View 1st Corinthians 5 in the note window.
1: Fornication - The original word implies criminal
conversation of any kind whatever. His father's wife - While
his father was alive.
2: Are ye puffed up? Should ye not rather have mourned
- Have solemnly humbled yourselves, and at that time of solemn
mourning have expelled that notorious sinner from your communion?
3: I verily, as present in spirit - Having a full (it
seems, a miraculous) view of the whole fact. Have already,
as if I were actually present, judged him who hath so
scandalously done this.
4: And my spirit - Present with you. With the power of
the Lord Jesus Christ - To confirm my sentence.
5: To deliver such an one - This was the highest degree of
punishment in the Christian church; and we may observe, the
passing this sentence was the act of the apostle, not of the
Corinthians. To Satan - Who was usually permitted, in such
cases, to inflict pain or sickness on the offender. For the
destruction - Though slowly and gradually. Of the flesh - Unless
prevented by speedy repentance.
6: Your glorying - Either in your gifts or prosperity, at
such a time as this, is not good. Know ye not that a little
leaven - One sin, or one sinner. Leaveneth the whole lump
- Diffuses guilt and infection through the whole congregation.
7: Purge out therefore the old leaven - Both of sinners
and of sin. That ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened
- That is, that being unleavened ye may be a new lump, holy
unto the Lord. For our passover is slain for us - The Jewish
passover, about the time of which this epistle was wrote,(1Co 5:11), was only a type of this. What exquisite skill
both here and everywhere conducts the zeal of the inspired
writer! How surprising a transition is here, and yet how
perfectly natural! The apostle, speaking of the incestuous
criminal, slides into his darling topic, - crucified Saviour.
Who would have expected it on such an occasion. Yet, when
it is thus brought in, who does not see and admire both the
propriety of the subject, and the delicacy of its introduction?
8: Therefore let us keep the feast - Let us feed on him by
faith. Here is a plain allusion to the Lord's supper, which
was instituted in the room of the passover. Not with the old
leaven - Of heathenism or Judaism. Malignity is stubbornness in
evil. Sincerity and truth seem to be put here for the whole
of true, inward religion.
9: I wrote to you in a former epistle - And, doubtless,
both St. Paul and the other apostles wrote many things which
are not extant now. Not to converse - Familiarly; not to
contract any intimacy or acquaintance with them, more than is
absolutely necessary.
10: But I did not mean that you should altogether
refrain from conversing with heathens, though they are guilty
in some of these respects. Covetous, rapacious, idolaters
- Sinners against themselves, their neighbour, God. For then
ye must go out of the world - Then all civil commerce must cease.
So that going out of the world, which some account a
perfection, St. Paul accounts an utter absurdity.
11: Who is named a brother - That is, a Christian;
especially if a member of the same congregation. Rapacious
- Guilty of oppression, extortion, or any open injustice. No,
not to eat with him - Which is the lowest degree of familiarity.
12: I speak of Christians only. For what have I to do
to judge heathens? But ye, as well as I, judge those of your
own community.
13: Them that are without God will judge - The passing
sentence on these he hath reserved to himself. And ye will
take away that wicked person - This properly belongs to you.
