1 Corinthians 5 1

1 Corinthians 5:1 kjv

It is reported commonly that there is fornication among you, and such fornication as is not so much as named among the Gentiles, that one should have his father's wife.

1 Corinthians 5:1 nkjv

It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you, and such sexual immorality as is not even named among the Gentiles?that a man has his father's wife!

1 Corinthians 5:1 niv

It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you, and of a kind that even pagans do not tolerate: A man is sleeping with his father's wife.

1 Corinthians 5:1 esv

It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you, and of a kind that is not tolerated even among pagans, for a man has his father's wife.

1 Corinthians 5:1 nlt

I can hardly believe the report about the sexual immorality going on among you ? something that even pagans don't do. I am told that a man in your church is living in sin with his stepmother.

1 Corinthians 5 verses

1 Corinthians 5 1 meaning

1 Corinthians 5:1 forcefully reveals a scandalous situation publicly known within the Corinthian church: a member is engaging in sexual immorality so severe and unnatural that even the surrounding pagan society typically finds it abhorrent. Specifically, the verse states that a man is in an incestuous relationship, living with his father's wife, which is understood to be his stepmother. This highlights a profound moral failure both in the individual and in the church's collective failure to address such egregious sin.

1 Corinthians 5 1 Context

1 Corinthians 5:1 introduces a new section (chapters 5-6) in which Paul tackles pressing moral and ethical problems within the Corinthian church, moving from doctrinal divisions (chs. 1-4). This specific verse follows Paul's scathing critique of their spiritual arrogance and boasting (1 Cor 4:6-21), suggesting their pride had blinded them to serious sin within their midst. The broader historical and cultural context is Corinth, a wealthy port city renowned for its licentiousness and diverse pagan religious practices. Yet, even by these relatively low standards, the particular sexual sin being reported was widely condemned. Both Jewish Law (Lev 18:8; 20:11) and prevailing Roman law deemed this form of incest a grave offense. Paul's direct polemic is therefore against the church's shocking complacency and self-congratulatory attitude, which allowed such a scandal to fester, bringing disgrace upon the name of Christ and surpassing even the moral boundaries of the "pagans" they claimed spiritual superiority over.

1 Corinthians 5 1 Word analysis

• It is actually reported (ὅλως ἀκούεται, holōs akouetai):
  • Holōs: an adverb meaning "wholly," "altogether," "completely," emphasizing that this report is undeniable, widely known, and not a mere rumor. It signifies a public scandal.
  • Akouetai: the passive voice of "to hear," implying "it is heard" or "it is reported by many." This confirms the public nature of the information.
  • Significance: The issue is an open secret, making the church's inaction even more culpable and disgraceful.
• that there is sexual immorality (πορνεία ἐν ὑμῖν, porneia en hymin):
  • Porneia: a broad Greek term for any illicit sexual activity, encompassing fornication, adultery, prostitution, and incest. Here, it refers to a particularly grievous form of such activity.
  • En hymin: "among you," indicating that this sin is occurring not merely within the church's location but within the community itself, challenging its purity and communal responsibility.
  • Significance: Points to a profound moral failure internal to the Christian body.
• among you, and of a kind that even pagans do not tolerate (καὶ τοιαύτη πορνεία ἥτις οὐδὲ ἐν τοῖς ἔθνεσιν ὀνομάζεται, kai toiautē porneia hētis oude en tois ethnesin onomazetai):
  • Hētis oude: "which not even." This phrase highlights the extreme severity of the sin.
  • En tois ethnesin: "among the Gentiles/nations/pagans." Refers to non-Jewish, non-Christian society.
  • Onomazetai: literally "is named," but contextually it carries the sense of "is recognized," "is practiced," or "is tolerated." The common interpretation is that it refers to a sin so depraved that it would not even be spoken of, let alone practiced or permitted, in polite pagan society.
  • Significance: Paul uses common pagan morality as a stark benchmark to shame the Corinthians, whose "freedom" had led them below commonly accepted ethical standards.
• a man is sleeping with his father's wife (ὥστε γυναῖκά τινα τοῦ πατρὸς ἔχειν, hōste gynaika tina tou patros echein):
  • Hōste: "so that" or "to the extent that," linking the general problem to the specific, appalling act.
  • Gynaika tina tou patros: "a certain man has his father's wife." This clarifies the specific act.
  • Echein: "to have," a euphemism in this context meaning "to live with" or "to be intimate with."
  • Tou patros: "of the father." This strongly implies the woman is his stepmother, possibly while his father was still alive or after his death/divorce. Both Jewish (Lev 18:8, 20:11) and Roman law condemned such an incestuous union.
  • Significance: Pinpoints the specific, grave nature of the incest, showing a disregard for both divine law and established societal norms.

Words-group by words-group analysis

• "It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you": This phrase establishes the undeniable truth and public notoriety of the problem, signifying that this grievous sin is an open scandal affecting the integrity and witness of the entire church body. The choice of "sexual immorality" (porneia) is damning, pointing to a profound breakdown in Christian moral conduct.
• "and of a kind that even pagans do not tolerate": This powerfully shames the Corinthians. Paul is asserting that their tolerance for this sin places them in a morally inferior position even to the often-lax non-Christian society around them. It underscores how severely the church has failed to uphold a distinct, righteous standard expected of believers.
• "a man is sleeping with his father's wife": This clarifies the specific, shocking nature of the "sexual immorality." This precise act, typically understood as a son having sexual relations with his stepmother, was universally condemned as incest by divine law (Lev 18:8; 20:11) and ancient Roman jurisprudence. It represents a flagrant disregard for purity, familial boundaries, and divine commands, directly challenging the sanctity of the church.

1 Corinthians 5 1 Bonus section

• Moral Depravity vs. Spiritual Pride: While the verse details a grave moral transgression, it simultaneously implies a deeper issue within the church: spiritual pride. As hinted at in the immediate following verse (1 Cor 5:2), the Corinthians were "puffed up" or arrogant, which may have led them to rationalize or simply ignore this extreme sin under a misguided understanding of "freedom" in Christ. Their boasting rendered them unable to grieve appropriately or act decisively.
• Roman Law & Incest: Roman law rigorously prohibited sexual relations with a stepmother, even if the father was no longer living or was divorced from her. Such an act was legally termed incestum. For a church in a Roman city like Corinth, this offense not only violated divine command but also invited significant social opprobrium and potentially legal repercussions from the wider society, further highlighting the church's abject failure.
• The Power of Public Witness: The fact that this immorality was "actually reported" and "even pagans do not tolerate" means it was a blight on the Christian witness in Corinth. A community claiming moral superiority and divine truth yet tolerating such scandalous behavior would lose all credibility, potentially hindering the spread of the gospel.
• Beyond Legalism: Paul's condemnation isn't rooted in mere legalism but in the intrinsic holiness of God and the call for His people to reflect His character. The purity of the church is essential to its identity as Christ's body and its mission in the world. Tolerating such sin compromises this identity and mission.

1 Corinthians 5 1 Commentary

1 Corinthians 5:1 immediately confronts the Corinthian church with a deeply troubling moral crisis. The public report of incest within their congregation – a man living with his stepmother – was an offense so vile it was abhorrent even to non-believers. This was not a private struggle, but an open scandal. Paul's shock isn't just at the sin itself, but at the Corinthians' complacent, even proud, toleration of it (1 Cor 5:2). Their failure to mourn, discipline, or separate from the unrepentant offender constituted a corporate sin, making the entire body complicit. This verse underscores the fundamental principle that Christian grace does not negate the demand for holiness, nor does it excuse the church from confronting overt, unrepentant sin among its members. Allowing such flagrant immorality to persist undermines the church's testimony, pollutes its spiritual purity (likened to leaven affecting the whole batch, v. 6), and grieves God. It demands swift and firm disciplinary action for the good of the individual, the purity of the church, and the integrity of the gospel.