1 Corinthians 5:11 - Printer Friendly

ESV: But now I am writing to you not to associate with anyone who bears the name of brother if he is guilty of sexual immorality or greed, or is an idolater, reviler, drunkard, or swindler—not even to eat with such a one.

NIV: But now I am writing to you that you must not associate with anyone who claims to be a brother or sister but is sexually immoral or greedy, an idolater or slanderer, a drunkard or swindler. Do not even eat with such people.

NASB: But actually, I wrote to you not to associate with any so-called brother if he is a sexually immoral person, or a greedy person, or an idolater, or is verbally abusive, or habitually drunk, or a swindler—not even to eat with such a person.

CSB: But actually, I wrote you not to associate with anyone who claims to be a brother or sister and is sexually immoral or greedy, an idolater or verbally abusive, a drunkard or a swindler. Do not even eat with such a person.

NLT: I meant that you are not to associate with anyone who claims to be a believer yet indulges in sexual sin, or is greedy, or worships idols, or is abusive, or is a drunkard, or cheats people. Don’t even eat with such people.

KJV: 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.

NKJV: But now I have written to you not to keep company with anyone named a brother, who is sexually immoral, or covetous, or an idolater, or a reviler, or a drunkard, or an extortioner— not even to eat with such a person.

Paul is giving to the church in Corinth, and to all Christian churches, a guideline for how we should respond when other believers begin to participate in actions that are clearly sinful. Should we ignore this issue, as the Corinthians had done with the man who was having an affair with his father's wife (1 Corinthians 5:1)? Clearly not. Instead, Paul's instruction is to remove that person from the community (1 Corinthians 5:2–5).

Now he adds that the rest of the church should not even continue to eat with such a person. In the previous verse, he clarified that this does not apply to those who are outside the church, unbelievers. Instead, he says here, this is about anyone who would call himself a brother—or herself a sister—in Christ (1 Corinthians 5:13).

Paul does not ask us to decide if that person is really a Christian or not. Instead, his instruction applies to anyone who claims to be a Christian. Paul's teaching here allows for the possibility that a self-professed Christian might at some point begin to participate in ongoing sexual immorality, greed, idol worship, angrily insulting others, regular drunkenness, or swindling people out of money.

Paul expresses two purposes for officially removing from the community those who are known to be living in sin. First, it provides protection for the community from getting caught up in either the sin itself or the consequences that sin will bring. Second, as he writes in 2 Thessalonians 3:14–15, such action may bring the sinful person to repentance, "If anyone does not obey what we say in this letter, take note of that person, and have nothing to do with him, that he may be ashamed. Do not regard him as an enemy, but warn him as a brother."

Other New Testament passages indicate that separating unrepentant sinners from the congregation is necessary for the health of the church, and the influence of the gospel among an unbelieving world (Jude 1:12; 2 Peter 2:2, 1 Peter 2:12).

First Corinthians 5:9–13 introduces Christian teachings on church discipline, conflict resolution, and the power of God to cleanse us from sin. After demanding the church in Corinth excommunicate someone for flagrant sin, Paul reminds them that those who claim to be Christians are to be held to a higher standard. Specifically, the church must not accept the fellowship of those who persist in blatant, stubborn sin. Non-believers, in contrast, aren't subject to that judgment. Paul insists that Christians must not even share a meal with someone who identifies as Christian but refuses to stop participating in sin.

Paul confronts the church in Corinth for failing to respond to a self-identified believer having a sexual affair with his father's wife. He insists they must remove the man from their community—to refuse his participation in the church—referred to here as delivering him to Satan. As the Jewish people would do during Passover, they must remove the leaven of this man and his sin from among them, to prevent it from spreading to the entire church. Christian congregations should not associate with those who claim to be believers, yet flaunt their sin.

First Corinthians 5 continues Paul's confrontational tone from the previous chapter. There, he warned the arrogant that he might return to them with a rod of correction. Now he points to a specific result of their pride: They have failed to respond to one among them who is openly committing incest. Paul commands them to remove the man from their community by turning him over to Satan for destruction of his flesh, in hopes that his spirit would be saved. They must not even share a meal with a Christian continuing in unrepentant sin. Paul will distinguish between the judgment of believers with that of non-believers. In the next chapter, this will include more details on how to handle conflict, as well as the ability of God to forgive any and all sin.

First Corinthians is one of the more practical books of the New Testament. Paul writes to a church immersed in a city associated with trade, but also with corruption and immorality. These believers are struggling to properly apply spiritual gifts and to resist the ungodly practices of the surrounding culture. Paul's letter gives instructions for real-life concerns such as marriage and spirituality. He also deals with the importance of unity and gives one of the Bible's more well-known descriptions of love in chapter 13.