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Nazarene Commentary 2000©

21^st Century Paraphrase of the Hebrew Scriptures© –
21^st Century Version of the Christian Scriptures© [NCMM]

THE FIRST LETTER TO THE CORINTHIANS

CHAPTER FIVE:
“MORAL UNITY AND SHUNNING”

Theme Verse: 7

1 Corinthians 5:1-8 – Congregational Judgment

1CO5:1 Actually, sexual immorality is reported among you 213 – and such sexual immorality which does not even exist among the non-Jews 214 – so that someone has the wife of the father! 215

213

Sexual immorality is reported among you: Or, fornication, prostitution. The Greek is PORNEIA [Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance #4202] and comes from PORNE which means “to buy” from a prostitute. The word has been some what expanded in the Bible to include: homosexuality, adultery, incest. Some would include premarital sexual intercourse between engaged couples, but nowhere does the Bible do this. Under the Law of Moses couples who enjoyed pre-marital intercourse were not stoned or cast out. The male absorbed the main responsibility in this matter. He had to a] marry the woman, b] pay a penalty [to the father], and, c] forgo divorce. It is likely “the house of Chloe” has told Paul of this problem. Sexual immorality was so rampant in Corinth that the word to “corinthinize” was formed. Thus, Paul uses the word most often in 1 Corinthians. [1 Corinthians 5:1; 6:13, 18; 7:2; 10:8; 2 Corinthians 12:21] In addition, the Greeks and other cultures worshipped The Gods and demons by means of temple prostitution, both male and female. On the word PORNEIA compare Matthew 5:32; 19:9; Acts 15:20, 29; Galatians 5:19; Ephesians 5:3; Colossians 3:5; 1 Thessalonians 4:3; Jude 7.

214	Such sexual immorality which does not even exist among the non-Jews: Likely Paul is not being absolute here for such incest did exist among the Gentiles. He is sarcastic in his warning and means that such type of PORNEIA was even condemned in the world as the worst form of adultery.

215	So that someone has the wife of the father: Some suggest this was the man’s stepmother. Under the Law of Moses such incest was a stoning offence. [Leviticus 18:8; Deuteronomy 22:30]

1CO5:2 And you are puffed up? 216 Should you rather not grieve? 217 That the person doing this deed should be removed from your midst? 218

216	And you are puffed up: Or, arrogant, proud of yourselves. Paul’s sarcastic condemnation in this question suggests the congregation knew about the affair and did nothing about it.

217	Should you rather not grieve: Or, mourn, feel sorry. They should have been incensed at this conduct and taken action to remove the man from their midst.

218	Removed from your midst: Or, taken away, expel. See notes on 1 Corinthians 5:13.

1CO5:3 For, though I am absent in my body, but present in my thoughts, I have already judged the person having done this thing, 219 as though I were present.

219	I have already judged the person having done this thing: The multiple testimony of the Chloe family seems sufficient for Paul to make a decision. He made also have had other information. There are those matters within the Church that may be “judged” by appointed elders.

1CO5:4 Having assembled together in the name of our Master Jesus 220 – along with my thoughts and the authority of the Master Jesus 221 –

220	Having assembled together in the name of our Master Jesus: Paul recommends a meeting to officially deal judicially with this person. This meeting would be authorized in the “name of our Master Jesus.” Whether this is a separate meeting from the regular assembly is not stated.

221	Along with my thoughts and the authority of the Master Jesus: Paul’s own testimony in the authority of Christ would be considered in this congregational judicial matter.

1CO5:5 hand such a person over to Satan 222 for the destruction of the flesh 223 that the spirit may be saved in the Day of the Master. 224

222

Hand such a person over to Satan: A phrase likely meaning the same as above, “remove [him] from your midst.” Cast outside the protection of the congregation. If we judge from such texts as Acts 26:18, Colossians 1:13, and 1 Timothy 1:20, darkness lies outside the congregation under the authority of Satan.

223	For the destruction of the flesh: There are two views here: a] the destruction of fleshly actions and attitudes within the congregation; b] by shunning the man it may have the affect of destroying his fleshly desires.

224

That the spirit may be saved in the Day of the Master: Some believe this is the “spirit” of the congregation. However, the phrase “Day of the Master” almost always refers to the Parousia or Revelation of Jesus Christ when he comes to judge his Church. [See notes on 1 Corinthians 1:8; 2 Corinthians 1:14; Philippians 1:6, 10] In this parousia-judgment of the Church two groups will become manifest. [Daniel 12:2; John 5:29; 2 Corinthians 5:10; 1 John 2:28.] If this act of shunning, shaming the unclean man, results in the recovery of the sinner, it would be his “spirit” that would be saved. Compare “her spirit” in 1 Corinthians 7:34. Note upon Jesus’ death he says, “Into Your hands I entrust my spirit.” [Luke 23:46; Acts 7:59]

1CO5:6 Your boasting is not good! 225 Do you not realize that a little leaven ferments the whole mixture? 226

225	Your boasting is not good: It is almost unthinkable that a congregation would boast in such sexual immorality, but this attitude is reflected in their non-action. Compare 1 Corinthians 5:2.

226

Do you not realize that a little leaven ferments the whole mixture: This is an echo of the Nazarene at Matthew 13:33 where Jesus predicts the complete fermentation of his Church. “Leaven” is generally a metaphor for false teachings or moral corruption. Compare notes on 1 Corinthians 15:33. [Ecclesiastes 9:18; Matthew 16:6, 11, 12; Mark 8:15; Luke 12:1; 1 Corinthians 5:8; Galatians 5:9]

1CO5:7 Purge out the old leaven 227 that you may be a new mixture as you may [become] unleavened. 228 For, surely, Christ our Passover was sacrificed! 229

227	Purge out the old leaven: Particular the immoral man, but also their attitude toward the whole matter.

228	You may be a new mixture as you may [become] unleavened: Or, new lump. By removing the immoral Christian from their midst they manifest a changed attitude. Not only should individuals “perfect holiness in the fear of God” but a whole congregation can do so. [2 Corinthians 7:1]

229

Christ our Passover was sacrificed: Or, NEB: for indeed our Passover has begun: the sacrifice is offered – Christ himself. Paul speaks of Christ in analogy with the Jewish Passover victim – the unblemished lamb. Christ is often called “the Lamb” alluding to the Hebrew Passover sacrifices. [Exodus 12:3; John 1:29, 36; Acts 8:32; 1 Peter 1:19; Revelation 5:6, 8, 12, 13] Compare also notes in Nazarene Commentary 2000© in Hebrews.

1CO5:8 Therefore, let us keep the Feast, 230 not with old leaven 231 – nor with a leaven of malice and evil 232 – but with the unleavened [bread] of sincerity and truth. 233

230

Let us keep the Feast: Or, celebrate the festival. There are several views. It is highly doubtful Paul writes to non-Jews to keep observing the Passover itself. He speaks in parable: the ongoing removal of leaven in the congregation is similar to the practice of the Jews of removing leaven from their homes during Passover. [Exodus 13:7] Nowhere is there any evidence that the early Christians observed the Jewish Passover. The two mentions of Passover in Acts 12:3; 20:6 in no way indicate Peter or Paul observed these. The only celebration the early Church observed was “the death of the Master” and Paul goes on in 1 Corinthians chapters 10 and 11 to discuss this memorial.

231	Not with old leaven: Or, TCN: the leaven of former days. It is possible Paul alludes to the Jewish practice of literally removing leaven from all their homes. [Deuteronomy 16:3] There may be something of a parallel in Luke 5:36-39.

232	Nor with a leaven of malice and evil: Or, wickedness, badness. [1 Peter 4:3]

233	But with the unleavened [bread] of sincerity and truth: Or, purity and honest, unadulterated truth. Leaven is a metaphor for what is false or evil, and what is “unleavened” parallels what is genuine and true.

1 Corinthians 5:9-13 – Remove the Evil Person

1CO5:9 I wrote you in my previous epistle 234 not to associate with 235 the sexually immoral. 236

234	My previous epistle: This is an unknown letter which would technically make 1 Corinthians actually 2 Corinthians.

235

Not to associate with: Or, KJV: not to company with; BEC: not to mix with; WMS: stop associating with. The long Greek word is SYN-ANAMIGNYSTHAI [Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance #4874, mix up together with]. There could be a play on words here given the metaphor of leaven. Consider Matthew 13:33 where the women “hides” leaven [or, mixes together with] “the whole lump.” This word is used in only two other places. See notes on 1 Corinthians 5:11 and 2 Thessalonians 3:14 in Nazarene Commentary 2000©. In the latter verse the case is of someone taking financial advantage of the congregation by refusing to work. Such a person was to be “marked” and no long associated with. It should be noted this person was not to be “treated as an enemy, but rather encouraged as a brother.” Judging from what Paul said above this “shunning” would occur after a congregational assembly. Paul later calls this “a rebuke by the majority” in the congregation. [2 Corinthians 2:6] It would seem from these that such a judicial assembly included – not just a few elders – but the majority of the congregation. This echoes the Nazarene’s own counsel at Matthew 18:17, that after two personal failed attempts to gain a brother, the matter should be brought before the whole congregation. [See notes on Matthew 18:15-17 in Nazarene Commentary 2000©; also see shunning in the same.]

236	Sexually immoral: [See notes on 1 Corinthians 5:1.]

1CO5:10 Not meaning all the sexually immoral of the present social order of humanity 237 – nor the greedy, nor extortionists or idolaters 238 – since you would have to leave humanity’s social order.

237	Present social order of humanity: Or, world. See notes else where on cosmos.

238

Nor the greedy, nor extortionists or idolaters: Paul adds three more reasons to shun another Christian – greed, covetousness, idolaters. So, in this context here there are four reasons to remove someone from their community – sexual immorality, greed, extortion, and idolatry. The subject of greed and extortion will be alluded to again in 1 Corinthians chapter 6, and idolatry in chapters 8 and 10. It can probably stated with a high degree of certainty that very few in the Christian Church have ever been disassociated for greed or covetousness, for such fill the Church at the beginning of the 3rd Millennium.

1CO5:11 However, now, I write you not to associate with anyone called a “brother” 239 [who is] sexually immoral, a greedy person, an idolater, a reviler, a drunkard, or an extortioner 240 – not even eating with such a person. 241

239	Not to associate with anyone called a “brother”: [Or, “sister”] Paul will note a few other reasons to shun someone as well as more closely explains what “not to associate with” includes.

240

Sexually immoral, a greedy person, an idolater, a reviler, a drunkard, or an extortioner: Or, fornication, lewd, sexual sin. Or, covetous, miser, slanderer, swindler, a man with a foul tongue. Paul has now expanded his list for shunning to six reasons. For details on these words reference the same in Nazarene Commentary 2000©. Though some sects who practice shunning regularly disfellowship or excommunicate sexually immoral persons, they seldom, if ever, address the “greedy person,” or even, the “extortioner.”

241

Not even eating with such a person: Or, TCN: sit at a table with. If we compare 2 Thessalonians 3:10 the same is suggested. It would seem obvious that the above does not mean to cast out a family member, though some sects include such in their shunning practices. It would seem that the principle stated at 1 Timothy 5:8 would bear on the matter. Paul writes that such a person should “not be treated as an enemy, but as a brother.” [See Nazarene Commentary 2000© on 2 Thessalonians 3:15.] It is possible the early Christian Church carried something of the Jewish practice in shunning. The Jews did expel undesirables from their spiritual community. [John 9:22; 16:2] They had three steps: a] NID-DUY’ was for a short period of a month to let the person know what he might be in for – such a person could attend the Temple but his family had to remain six feet away from him. B] CHE’REM included a more serious ban during which the person could not share in teaching with others, nor any business in buying or selling save essentials for subsistence. C] SHAM-MAT-TA’ which was a complete casting out of the Jewish community.

1CO5:12 For is it for me to judge those outside [the congregation]? 242 Do you not judge those within [the congregation] 243?

242	For is it for me to judge those outside [the congregation]: Like Jesus, Paul did not judge those outside the Church. [John 12:47]

243

Do you not judge those within [the congregation]: Each Christian congregation has the judicial responsibility to keep itself clean of leaven by expelling those who habitually continue in the wicked courses described above. See notes on 1 Corinthians 6:5. When Paul says “you” he means not just the elders but the whole congregation as Matthew 18:17 and 2 Corinthians 2:6 suggest.

1CO5:13 And The God judges those outside [the congregation]. 244 “Remove the evil person from your midst!” 245 [Deuteronomy 17:7 LXX]

244

The God judges those outside [the congregation]: As else where Paul uses HO THEOS [The God] to distinguish the Father from other gods. God by Christ will be the judge of the world outside the Church. [Revelation 20:12-14] The Saints will be included in this judgment. [1 Corinthians 6:2] The apostles were told by the Nazarene that they would “sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel.” [Matthew 19:28; Luke 22:30] On the subject of God and Judgment see Nazarene Commentary 2000©.

245

Remove the evil person from your midst: Paul quotes Deuteronomy 17:7 and applies the principle of the Law to excommunication from the Christian Church. In the case of Deuteronomy 17:7 it generally meant stoning or death. All cultures and societies practice some form of shunning those dangerous to the community. In the western world this is called “prison.” It some countries, in severe cases, the death penalty is imposed just as it was in Israel.

Review Questions on Chapter Five