1 Corinthians 5:4 kjv
In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, when ye are gathered together, and my spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ,
1 Corinthians 5:4 nkjv
In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, when you are gathered together, along with my spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ,
1 Corinthians 5:4 niv
So when you are assembled and I am with you in spirit, and the power of our Lord Jesus is present,
1 Corinthians 5:4 esv
When you are assembled in the name of the Lord Jesus and my spirit is present, with the power of our Lord Jesus,
1 Corinthians 5:4 nlt
in the name of the Lord Jesus. You must call a meeting of the church. I will be present with you in spirit, and so will the power of our Lord Jesus.
1 Corinthians 5 4 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Matt 18:20 | For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them. | Christ's presence in a gathered assembly. |
| Acts 3:6 | But Peter said, "I have no silver and gold, but what I do have I give you: In the name of Jesus Christ...walk." | Power and authority vested in the name of Jesus for action. |
| Phil 2:9-11 | Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus...every tongue confess. | Exaltation and supreme authority of Jesus' name. |
| Col 3:17 | And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. | All actions to be done under the authority of Christ's name. |
| Matt 18:17 | If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church. | The church as the final court in disciplinary matters. |
| 2 Cor 13:1-2 | Every charge must be established by the evidence of two or three witnesses. I warned...I warn...now I write this while I am away...that I will not spare. | Paul exercising apostolic authority from a distance. |
| 2 Cor 10:4-6 | For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds...ready to punish every disobedience... | Apostolic authority backed by divine power in addressing disobedience. |
| Col 2:5 | For though I am absent in body, yet I am with you in spirit, rejoicing to see your good order... | Paul's spiritual presence and concern despite physical absence. |
| Heb 10:25 | Not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near. | Importance of communal gathering for the church. |
| 1 Cor 1:2 | ...to the church of God that is in Corinth, to those sanctified in Christ Jesus... | Reminder of the church's sanctified identity needing protection. |
| 1 Cor 5:7-8 | Cleanse out the old leaven that you may be a new lump...Let us therefore celebrate the festival, not with old leaven...but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth. | Call for purification and removal of sin within the community. |
| Deut 17:7 | ...So you shall purge the evil from your midst. | Old Testament principle of purging evil from the community. |
| Rom 1:16 | For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes... | Gospel's inherent divine power. |
| 1 Cor 2:4-5 | My speech and my proclamation were not with persuasive words of wisdom, but with a demonstration of the Spirit and of power, so that your faith might not rest in the wisdom of men but in the power of God. | Paul's ministry empowered by divine power, not human wisdom. |
| Eph 1:19-20 | ...and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe...which he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead... | Christ's resurrection demonstrating God's supreme power. |
| Acts 4:7-12 | And when they had set them in the midst, they inquired, "By what power or by what name did you do this?"...There is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven... | Authority and power explicitly linked to Jesus' name for saving acts. |
| 1 John 3:23-24 | And this is his commandment: to believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ... | Importance of belief in the name of Jesus Christ. |
| Rom 15:6 | ...that together you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. | Emphasizes corporate unity in glorifying God through Christ. |
| 2 Thess 3:6 | Now we command you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, to keep away from any brother who is walking in idleness and not according to the tradition... | Apostolic command for separation, invoked in Christ's name. |
| 1 Tim 1:20 | Among whom are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I have delivered to Satan that they may learn not to blaspheme. | Example of apostolic disciplinary action similar to 1 Cor 5:5. |
| 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... | Instruction on dealing with divisive individuals, emphasizing separation. |
| 2 John 1:10-11 | If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not receive him into your house or give him any greeting, for whoever greets him takes part in his wicked works. | Command to separate from those teaching false doctrine. |
| Jer 1:9-10 | ...Behold, I have put my words in your mouth. See, I have set you this day over nations and over kingdoms, to pluck up and to break down... | Prophet's delegated authority to uproot and destroy (spiritual sense). |
1 Corinthians 5 verses
1 Corinthians 5 4 Meaning
This verse outlines the foundational authority and spiritual dynamics for the act of church discipline regarding the unrepentant immoral man in 1 Corinthians 5. It declares that when the Corinthian church congregates, empowered by the ultimate authority of their Lord Jesus Christ and united with Paul's apostolic spirit, they are equipped to carry out a decisive disciplinary action. The verse emphasizes that such weighty communal actions are not by human might or decision alone, but are solemn declarations and actions ratified by the divine presence and power of Christ Himself, channeling His authority through His assembled people and His apostle.
1 Corinthians 5 4 Context
First Corinthians chapter 5 directly addresses a severe case of immorality within the Corinthian church: a man was living with his father's wife, a union explicitly forbidden by Jewish law (Lev 18:8; Deut 22:30). Paul is not just addressing the sin itself, but primarily the church's boastful and tolerant attitude towards it (v. 2). Instead of grieving and acting to remove the wicked person, they were seemingly proud. This scandalous tolerance defiled the spiritual integrity of the body of Christ. Verses 3-5 delineate Paul's firm directive for church discipline, outlining the method and the desired outcome. Verse 4 establishes the indispensable authority required for such a momentous spiritual judgment: it must be carried out collectively by the church, with Paul's apostolic sanction, and critically, under the direct authority and power of Jesus Christ Himself. This corporate and divinely empowered action is essential for maintaining the purity of the church and demonstrating the gravity of Christian living in opposition to the lax moral standards prevalent in ancient Corinthian society.
1 Corinthians 5 4 Word analysis
- "In the name" (ἐν τῷ ὀνόματι - en tō onomati): This is far more than a mere vocal invocation. It signifies acting under the authority of, by the warrant of, and as the representative of the one whose name is invoked. In biblical terms, the "name" encompasses the person's character, essence, presence, and authority. Here, it denotes acting with delegated divine authorization, akin to an agent carrying out the will of a king. It establishes the legitimacy and binding nature of the upcoming judgment.
- "of our Lord Jesus Christ" (κυρίου Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ - Kyriou Iēsou Christou): This full title emphasizes the divine, sovereign, and Messiah-King authority of Jesus. He is the ultimate head of the church (Col 1:18). Therefore, any disciplinary action taken must emanate from His authority and reflect His holiness and rule, not human wisdom or vindictiveness. It underscores that the church is acting on behalf of Christ.
- "when you are gathered together" (συναχθέντων ὑμῶν - synachthentōn hymōn): This participial phrase specifies the necessary condition: a formal assembly of the church. It highlights the communal, public, and collective responsibility in church discipline. It is not an action for a single elder or a select few, but for the corporate body of believers, reflecting their shared responsibility for the purity of the assembly.
- "and my spirit" (καὶ τοῦ ἐμοῦ πνεύματος - kai tou emou pneumatos): Although physically absent, Paul asserts his apostolic spiritual presence and involvement in their judicial process. This is not just his agreement in principle, but his active spiritual participation and apostolic authority united with the assembly. It implies his prophetic insight, the spiritual anointing that comes with his apostleship, endorsing and validating their action.
- "is present": This verb is implied in the Greek construction; Paul's "spirit" accompanies their gathering. The unity of the physical gathering and the apostolic spiritual oversight ensures the judgment is properly ordered and ratified by heaven.
- "with the power" (σὺν τῇ δυνάμει - syn tē dynamei): This specifies the supernatural force empowering the judgment. It's not the persuasive power of rhetoric or the coercive power of human institutions, but the efficacious, divine energy. This "power" will be made evident in the act of delivering the man "to Satan for the destruction of the flesh" (v. 5), indicating a supernatural consequence tied to this discipline.
- "of our Lord Jesus Christ" (κυρίου Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ - Kyriou Iēsou Christou): A direct reiteration, this stresses that the divine authority and the divine power both originate solely from Christ. This ensures that the disciplinary act is not an act of human retribution, but an application of Christ's kingly rule, designed for the individual's repentance and the church's purity.
Words-group analysis:
- "In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ": This entire phrase is foundational, setting the ultimate jurisdiction and authority. Any church discipline must not be an act of human will or prejudice but a sacred exercise rooted entirely in Christ's sovereign rule over His body. It is an act of acknowledging His Lordship.
- "when you are gathered together, and my spirit": This conjunction highlights the cooperative yet authoritative nature of church discipline. It is a collective decision by the local assembly ("you are gathered together"), but critically guided and affirmed by apostolic authority ("and my spirit"), demonstrating the balance between congregational involvement and divine, inspired leadership in the early church.
- "with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ": This ensures the divine efficacy and backing of the disciplinary act. The "power" implies spiritual potency and actual consequence, particularly given the subsequent "delivering to Satan." It means the church isn't just making a human decision, but facilitating a spiritual operation through Christ's enabling power.
1 Corinthians 5 4 Bonus section
- Judicial Assembly: The phrase "when you are gathered together" (συναχθέντων ὑμῶν - synachthentōn hymōn) suggests more than a typical worship service; it implies a formal convocation for a specific judicial purpose. The assembly acts as a spiritual court, convened under divine authority.
- Apostolic Proxy: Paul's spiritual presence acting alongside the Corinthian church can be seen as an apostolic proxy or an endorsement, solidifying the legitimacy and divine approval of their judgment. He, as Christ's representative, extends his spiritual oversight to them for this serious matter, bridging the physical distance.
- Holistic Application: The inclusion of both Paul's "spirit" and "the power of our Lord Jesus Christ" underscores the divine-human cooperation in Christian ministry and discipline. It's not just Paul's idea or the church's decision, but a working together of apostolic guidance and Christ's active enablement.
1 Corinthians 5 4 Commentary
1 Corinthians 5:4 serves as the command structure for the decisive action of church discipline detailed in the subsequent verse. Paul establishes that such a momentous spiritual decision as expelling a member must be executed under very specific conditions: corporately by the gathered local church, fully backed by Paul’s spiritual presence and apostolic authority, and most importantly, derived from and empowered by the very authority of Jesus Christ. This isn't human judgment based on opinion or moral indignation, but a spiritual sentence passed "in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ" and with "His power," making it effective and heaven-ratified. This process ensures purity within the fellowship, safeguards the church's testimony, and aims ultimately for the repentant restoration of the disciplined individual (implied by "destruction of the flesh, so that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus" in verse 5). The divine sanction elevates discipline beyond a mere organizational removal to a profoundly spiritual and redemptive act.