1 Corinthians 5:12 kjv
For what have I to do to judge them also that are without? do not ye judge them that are within?
1 Corinthians 5:12 nkjv
For what have I to do with judging those also who are outside? Do you not judge those who are inside?
1 Corinthians 5:12 niv
What business is it of mine to judge those outside the church? Are you not to judge those inside?
1 Corinthians 5:12 esv
For what have I to do with judging outsiders? Is it not those inside the church whom you are to judge?
1 Corinthians 5:12 nlt
It isn't my responsibility to judge outsiders, but it certainly is your responsibility to judge those inside the church who are sinning.
1 Corinthians 5 12 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Cor 5:9-11 | I wrote to you in my letter not to associate with sexually immoral people… not at all meaning the sexually immoral of this world… then you would have to go out of the world. But now I am writing to you not to associate with anyone who bears the name of brother… | Pre-context, Paul's previous letter; inside vs. outside. |
| 1 Cor 6:1-5 | When one of you has a grievance against another, does he dare go to law before the unrighteous instead of before the saints? Or do you not know that the saints will judge the world? And if the world is to be judged by you, are you incompetent to try trivial cases? Do you not know that we are to judge angels? How much more matters pertaining to this life! So if you have such cases, why do you lay them before those who have no standing in the church? I say this to your shame. Can it be that there is no one among you wise enough to settle a dispute between the brothers? | Internal disputes, church judgment authority. |
| 1 Cor 5:13b | God judges those outside. “Purge the evil person from among you.” | Divine judgment for outsiders; church responsibility for insiders. |
| Matt 7:1-5 | “Judge not, that you be not judged… First take the log out of your own eye…” | Personal, hypocritical judgment vs. corporate discipline. |
| John 3:17-19 | “For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through Him. Whoever believes in Him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God. And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world…” | God's judgment on the world through Christ; its basis. |
| Rom 12:18 | If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. | Believers' conduct towards outsiders. |
| Col 4:5-6 | Walk in wisdom toward outsiders, making the best use of the time. Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person. | Wise conduct toward non-believers, evangelistic purpose. |
| 2 Tim 2:24-26 | And the Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome but kind to everyone, able to teach, patiently enduring evil, correcting his opponents with gentleness. God may perhaps grant them repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth, and they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, after being captured by him to do his will. | Dealing with those outside, gentleness in teaching. |
| Titus 3:10-11 | As for a person who stirs up division, after warning him once and then twice, have nothing more to do with him, knowing that such a person is warped and sinful; he is self-condemned. | Church discipline for persistent internal issues. |
| 1 Thess 4:11-12 | …to aspire to live quietly, and to mind your own affairs, and to work with your hands… so that you may walk properly before outsiders and be dependent on no one. | Honorable conduct towards outsiders. |
| Heb 13:17 | Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls, as those who will have to give an account. | Authority within the church, accountability. |
| Ezek 33:6 | But if the watchman sees the sword coming and does not blow the trumpet… then if anyone's blood is shed… his blood I will require at the watchman's hand. | Principle of responsibility for those under one's care (metaphorical watchman). |
| Deut 17:7 | The hand of the witnesses shall be first against him to put him to death, and afterward the hand of all the people. So you shall purge the evil from your midst. | Old Testament purging evil from the community. |
| 2 Thess 3:6 | Now we command you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you keep away from any brother who is walking in idleness and not according to the tradition that you received from us. | Church discipline for disorderly behavior. |
| Gal 6:1 | Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. | Restorative nature of internal church correction. |
| Lev 18:24-25 | “Do not defile yourselves by any of these things, for by all these the nations I am driving out before you have become defiled, and the land became defiled…” | Distinction of God's people from the nations through purity. |
| Deut 13:5 | “…you shall purge the evil from your midst.” | OT command to purge evil for community holiness. |
| 1 Peter 4:17 | For it is time for judgment to begin at the household of God; and if it begins with us, what will be the outcome for those who do not obey the gospel of God? | Judgment starting within God's household (the church). |
| John 12:31 | Now is the judgment of this world; now will the ruler of this world be cast out. | Jesus speaking of the world's judgment through His coming. |
| James 4:11-12 | Do not speak evil against one another, brothers… There is only one lawgiver and judge, He who is able to save and to destroy. But who are you to judge your neighbor? | Personal judgmentalism against fellow believers. |
| 1 Tim 3:7 | Moreover, he must be well thought of by outsiders, so that he may not fall into disgrace, into a snare of the devil. | Importance of the church's reputation among non-believers. |
1 Corinthians 5 verses
1 Corinthians 5 12 Meaning
The Apostle Paul distinguishes the church's authority and responsibility for moral judgment. This verse clarifies that the church's disciplinary judgment is specifically directed towards those within the Christian community who profess faith and are called to live according to God's standards. It emphasizes that believers are not commissioned to condemn or judicially police the morality of those outside the faith, but rather to uphold the sanctity and purity within the body of Christ. God reserves the ultimate judgment of outsiders to Himself.
1 Corinthians 5 12 Context
First Corinthians 5 directly addresses the church's response to a grievous sin of incest within its community. Paul, having heard of a man living with his stepmother, condemns their inaction. This verse, 1 Cor 5:12, functions as Paul's clarification of the scope of the Corinthian church's disciplinary authority. He isn't encouraging believers to ignore immorality outside the church, but rather to recognize that their primary responsibility for upholding moral standards and enacting church discipline rests on those who claim to be part of the household of faith. The Corinthian context was one of prevalent immorality in a pagan city. Paul guides them on how to maintain the distinct identity and purity of Christ's body amidst such an environment. Their inaction on the specific case meant they were neglecting their core responsibility to sanctify the church, mistakenly thinking they lacked the right to judge anyone's conduct, even those within.
1 Corinthians 5 12 Word analysis
- For (γάρ - gar): A conjunction indicating a reason or explanation. Paul is providing justification or further clarity for his earlier directives regarding the expulsion of the immoral brother. It links this statement back to the broader issue of the church's responsibility.
- what have I to do with (τί γάρ μοι - ti gar moi): A strong rhetorical question expressing "what concern is it to me?" or "it's not my business to." Paul uses this to dismiss the idea that he, or the church, has the jurisdiction or commission to act as moral arbiters over those outside the sphere of faith.
- judging (κρίνειν - krinein): This Greek term can mean "to discern," "to decide," "to evaluate," or "to judge" in a judicial sense, implying a passing of sentence. Here, it signifies the act of evaluating behavior and, specifically, implementing disciplinary measures leading to a verdict or expulsion. It is not about casual critical thought but official church discipline.
- outsiders? (τοὺς ἔξω - tous exō): Literally "the ones outside." This clearly denotes those who are not part of the Christian community, non-believers, pagans, or the unchurched world. Paul explicitly draws a boundary between the church and the world.
- Is it not (οὐχὶ - ouchi): A forceful interrogative particle expecting an affirmative answer, meaning "is it not true?" or "surely it is." It highlights an obvious truth or expectation.
- those inside (τοὺς ἔσω - tous esō): Literally "the ones inside." This refers unequivocally to members of the Christian community, believers, those who have professed faith and belong to the church. This reinforces the internal scope of judgment.
- that you are to judge? (ὑμᾶς κρίνειν - humas krinein): "You all to judge." The emphatic "you" (ὑμᾶς) emphasizes that the responsibility for judging, in this disciplinary sense, falls squarely upon the Corinthian believers themselves, the church congregation. This underscores the church's self-governance in matters of internal moral conduct.
- For what have I to do with judging outsiders?: This phrase defines the limit of Paul's, and thus the church's, disciplinary authority. It’s a statement of jurisdictional boundary. Paul's mission, and the church's mission, is not to impose judgment on the moral depravity of the non-Christian world; that role belongs to God.
- Is it not those inside that you are to judge?: This is the affirmation of the church's proper sphere of responsibility. It is a direct command, disguised as a rhetorical question, empowering and obligating the church to exercise discernment and discipline within its own ranks to maintain purity and testimony. This "judging" is restorative in aim where possible (cf. Gal 6:1), or for the protection of the church's holiness (cf. 1 Cor 5:13b).
1 Corinthians 5 12 Bonus section
Paul's distinction between "outsiders" and "insiders" is a consistent theme throughout his letters, defining the Christian community as a unique covenant people. The "judgment" spoken of here is not equivalent to private, critical evaluation or uncharitable gossip, which is condemned (Rom 14:13; James 4:11-12). Instead, it refers to the corporate, official responsibility of the church, acting in a unified and discerning manner, to address overt and persistent sin within its membership for the sake of the individual's spiritual welfare (restoration) and the church's corporate holiness and witness. This principle guides believers on how to engage with the world ethically: believers are called to live distinctively and wisely among outsiders (Col 4:5-6), evangelizing them, but not condemning them judicially as the world's appointed judge. That divine prerogative rests with God alone.
1 Corinthians 5 12 Commentary
This verse is pivotal for understanding the proper role of church discipline and the distinct identity of the Christian community. Paul establishes a clear boundary: the church's authority to judge (in the sense of discerning, evaluating, and applying discipline) extends only to its members. God's moral law applies to all people, but the church's direct judicial function and its right to implement consequences for sinful behavior apply solely to those who profess faith in Christ. This doesn't mean indifference to the lost, nor does it excuse them from God's ultimate judgment (as 1 Cor 5:13b indicates). Rather, it distinguishes the church's sacred mission: to guard the purity and witness of the body of Christ by holding its members accountable to the standards of Christ, while the world outside is subject to God's broader, eventual judgment. It protects the church from being seen as merely another societal moral police force, reinforcing its divine calling to be a separate, consecrated people. The church's responsibility is internal holiness, which naturally leads to an external gospel witness.