Father,

You are the only sure thing we have in times of trouble. You are the wisest of all, the true giver of wisdom. Teach us your wisdom dear Father. As we meet our enemy while we bask in your presence let your light shine on the clear path of bringing you glory both now and forever. Amen

Key word: fornication

Summary: 1 Cor 5:1-7

These six verses speak about the way in which we should deal with an obvious and overt act of willful sin committed by a brother and a sister in the Church of Jesus Christ regarding fornication. This outward action causes saints so much trouble that the Apostle Paul deals with it harshly as well. We must live the life as best as we can in order not to diminish the kingdom of God in people’s minds. Paul’s solution to this incestuous stigma upon the church was intentioned with love for the sinful saints and for their future spiritual state. We must love the sinner and hate the sin so to speak. What is our ultimate goal in each case that we deal with in the Body of Christ?

Chapter 5 concerns a known case of incest in the church. The believers, rather than mourning over it, were complacently permitting the matter to go unjudged, perhaps even being proud of their liberty (vv. 1,2; cf. 1 Cor 6:12). Paul expresses his attitude in the matter (5:3-5), urges the church to exercise discipline (vv. 6-8), and concludes with a clarification of the previous letter's instruction (vv. 9-13). Puffed up (v. 2) marks a slight connection with the preceding (cf. 4:6,18-19), but the real connection is with what follows (cf. v. 1; 6:9,13-20).

(from The Wycliffe Bible Commentary, Electronic Database. Copyright (c) 1962 by Moody Press)

1 Cor 5:1-7

5:1 It is reported commonly that there is fornication among you, and such fornication as is not so much as named among the Gentiles, that one should have his father's wife.

1 Cor 5:1-4

The fornication was incest, forbidden by the Law (Lev 18:8; Deut 22:22). Here (present tense) suggests some sort of permanent union (cf. Matt 14:4). The singling out of the man may imply that the woman, his stepmother, was not a Christian. The father may have been dead or divorced. The sin was taboo according to Roman law. One part of the situation is clear, that if a man who professed Christianity had sexual relations with his father's wife; but another question isthe principal question is, was his father alive or dead?

2 And ye are puffed up, and have not rather mourned, that he that hath done this deed might be taken away from among you.

Tension surrounds this church & sin due to inflated egos and lethargy in the church caused by liberty… false liberty, the church was puffed up. A church can never prevent evil completely, but it should always strive to practice restraint. This privilege can be taken away from us by church censure and or excommunication.

3 For I verily, as absent in body, but present in spirit, have judged already, as though I were present, concerning him that hath so done this deed,

Perhaps Paul refers to the gift of the discernment of spirits, which it is very likely that the apostles possessed on extraordinary occasions. He had already seen this matter so undoubtedly, that he had firmly resolved on what sort of punishment which should be inflicted for this transgression. His words gave them righteous directions regarding proper ecclesiastical action.

4 In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, when ye are gathered together, and my spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ,

Christ's presence is promised to His Church "gathered together in His name" (Matt 18:18-20). Christ's "power" will ratify their sentence (John 20:23; Matt 18:18)

5 To deliver such a one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.

Their judgment was passed according to Paul's verdict (1 Cor 5:3) as presiding in spirit (2 Cor 13:3-10). Infallible judgment was limited to the apostles: for they alone could work miracles as credentials attest to it. Their successors, to establish their claim to it, must produce miracles as well (2 Cor 12:12). Even the apostles in ordinary cases, where not specially inspired, were fallible (Acts 8:13,23; Gal 2:11-14).

6 Your glorying is not good. Know ye not that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump?

A little yeast raises the whole lump of dough (Gal 5:9) - one bad member infects on the whole church. Little thieves let in greater ones. With present complicity is the guilt, and danger of future corruption (1 Cor 15:33; 2 Tim 2:17).