1 Corinthians 5 13

1 Corinthians 5:13 kjv

But them that are without God judgeth. Therefore put away from among yourselves that wicked person.

1 Corinthians 5:13 nkjv

But those who are outside God judges. Therefore "put away from yourselves the evil person."

1 Corinthians 5:13 niv

God will judge those outside. "Expel the wicked person from among you."

1 Corinthians 5:13 esv

God judges those outside. "Purge the evil person from among you."

1 Corinthians 5:13 nlt

God will judge those on the outside; but as the Scriptures say, "You must remove the evil person from among you."

1 Corinthians 5 verses

1 Corinthians 5 13 Meaning

The verse concludes Paul's instruction on handling severe moral corruption within the Corinthian church. It articulates the division of responsibility: God, not the church, holds ultimate judgment over those who are outside the community of believers. Conversely, the church's direct and imperative responsibility is to decisively remove or "purge" any unrepentant evil individual from its fellowship. This action maintains the purity and holy witness of the Body of Christ.

1 Corinthians 5 13 Context

First Corinthians chapter 5 directly addresses a grievous issue in the Corinthian church: a man was living in an incestuous relationship with his father's wife, a sin so severe it was scandalous even among unbelievers (1 Cor 5:1). The Corinthian believers, however, were "puffed up" (1 Cor 5:2), showing pride rather than mourning, and tolerating this flagrant immorality. Paul's instruction in 1 Cor 5:13, following his explanation in verses 9-12 about not associating with unrepentant immoral believers, brings a definitive close to his directive. He emphasizes that the church's authority and responsibility for judgment pertain within their community, contrasting it sharply with God's ultimate jurisdiction over those outside their fellowship. The cultural context of Corinth, a cosmopolitan city known for its sexual permissiveness and diverse cults, highlights the stark call for a distinctively pure Christian community, even when pagan standards were low. The "purge" echoes Old Testament commands for communal purification from defiling elements to preserve covenant holiness.

1 Corinthians 5 13 Word analysis

• But (Greek: Alla, ἀλλὰ): This conjunction signifies a strong contrast. It sharply separates the preceding point about judging "outsiders" from the subsequent imperative about dealing with "insiders." It functions as a turn, directing the focus from divine judgment outside to human responsibility inside.
• those outside (Greek: tous exō, τοὺς ἔξω): Refers to people who are not part of the Christian community, specifically non-believers. Paul uses this phrase in contrast to "those inside" (tous esō) in the preceding verse (1 Cor 5:12). This establishes a clear boundary for the church's jurisdiction and judgment.
• God judges. (Greek: ho theos krinei, ὁ θεὸς κρινεῖ): This declares the divine prerogative and authority over individuals who do not profess faith in Christ. It clarifies that believers are not to sit in ultimate judgment over non-believers, whose eternal destiny and moral reckoning rest with God alone. The verb krinei is a future indicative with the force of a present truth or a definite future act, emphasizing certainty.
• "Purge" (Greek: Exarate, ἐξάρατε): This is a strong, urgent imperative verb, meaning "remove," "drive out," "cast out," or "expel." It implies decisive and forceful action. The term has roots in Old Testament contexts concerning the removal of defiling influences or wicked individuals from the community (often leading to execution in that context, here meaning excommunication). It signifies a cleansing or purification of the community from moral corruption.
• the evil person (Greek: ton ponēron, τὸν πονηρὸν): Literally, "the evil one" or "the wicked one." In this context, it specifically refers to the individual within the church who is unrepentantly committing the serious sin of incest mentioned in 1 Cor 5:1. It emphasizes not just the sin but the moral character of the person demonstrating persistent and unrepentant wickedness. The definite article ("the") points to a specific, identifiable individual already known to the Corinthians.
• from among you (Greek: ex hymōn autōn, ἐξ ὑμῶν αὐτῶν): This phrase emphasizes that the removal must come from within the fellowship itself. It signifies a internal cleansing of the communal body, underscoring the responsibility of the believers to actively participate in maintaining the purity of their own gathering. It highlights that the problem is an internal one requiring an internal solution.

1 Corinthians 5 13 Bonus section

The specific command to "purge" the individual should be understood as a form of "church discipline" rather than state-level judicial action or violence. It means exclusion from the fellowship and the spiritual benefits of the church, including participation in the Lord's Supper. This spiritual judgment, when applied by the church according to biblical principles, has significant implications for the individual's standing before God. It highlights the distinction between the kingdom of God and the kingdoms of this world. The Corinthian church had been operating as if Christian liberty meant license to sin, rather than freedom from sin for the purpose of holiness. This verse sharply corrects that misapprehension, underscoring that holiness is a non-negotiable aspect of corporate Christian identity.

1 Corinthians 5 13 Commentary

1 Corinthians 5:13 provides a decisive conclusion to Paul's teaching on handling gross immorality within the Christian community. It establishes a fundamental principle of church discipline: the church's judicial authority is internal. Believers are called to discern, evaluate, and act upon the conduct of those who profess to be followers of Christ and yet live in unrepentant sin. This directive prevents both self-righteous meddling in the affairs of the unchurched and sinful complacency regarding one's own members.

The verse is an urgent command, "Purge the evil person," resonating with Old Testament calls to remove defiling elements from Israel to preserve the nation's holiness (Deut 13:5; 17:7). This act of excommunication is not meant for punishment alone, but aims at several crucial outcomes: first, the potential repentance and restoration of the sinning individual (1 Cor 5:5; 2 Cor 2:5-8); second, the protection of the community from the corrupting influence of unrepentant sin (the "leaven" analogy in 1 Cor 5:6); and third, the preservation of the church's witness to the world as a holy body distinct from pagan society. This required decisive action from the church, a task they had failed at due to their pride and misguided tolerance. It illustrates the high value God places on the purity and integrity of His assembly.