Gann's Commentary on the Bible

1 Corinthians 5:1

Problems in the church at Corinth:

# 2 Fellowshiping the ungodly - ch. 5:9-14

(Moral problem: Man who married his step-mother - ch. 5_

III. Moral Disorders In The Church

A. Incest - ch. 5

B. Going to court with brethren - ch. 6:1-8

C. Immoral Conduct - ch. 6:9-20

Problem: Incest in the church. 5:1-12

5:1-2 - Problem stated.

5:3-13 Action proscribe.

a) church action - v.3-8

b) we should not fellowship with immoral Christians - 5:9-13

Lesson: Sin in the church should grieve us.

Lesson: Ignoring a problem will not solve it.

Lesson: Christians must remain pure from worldly sins. (v.9-10)

1 Corinthians 5:2

Lesson: Sin in the church should grieve us.

Lesson: Ignoring a problem will not solve it.

1 Corinthians 5:3

5:3-13 Action proscribe.

a) church action - v.3-8

1 Corinthians 5:5

Deliver such a one -- Give him back unto Satan.

Day of the Lord -- The day of judgment.

Lesson: Sin tolerated in the church will spread.

a little leaven ... -- A small quantity of leaven or yeast will pervade the entire mass of flour, or dough, and diffuse itself through it all. This is evidently a proverbial saying. It occurs also in Galatians 5:9. Compare the note at Matthew 13:33.

A similar figure occurs also in the Greek classic writers - By leaven the Hebrews metaphorically understood whatever had the power of corrupting, whether doctrine, or example, or anything else. See the note at Matthew 16:6.

The sense here is plain. A single sin indulged in, or allowed in the church, would act like leaven - it would pervade and corrupt the whole church, unless it was removed. On this ground, and for this reason, discipline should be administered, and the corrupt member should be removed.

1 Corinthians 5:8

Symbolism of Leaven

(And why we eat unleavened bread) see the NCV/

b) we should not fellowship with immoral Christians -cf. 1 Corinthians 5:9-13

in the letter -- This may refer to a previous letter that Paul wrote to the Corinthians. Alternatively, this could refer to such passages as 1 Corinthians 10:1-22, in this letter.

1 Corinthians 5:10

b) we should not fellowship with immoral Christians - 5:9-13

cf. vs. 9-10

Lesson: We should not fellowship with immoral Christians - 5:9-13

Lesson: Christians must remain pure from worldly sins.