1 Corinthians 5 2

1 Corinthians 5:2 kjv

And ye are puffed up, and have not rather mourned, that he that hath done this deed might be taken away from among you.

1 Corinthians 5:2 nkjv

And you are puffed up, and have not rather mourned, that he who has done this deed might be taken away from among you.

1 Corinthians 5:2 niv

And you are proud! Shouldn't you rather have gone into mourning and have put out of your fellowship the man who has been doing this?

1 Corinthians 5:2 esv

And you are arrogant! Ought you not rather to mourn? Let him who has done this be removed from among you.

1 Corinthians 5:2 nlt

You are so proud of yourselves, but you should be mourning in sorrow and shame. And you should remove this man from your fellowship.

1 Corinthians 5 2 Cross References

VerseTextReference
1 Corinthians 5:1"...it is reported that there is sexual immorality among you..."Case of severe sin within the church
1 Corinthians 5:6"Your boasting is not good. Do you not know that a little yeast leavens the whole batch of dough?"Yeast symbolizes sin's pervasive nature
Galatians 5:9"...a little yeast leavens the whole batch of dough."Reinforces the idea of sin spreading
Romans 11:20"...they were broken off because of unbelief, but you stand by faith. Do not be conceited..."Warning against pride in belonging
Proverbs 16:18"Pride goes before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall."General principle on the dangers of pride
Romans 12:3"For by the grace given me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought..."Counsel against inflated self-view
1 Peter 5:5"...Clothe yourselves with humility against the proud."Admonition to be humble
1 Corinthians 4:6"...that no one of you may be puffed up in favor of one against another."Warning against factionalism and boasting
2 Corinthians 12:20"For I am afraid that when I come I may not find you as I wish, and that I may be found by you as you wish... that there may be quarreling, jealousy, anger, division, slander, gossip, conceit, and disorder."Paul's concern about divisions and conceit
1 John 2:16"For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride in possessions—is not from the Father but is from the world."Defines worldly pride
Colossians 2:18"Let no one disqualify you, insisting on austerity and worship of angels, ... not holding fast to the Head..."Warning against deceptive humility and pride
Philippians 2:3"Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves."Exhortation to humility and selfless regard
2 Thessalonians 2:4"...who opposes and exalts himself against every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, proclaiming himself to be God."Example of extreme pride
Luke 18:11"The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector.'"Example of self-righteous pride
1 Corinthians 8:1"Now concerning food offered to idols: we know that all of us possess knowledge. This knowledge puffs up, but love builds up."Knowledge without love can lead to pride
Matthew 23:12"Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted."Jesus' teaching on humility and pride
Ephesians 4:2"with all humility, gentleness, and patience, bearing with one another in love."Virtues opposed to pride
James 4:6"But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, “God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.”"God's opposition to pride, grace to humble
1 Corinthians 4:7"For who sees you naturally? And what do you have that you did not receive? If then you received it, why do you boast as if you did not receive it?"Questioning the source of one's blessings
1 Corinthians 1:31"that, as it is written, “Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.”"True source of boasting is in the Lord

1 Corinthians 5 verses

1 Corinthians 5 2 Meaning

Paul speaks of pride in the Corinthian church. Specifically, their boasting about their spiritual maturity is misplaced while tolerating a severely sinful relationship within their community. The verse emphasizes that such pride should not exist when the corrupting influence of sin is not removed from their midst. This pride is arrogant and self-deceptive, ignoring the damaging effects of unaddressed sin.

1 Corinthians 5 2 Context

First Corinthians chapter 5 addresses a specific and deeply troubling instance of incest within the Corinthian church. The church's tolerance of this sin was not only a violation of moral standards but also a dangerous compromise of their spiritual purity. In this context, Paul rebukes them for their arrogance and pride, particularly in the preceding verse where he condemns their unconfessed sin. The chapter's overall theme is the importance of maintaining the sanctity and purity of the Christian community, emphasizing that sin, especially unrepentant sin, cannot be harbored within the body of Christ without consequences. Paul instructs them on how to deal with this individual, highlighting the need for decisive action to remove the "wicked person" for the spiritual health of the whole church. This includes their present pride in their spiritual understanding while ignoring the festering sin.

1 Corinthians 5 2 Word Analysis

  • ὑμῖν (hymin)
    • "you" (plural). Refers to the collective church in Corinth, indicating a shared responsibility and a communal indictment for their collective pride.
  • καυχᾶσθε (kauchasthe)
    • "you boast." From the verb kauchaomai. It means to exult, glory, brag, or boast. The present tense suggests an ongoing or habitual practice of boasting. This boasting is characterized as inappropriate given the situation.
  • οὐκ οἴδατε (ouk oidate)
    • "do you not know." This rhetorical question expresses astonishment at their apparent ignorance or willful disregard for a fundamental truth. It highlights the absurdity of their boasting.
  • ὅτι (hoti)
    • "that." Introduces the reason why their boasting is misguided.
  • μικρὰ (mikra)
    • "little." Refers to a small amount or quantity. In this context, it describes the "leaven."
  • ζύμη (zymē)
    • "leaven." In the Scriptures, leaven is frequently used as a symbol for sin, corruption, or harmful doctrine that spreads and corrupts an entire community. It refers to a fermenting agent that causes dough to rise and expand.
  • ὅλον (holon)
    • "whole." Indicates the entire mass or entirety.
  • τὸ (to)
    • "the." Definite article.
  • φύραμα (phyrama)
    • "batch of dough" or "lump of dough." The entire mixture that is prepared for baking.

Word-Group Analysis

  • "you boast" (ὑμῖν καυχᾶσθε): The plural form emphasizes that this boasting is a corporate mindset, not just an individual issue. Their pride is collective.
  • "do you not know that a little leaven leavens the whole batch of dough?" (οὐκ οἴδατε ὅτι μικρὰ ζύμη ὅλον τὸ φύραμα ζυμοῖ): This is a common ancient proverb and a powerful metaphor. The "leaven" (leavening agent) represents something corrupting or sinful that, if allowed to remain, will spread its influence throughout the entire "batch of dough" (the church community). The "little" leaven signifies that even a small sin, when tolerated and unaddressed, has the power to contaminate the whole. This is a warning against complacency regarding sin and a statement about the infectious nature of unrighteousness within a community of believers. It links their improper pride to the presence of unjudged sin, likening the corrupting sin to leaven that will spread.

1 Corinthians 5 2 Bonus Section

The concept of leaven as a symbol of sin and corruption is deeply rooted in the Old Testament, particularly during the Feast of Unleavened Bread (Exodus 12:15-20). During this feast, Jews were commanded to remove all leaven from their homes as a symbol of purity and their departure from Egypt's sinfulness. Jesus also uses the metaphor of leaven to warn about the doctrine of the Pharisees and Sadducees (Matthew 16:6, 11-12), highlighting how false teachings or sinful influences can spread. Paul’s use of this proverb underscores the responsibility of the church to act decisively against sin to maintain its spiritual health and purity. The contrast is also made with the "unleavened bread of sincerity and truth" (1 Corinthians 5:8), the very qualities that should characterize believers. Their boasting is inappropriate precisely because they are failing to live as unleavened bread.

1 Corinthians 5 2 Commentary

Paul confronts the Corinthians for their misplaced pride. They were boasting about their spiritual understanding and maturity, yet they were overlooking or excusing a blatant and scandalous sin within their fellowship. He reminds them of a common proverb: "A little leaven leavens the whole batch of dough." This analogy signifies that a small amount of sin, if tolerated and unaddressed, will corrupt the entire church body. Their failure to discipline the unrepentant member demonstrates a profound ignorance of spiritual realities. True spiritual maturity isn't marked by proud boasting but by a commitment to purity and holiness within the community. Their pride is an arrogant blindness to the destructive potential of sin's pervasive influence. They should instead be concerned about removing the sin to preserve the integrity of the church.