1 corinthians 5:13 - But those who are outside, God judges. “Put away the wicked man from among yourselves.” Deuteronomy 17:7; 19:19; 21:21; 22:21; 24:7

Generated Verse: 1 corinthians 5:13

What does "1 corinthians 5:13" mean?


This verse, 1 Corinthians 5:13, is part of Paul's instruction to the Corinthian church about dealing with sexual immorality within their community. Let's break it down:

"But those who are outside, God judges." Paul is stating that he is not responsible for judging or condemning people outside of the church community. His concern and responsibility lie with those who claim to be followers of Christ. God will ultimately judge everyone, but Paul's focus is on maintaining the purity and integrity of the church. He's saying, "Leave the judgment of the world to God."

"“Put away the wicked man from among yourselves.” Deuteronomy 17:7; 19:19; 21:21; 22:21; 24:7" This is a direct quote from the Old Testament book of Deuteronomy. Paul is invoking the principle of removing sin and wickedness from the community to protect its purity and prevent it from spreading. By quoting these verses, he's drawing a parallel between the need to remove moral corruption in ancient Israel and the need to address serious sin within the Corinthian church. He is saying the church has a responsibility to deal with those who claim to be Christians but continue to live in unrepentant sin. The Deuteronomy passages all address various types of wrongdoing, including idolatry, false witness, disobedience, and kidnapping, that threatened the moral and social fabric of Israel. The common consequence was that the offender was to be removed from the community.

In essence, the verse means:

Paul is not responsible for judging non-Christians; that is God's role.
The church is responsible for addressing serious, unrepentant sin within its own community.
The church should remove or disassociate themselves from individuals who claim to be Christians but are living in blatant and unrepentant sin, as a means of protecting the church's witness and preventing the spread of corruption.

Important Context:

The specific sin: In the surrounding verses of 1 Corinthians 5, Paul is addressing a specific case of sexual immorality that was considered shocking even by non-Christian standards.
Purpose of removal: The purpose of removing the "wicked man" is not primarily punitive, but rather corrective and protective. It's meant to encourage repentance in the individual and to safeguard the rest of the church from being influenced by sin.
Restoration is possible: While removal from the community is necessary, the hope is always that the individual will recognize their sin, repent, and be restored to fellowship.
Discipline, not condemnation: Church discipline, when done biblically, is an act of love and concern for the individual's spiritual well-being and the health of the church as a whole. It's not about self-righteous condemnation.

It's important to study the passage in its full context to understand Paul's intent and apply these principles wisely and biblically. Church discipline is a serious matter and should be handled with humility, discernment, and love, guided by the principles found in Scripture.