Setting
Paul begins to address another serious issue in the Corinthian church—sexual immorality and the church’s condonance of it. Paul is gravely concerned over the members’ complacent attitude. He urges them to eradicate the evil-doer from among them.
Key Verse
(5:8)
Did You Know...?
- Sexual immorality (5:1): the word is used of every kind of unlawful sexual intercourse.
[ref]
The verb form of this word means “to prostitute” or “to become a harlot”. [ref] - “A man has his father’s wife” (5:1): The LORD forbid anyone among the Israelites to have sexual relations with one’s father’s wife (Lev 18:8).
- The day of the Lord (5:5) is the day of the Lord’s return (cf.
1 Thess 5:2; 2 Pet 3:10; Mt 24:29–44) - Eat with (5:11): “Table fellowship had great significance in the ancient world, meaning acceptance of those with whom you dined.” [ref]
- “Purge the evil person from among you” (5:13): This injunction is found numerous times in the Old Testament, where God commanded the Israelites to put to death the evildoer in the assembly of Israel (Deut 13:5, 17:7, 12, 21:21, 22:21, 22, 24).
Outline
General Analysis
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1a. Under what circumstances should the church excommunicate a member?
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1b. How should the church excommunicate someone?
Segment Analysis
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5:1–2
1. What constitutes sexual immorality?
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2a. What was the attitude of the Corinthian church about the sexual immorality found among the believers?
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2b. What can we infer about how they might have expressed this attitude?
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5:3–5
3a. What does it mean to deliver someone to Satan?
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3b. What is the outcome of delivering someone to Satan?
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5:6–8
4. What is the point behind the analogy, “a little leaven leavens the whole lump”?
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5. How does the imagery of removing the yeast relate to Christ our Passover lamb?
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6a. What does it mean for us to celebrate the festival?
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6b. How do we celebrate the festival “with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth”?
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5:9–13
7. What does verse 10 reveal about associating with unbelievers in our lives?
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8. Is it contrary to Christian love to not associate with a sinful church member?
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9. How do we reconcile Jesus’ teaching not to judge and Paul’s teaching here that we ought to judge evildoers in the church?