1 Corinthians 5
Dort1. The Apostle comes further and proves by the defects which were yet in their Church, that the Corinthians had more cause to humble themselves, then to boast and lift themselves up, and first because of their suffering incest among them. 2. Exhorts them earnestly, that they should cast him that had done this, out of the midst of them, and deliver him to Satan, 6. produces divers’ reasons to this purpose, especially by a similitude taken from heaven, which in the keeping of the Passover in the Old Testament was too purged out. 9. Informs them afterwards more at large against what kind of men this Ecclesiastical discipline must be exercised. 11. Namely against those who are called brethren, and gave such like offences, 12. leaving those that were without the Church, committed to the judgment of God.
1. It is wholly reported [That is, not as an uncertain report, but as a certain thing] (that there is) fornication among you, and such fornication as is not named even among the Gentiles; [namely, without detestation or abomination. For howsoever here and there in the Greek, Roman, and other histories such examples are found, yet not withstanding they are always condemned by them as unfitting and unlawful] so that one hath his Fathers wise.[that is, his mother in Law, as she is also called in Gods word, Levit. 18.8.]
2. And are ye (yet) puffed up, and have not much rather mourned? [Namely, as men do when there is cause of common sorrow: for although such are sins of particular persons, yet nevertheless they concern the whole Church, because Gods name is blasphemed for it, and his wrath kindled thereby against the whole congregation, if they be not duly punished] that they may take away out of the midst of you, [that is, by Christian excommunication cast out of your congregation, as hereafter ver. 7.11. is declared] that hath done this indeed.
3. But I, as being indeed absent in body, but present in Spirit, [That is, with my thoughts, will, and the power of the Spirit. See the like, 2 Kings 5:26. Colossians 2:5.] have decreed already as (if I were) present, him that hath so committed that (thing.)
4. In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ [That is, according to the command and charge of Christ, and with calling upon his name, Mat. 18.ver.15.] when ye and my Spirit shall be gathered (together,) with the power of the Lord Jesus Christ, [that is, the powerfull working of Christ in the hearts of those amongst whom, and against whom this punishment is lawfully used. See Mat. 18.ver.18.19,20.]
5. To deliver over such a one unto Satan, [That is, to banish him out of your communion, or as Christ speaks Mat. 18.ver.17. to account him as a heathen and a Publican. For without the Church of Christ Satan hath his Kingdome. See 2 Tim 2.ver.25,26.] for the destruction of flesh, that is, for the mortifying and abolishing of the old man, i.e. of the corrupt nature, which is everywhere called flesh, See Romans 8:13. Galatians 5:24.] that the Spirit may be saved [that is, the new man, which by the fleshly desires and sins seemed as it were dead and buried, may be raised up again, and to obtain the conquest, until that in the day of Christ coming, it shall wholly and only reign in us] in the day of the Lord Jesus.
6. Your glorying [Namely, whereby you glory is as if you and your Church were altogether perfect] is not good. Know ye not that the little leaven [Gr. A small leaven. By this similitude the Apostle declares, that a scandalous person if he be not punished in the Church, easily draws others to imitate him] makes the whole dough sowre?
7. Purge out therefore the old leaven [This may either particularly be understood of the purging out, or casting out of this scandalous person, that the whole Church might be without infamy and danger of further infection, seeing that they were already by the spirit of God in a great part freed from the leaven of natural corruption. Or in general for a universal exhortation by occasion of the foregoing similitude, namely that each one in particulars should more and more purge out of himself the old leaven of sin, as they were already delivered from the dominion thereof. See Ephesians 4:22. Colossians 3:5,9,10.] that ye may be a new dough, even as ye are unsowred. For even our Passover is slain for us, (namely) Christ. [Or, our Passover is offered for us, i.e. the Passover which is offered for us for the expiation of our sins. Christ is here called the Passover, which is often used of the Sacraments ( as the bread in the Lords Supper is called the body of Christ, and the communion of the body of Christ) because the Paschall lamb was a sign and figure of Christ and his sacrifice. See John 19:36.]
8. So then let us feast, [That is, in that which the Israelites were to do in the type, after the killing of the outward Passover, on the preparation of the Passover, by the purging out of all leaven, and by obtaining of from leaven bread for seven days, according to Gods command, Exod. 12.ver.15. that the Apostle commands the Christians to do in the signified all their life long: namely to walk holily and righteously before God and men, and for this cause also to take away all offences from among them, since they are reconciled unto God by the sacrifice and sprinkling of the blood of Christ] not in the old leaven, [that is, in the defilement of natural corruption in which we are born] nor in leaven of evil and wickedness, which natural men yet daily heap thereunto] but in the unleavened (bread) [that is, in a pure and undefiled walking] of uprightness and truth.
9. I wrote to you in the Epistle [This some understand of another Epistle which the Apostle should have written to the Church of Corinth before this, because the words which follow are not before expressed in so many letters: but seeing the sense of these words is related before in the second and seventh verses, therefore this may fitly be understood of the same Epistle of Paul] that you should not mingle your selves with fornicators. [that is, not admit them unto the communion of your congregation and converse ordinarily with them as brethren. See ver.11.]
10. But not altogether [That is, this I understand not in general of all such scandalous persons, which dwell among you or with you] with the fornicators of this world, or with covetous, or with extortioners, or with idolaters: for otherwise ye must go out of the world. [namely, seeing the world is full of such men, with whom ye daily have to do, whose footsteps ye must not follow, but whom you must seek to win to Christ, Matthew 5:16. Ephesians 5:11. And although this agrees to all ages, yet not withstanding it agrees most of all to that age, in which Gentilism prevailed, who were all idolaters, whereupon these other sins commonly follow.]
11. But now I have written unto you [that is, I thought it needful to write unto you, that ye may well understand me] that ye should not mingle your selves, (namely) if any one being a brother [namely, beheld, and acknowledged for a member of the Church ; as Christians every where in the Acts of the Apostles, and the Epistle of the same, are called brethren; as Christ also speaks thus of this Ecliasticall discipline, Matthew 18:15.] be a fornicator, or a covetous person, or an idolater [that Christ at that time sometimes also themselves into idolatry appears, 1 Cor. 10.20. Revelation 2:14.20.] or a rattler, or a drunkard, or an extortioner: that with such a one ye shall not so much as eat. [that is, shall keep no similar and public mutual friendship with such, that they may be ashamed. See 2 The. 3.14. 2 Joh. V.10. Otherwise the Apostle forbids not that by man and wise, parents and children, and the like, even civil communion it self ( whereunto the law of nature and manners of men oblige us) discipline doth but deprive such of the communion which is proper to Christians, as well in the spiritual as temporals: not (that) whereby there are obliged one to another as men or citizens in general.]
12. For what have I also to do to judge them that are without? [Namely, yet strangers from the Church of Christ and from the faith, Ephesians 2:12.] do ye not judge them? [that is, them that are account members of the church, whom ver. 11. he calls brethren.] But them that are without God judgeth. [That is, receives them to his own judgment, to punish or convert them. Whereby he shews that albeit such are without the discipline of the church, yet they are not therefore free from the judgment of God. See the like phrase, 1 Cor. 11.32.] And put ye away this wicked person out of you.
13. But them that are without God judges. [That is, receives them to his own judgement, to punsih or convert them. Whereby he shews that albeit such are without the discipline of the church, yet they are not therefore free from the judgement of God. See the like phrase, 1 Cor. 11.32.] And put ye away this wicked person out of you.