1 Corinthians 5:9-13
Judge Those Inside
9I wrote you in my letter not to associate with sexually immoral people.
10I was not including the sexually immoral of this world, or the greedy and swindlers, or idolaters. In that case you would have to leave this world.
11But now I am writing you not to associate with anyone who claims to be a brother but is sexually immoral or greedy, an idolater or a verbal abuser, a drunkard or a swindler. With such a man do not even eat.
12What business of mine is it to judge those outside the church? Are you not to judge those inside?
13God will judge those outside. “Expel the wicked man from among you.”
Berean Standard Bible
Paul clarifies an earlier instruction. He had told the Corinthians not to associate with sexually immoral people, but he did not mean everyone in the world who is sexually immoral, greedy, swindling, or idolatrous. Avoiding all such people would require leaving the world entirely. Christians are not called to build a community that never encounters sinners.
Paul's concern is a person who bears the name of brother or sister while persisting in serious, unrepentant sin. He lists sexual immorality, greed, idolatry, slander, drunkenness, and swindling. The issue is not a moment of failure brought into the light. It is a pattern defended by someone who wants Christian belonging without Christian accountability.
Paul says not even to eat with such a person. In Corinth, table fellowship communicated belonging, so refusing the table was a serious warning that the person's conduct could not be treated as compatible with the church's confession. It was not permission to harass, threaten, or abandon a family member in danger.
Paul asks what right he has to judge outsiders. God judges those outside; the church must judge those inside. The distinction protects the church from spending its energy policing the world while refusing to address its own public corruption. It also guards against pretending that Christians can deliver God's final verdict on every person they meet.
The closing command to remove the wicked person from among them is firm. It calls the community to boundaries, truth, and accountability. A healthy church can name serious sin and still pursue restoration. Its fellowship has boundaries, and those boundaries should serve repentance rather than cruelty.
Questions
1 What did Paul not mean by his earlier instruction?
AnswerHe did not mean that believers must avoid every immoral or greedy person in the world, since that would require leaving the world.
2 Who was Paul especially addressing?
AnswerHe was addressing someone who bears the Christian name while persisting in serious, unrepentant wrongdoing.
3 Why does Paul distinguish insiders from outsiders?
AnswerThe church must address its own members' public conduct, while God remains the judge of those outside the church.
4 What does removing the wicked person communicate?
AnswerIt communicates that serious unrepentant sin cannot be treated as compatible with Christian fellowship, while repentance remains possible.
What This Means for Us
Do not use Christian boundaries as an excuse to despise outsiders. Stay present in the world with honesty and love, while expecting the church to practice accountability among its own members.
When discipline is necessary, make it factual, proportionate, protective, and aimed at repentance. Never use exclusion to hide abuse or punish someone for telling the truth about harm.
Prayer
God of truth, keep us from hypocrisy and from condemning people outside while excusing wrong inside. Give Your church wise boundaries, protection for the vulnerable, and a path toward genuine repentance. Amen.