1 corinthians 5:11 - But as it is, I wrote to you not to associate with anyone who is called a brother who is a sexual sinner, or covetous, or an idolater, or a slanderer, or a drunkard, or an extortionist. Don’t even eat with such a person.
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What does "1 corinthians 5:11" mean?
This verse, 1 Corinthians 5:11, is part of Paul's forceful rebuke to the Corinthian church for tolerating serious sin within their community. Let's break down what it means:
"But as it is, I wrote to you..." This suggests Paul had already addressed this issue in a previous letter (which is now lost to us), or that he is clarifying or expanding on something he said earlier in the current letter.
"...not to associate with anyone who is called a brother..." The key phrase here is "called a brother." Paul isn't talking about avoiding all contact with non-believers who engage in these behaviors. He's specifically addressing those who claim to be Christians ("brothers and sisters in Christ") but are living in open, unrepentant sin.
"...who is a sexual sinner, or covetous, or an idolater, or a slanderer, or a drunkard, or an extortionist." This lists specific examples of serious sins. It's important to remember that this is not an exhaustive list of all possible sins, but rather a representative sample of behaviors that are fundamentally incompatible with a Christian life.
Sexual sinner: Refers to someone engaging in various forms of sexual immorality outside of the bounds of marriage, as defined by biblical standards (e.g., fornication, adultery, homosexuality).
Covetous: Excessive and selfish desire for possessions, wealth, or the advantages of others. It goes beyond wanting something to a consuming greed.
Idolater: Worshiping false gods or placing anything (money, power, career, etc.) above God in their life.
Slanderer: Spreading false and malicious statements that damage another person's reputation.
Drunkard: Given to excessive drinking and drunkenness.
Extortionist: Obtains something through force, threats, or abuse of power.
"Don’t even eat with such a person." This is the most controversial and often debated part of the verse. It means to have no intimate fellowship with someone living in open, unrepentant sin. It signifies a complete withdrawal of social and spiritual support. This can be interpreted as disciplinary action.
Purpose of this Disassociation:
Discipline: To encourage repentance and a turning away from sin. The hope is that the social isolation will cause the person to recognize the seriousness of their actions and seek restoration.
Protection: To protect the church from the corrupting influence of sin. Allowing open sin to continue unchallenged can normalize it and weaken the church's witness.
Testimony: To maintain the church's integrity and witness to the outside world. If the church tolerates blatant sin among its members, it loses its credibility.
Important Considerations and Potential Misunderstandings:
Not a license for judgmentalism: This verse isn't an excuse for Christians to be self-righteous or to go around judging everyone else. It's about the church collectively addressing serious, unrepentant sin within its own community.
Focus on unrepentant sin: The key word is "unrepentant." Everyone sins, and Christians are called to offer grace and forgiveness. However, this verse deals with situations where someone claims to be a believer but continues to engage in serious sin without remorse or a desire to change.
Restoration is the ultimate goal: The purpose of this disassociation isn't to punish the person forever, but to motivate them to repent and be restored to fellowship.
In summary, 1 Corinthians 5:11 is a call for the church to take sin seriously and to maintain its purity and witness. It advocates for a form of discipline where those who claim to be Christians but live in open, unrepentant sin are to be distanced from the community, with the hope of leading them to repentance and restoration. It's a challenging passage that requires careful interpretation and application, always balanced with grace and a desire for reconciliation.
1 corinthians 5:11 - But as it is, I wrote to you not to associate with anyone who is called a brother who is a sexual sinner, or covetous, or an idolater, or a slanderer, or a drunkard, or an extortionist. Don’t even eat with such a person.
What does "1 corinthians 5:11" mean?
This verse, 1 Corinthians 5:11, is part of Paul's forceful rebuke to the Corinthian church for tolerating serious sin within their community. Let's break down what it means:
"But as it is, I wrote to you..." This suggests Paul had already addressed this issue in a previous letter (which is now lost to us), or that he is clarifying or expanding on something he said earlier in the current letter.
"...not to associate with anyone who is called a brother..." The key phrase here is "called a brother." Paul isn't talking about avoiding all contact with non-believers who engage in these behaviors. He's specifically addressing those who claim to be Christians ("brothers and sisters in Christ") but are living in open, unrepentant sin.
"...who is a sexual sinner, or covetous, or an idolater, or a slanderer, or a drunkard, or an extortionist." This lists specific examples of serious sins. It's important to remember that this is not an exhaustive list of all possible sins, but rather a representative sample of behaviors that are fundamentally incompatible with a Christian life.
Sexual sinner: Refers to someone engaging in various forms of sexual immorality outside of the bounds of marriage, as defined by biblical standards (e.g., fornication, adultery, homosexuality).
Covetous: Excessive and selfish desire for possessions, wealth, or the advantages of others. It goes beyond wanting something to a consuming greed.
Idolater: Worshiping false gods or placing anything (money, power, career, etc.) above God in their life.
Slanderer: Spreading false and malicious statements that damage another person's reputation.
Drunkard: Given to excessive drinking and drunkenness.
Extortionist: Obtains something through force, threats, or abuse of power.
"Don’t even eat with such a person." This is the most controversial and often debated part of the verse. It means to have no intimate fellowship with someone living in open, unrepentant sin. It signifies a complete withdrawal of social and spiritual support. This can be interpreted as disciplinary action.
Purpose of this Disassociation:
Discipline: To encourage repentance and a turning away from sin. The hope is that the social isolation will cause the person to recognize the seriousness of their actions and seek restoration.
Protection: To protect the church from the corrupting influence of sin. Allowing open sin to continue unchallenged can normalize it and weaken the church's witness.
Testimony: To maintain the church's integrity and witness to the outside world. If the church tolerates blatant sin among its members, it loses its credibility.
Important Considerations and Potential Misunderstandings:
Not a license for judgmentalism: This verse isn't an excuse for Christians to be self-righteous or to go around judging everyone else. It's about the church collectively addressing serious, unrepentant sin within its own community.
Focus on unrepentant sin: The key word is "unrepentant." Everyone sins, and Christians are called to offer grace and forgiveness. However, this verse deals with situations where someone claims to be a believer but continues to engage in serious sin without remorse or a desire to change.
Restoration is the ultimate goal: The purpose of this disassociation isn't to punish the person forever, but to motivate them to repent and be restored to fellowship.
In summary, 1 Corinthians 5:11 is a call for the church to take sin seriously and to maintain its purity and witness. It advocates for a form of discipline where those who claim to be Christians but live in open, unrepentant sin are to be distanced from the community, with the hope of leading them to repentance and restoration. It's a challenging passage that requires careful interpretation and application, always balanced with grace and a desire for reconciliation.