study, 1 Corinthians 12 Bible Study.

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FAQ

What was the sin that Paul addressed in 1 Corinthians 5?

A man in the church was living with his father's wife, a form of sexual immorality that even the Gentiles did not tolerate.

Why did Paul instruct the church to remove the offender?

To protect the purity of the church and to bring about the restoration of the sinner, so that his spirit might be saved on the day of the Lord.

Does this chapter teach that Christians should avoid all sinners?

No, Paul clarifies that he meant not to associate with those who claim to be brothers but persist in sin, not with the sinners of the world, since that would require leaving the world.