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

It is widely reported that a man among you is committing sexual immorality, of a kind that is not even tolerated among the Gentiles. He is living with his father's wife.

1 Corinthians 5 1 Context

1 Corinthians chapter 5 addresses serious issues of sin and discipline within the Corinthian church. Paul is responding to reports he has heard concerning the behavior of believers there. The overall context is Paul’s effort to correct disordered practices and establish right conduct according to Christian teaching, restoring unity and holiness to the community. This specific verse highlights a deeply troubling case of sexual immorality that shocks even by pagan standards, necessitating firm apostolic correction. The immediate context leading up to this verse involves Paul’s rebuke of the Corinthian church’s division and proud attitude, which likely contributed to their tolerance of such sin.

1 Corinthians 5 1 Word Analysis

• οὐκ ἔστιν (ouk estin): "There is not," or "it is not." Emphasizes the absolute absence or inadmissibility of the described situation.
• ἐν ὑμῖν (en humin): "In you," or "among you." This phrase points to the community, the church members in Corinth, indicating the offense is happening within their fellowship.
• ὄνομα (onoma): "Name." Here it implies a reputation or even the name of Christ that is associated with them.
• τὸ τοιοῦτον (to toiouton): "Such a one" or "such a thing." Refers to the individual and his particular act of gross immorality.
• εἶναι (einai): "To be." The infinitive indicating existence or presence.
• ἐν (en): "In." Used with the dative case to specify the location or sphere.
• γυναικί (gunaiki): "Woman" or "wife." Feminine noun in the dative singular.
• πατρὸς (patros): "Father." Genitive singular of πατήρ (patēr).
• ἔχετε (echete): "You have," or "you possess." Second person plural present active indicative of ἔχω (echō). This refers to their current relationship with this woman.
• εἰδότες (eidotes): "Knowing." Perfect active participle of οἶδα (oida), indicating a settled knowledge.
• οὐχί (ouxi): "Not." Stronger negation than οὐ (ou).
• τὸν ἐσθίοντα (ton esthionta): "The one eating." Present active participle of ἐσθίω (esthiō). In this context, it refers to the man consuming or, more pointedly, engaging in the relationship.
• πορνεία (porneia): "Sexual immorality" or "fornication." A broad term encompassing illicit sexual relations.
• τὴν Ἰουδαίων (tēn Ioudaiōn): "Of the Jews." Referring to their legal or traditional heritage, contrasting the action with Jewish law.
• ἔστιν (estin): "Is." Third person singular present active indicative of εἰμί (eimi).
• οὕτως (houtōs): "Thus," "so," or "in such a manner."
• οὐχὶ (ouxi): "Not." Again, a strong negative.
• ἐστιν (estin): "Is."

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "It is actually reported that there is immorality among you": This phrase sets a tone of distress and urgency, revealing that serious accusations have reached Paul, not as mere rumors but as credible reports ("actually reported"). The offense is "among you," meaning it's happening within the church fellowship, not by outsiders.
• "And such a sexual immorality as is not even named among the Gentiles": This intensifies the gravity of the sin. The Greek idiom emphasizes that the act is so abominable, so contrary to all norms (even pagan ones), that it doesn't even have a recognized or tolerated name within the wider non-Jewish world.
• "For a man is having his father’s wife": This clarifies the specific, incestuous nature of the offense. It's not just general fornication, but a direct violation of deeply established social and moral boundaries, akin to incest, as the father's wife typically meant his current wife or sometimes a widow of his father, depending on cultural interpretation.
• "And you are arrogant!": This clause links the offense to a specific characteristic of the Corinthian church—pride. Their pride seems to have blinded them to the severity of the sin or made them feel too important to address it.
• "And have not mourned": In stark contrast to their pride, their failure to mourn indicates a spiritual deadness or apathy towards the sin's offense against God and the sanctity of the church. Mourning would be the appropriate spiritual response.
• "So that the one who did this deed might be removed from your midst": This reveals the desired and necessary consequence for such a severe sin, aiming to protect the purity of the church by removing the unrepentant offender.

1 Corinthians 5 1 Bonus Section

The phrase "named among the Gentiles" is striking. While Gentile societies had various forms of immorality, this particular transgression, possibly cohabitation with a father’s current wife or a stepmother, was widely recognized as deeply taboo across many cultures. This suggests the man was not only violating God's law (Leviticus 18:8, 20:11; Deuteronomy 27:20) but also transgressing basic human decency as understood by a broader society. The Corinthians’ spiritual maturity should have enabled them to see this more clearly than the surrounding unbelievers. Paul’s rebuke highlights the unique standards expected of believers, which often exceed those of the world, and the dangers of cultural accommodation that can lead to the normalization of sin within the church. The failure to mourn indicates a lack of love for God and for the purity of the Body of Christ.

1 Corinthians 5 1 Commentary

The church in Corinth is dealing with a scandal involving incest—a man cohabiting with his stepmother. This behavior is not only sinful according to Jewish law but is also so extreme that Paul states it's not tolerated even among pagans. This reveals a severe spiritual blindness or pride within the Corinthian church, as they are described as being "arrogant" and failing to "mourn" this blatant sin. Paul immediately calls for the removal of the offender from their fellowship. This highlights the church's responsibility to maintain purity and uphold God's standards. Fleeing sexual immorality (1 Cor 6:18) is paramount, and unrepentant sin that compromises the testimony of Christ within the community must be dealt with decisively, as it grieves the Holy Spirit and brings shame upon the name of Christ.

Practical Usage:

• When faced with sin within the church, the response should be prayerful concern and church discipline, not complacency or judgmental gossip.
• A healthy church body mourns sin rather than tolerates it or becomes proud.
• The church's witness is undermined when it allows gross immorality to go unchecked.