1 Corinthians 5 7

1 Corinthians 5:7 kjv

Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us:

1 Corinthians 5:7 nkjv

Therefore purge out the old leaven, that you may be a new lump, since you truly are unleavened. For indeed Christ, our Passover, was sacrificed for us.

1 Corinthians 5:7 niv

Get rid of the old yeast, so that you may be a new unleavened batch?as you really are. For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed.

1 Corinthians 5:7 esv

Cleanse out the old leaven that you may be a new lump, as you really are unleavened. For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed.

1 Corinthians 5:7 nlt

Get rid of the old "yeast" by removing this wicked person from among you. Then you will be like a fresh batch of dough made without yeast, which is what you really are. Christ, our Passover Lamb, has been sacrificed for us.

1 Corinthians 5 verses

1 Corinthians 5 7 meaning

This verse is a clarion call for spiritual purity within the Christian community, using the imagery of the Old Testament Passover. It commands believers to rid themselves of moral corruption, personified by "old leaven," so they may live in consistency with their new spiritual identity as a "new lump" that is "unleavened" by virtue of Christ's sacrificial death. Christ himself is identified as the true Passover Lamb whose sacrifice establishes this new spiritual reality, obliging believers to embrace a life of holiness.

1 Corinthians 5 7 Context

The immediate context of 1 Corinthians 5 concerns a severe case of sexual immorality within the Corinthian church – a man living with his father's wife (likely his stepmother). Paul condemns their complacent and arrogant attitude toward this open sin, asserting that such conduct, if unaddressed, contaminates the entire community. He introduces the metaphor of "leaven" (a fermenting agent that causes dough to rise) to represent sin and corruption. Just as the Israelites purged all leaven from their homes before Passover to commemorate their hasty exodus from Egypt and symbolize purity, so too must the Corinthian believers purge the "old leaven" of sin from their midst. This practical demand for church discipline is grounded in the profound theological truth of Christ being the sacrificial Passover Lamb.

Historically, Passover (Pesach) was a pivotal annual Jewish festival commemorating liberation from slavery in Egypt. A crucial element was the removal of all leaven (chametz) from homes for seven days, during which only unleavened bread (matzah) was eaten. This was not merely ritualistic but symbolic of a complete break from the "old" life and a consecration to God. Paul leverages this familiar imagery, showing that believers, freed by Christ's sacrifice, are inherently "unleavened" in their new spiritual state and must therefore live consistently with that reality.

1 Corinthians 5 7 Word analysis

• Cleanse out: (ἐκκαθάρατε, ekkausatharate) An imperative, commanding vigorous and complete action. It implies a thorough purging or removal, not just a superficial tidying. This links directly to the meticulous removal of literal leaven from Jewish homes before Passover, requiring diligent searching for any trace.
• Therefore: (οὖν, oun) Connects the command to the preceding context, specifically the statement in v.6 that "a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump" and the Corinthians' improper boast. It signals a logical consequence.
• The old leaven: (τὴν παλαιὰν ζύμην, tēn palaiān zymēn)
  • Old (palaiān): Refers to that which is outdated, former, belonging to a previous state, here representing the sinful life prior to or inconsistent with their Christian walk.
  • Leaven (zymēn): A small amount of fermenting agent that quickly spreads and permeates dough. In biblical use, often a metaphor for pervasive evil, sin, corrupt doctrine, or hypocrisy. Here, it likely represents both the specific sin being tolerated and, more broadly, the corrupting influence of all unrepentant sin within the community.
• That ye may be a new lump: (ἵνα ἦτε νέον φύραμα, hina ēte neon phyrāma)
  • That ye may be (hina ēte): Expresses purpose. The purging of leaven is for the goal of being.
  • New (neon): Fresh, recently made, representing a renewed, uncorrupted state.
  • Lump (phyrāma): The dough, symbolizing the gathered community of believers, the church. This speaks of the corporate identity and purity of the entire body.
• Even as ye are unleavened: (καθώς ἐστε ἄζυμοι, kathōs este azymoi)
  • Even as (kathōs): Indicates correspondence and foundation.
  • Ye are (este): Indicative mood, stating a present reality. This is a statement of identity in Christ. Believers, through faith in Christ, are already cleansed and set apart by God. This declarative truth forms the basis and motivation for the imperative to cleanse.
  • Unleavened (azymoi): Pure, free from corrupting influence, consecrated. This signifies spiritual purity and holiness in Christ. It's their positional truth, what they are in Christ.
• For Christ our passover: (καὶ γὰρ τὸ πάσχα ἡμῶν Χριστὸς, kai gar to pascha hēmōn Christos)
  • For (kai gar): Introduces the reason and theological ground for the previous statements.
  • Christ (Christos): The Messiah, the Anointed One.
  • Our passover (to pascha hēmōn): This is a profound theological identification. Christ is not just like the Passover lamb, but He is the fulfillment of the Passover. The deliverance from slavery in Egypt through the blood of the lamb now finds its ultimate fulfillment in Christ's atoning blood delivering from sin and spiritual death. This redefines the Passover from a temporal Jewish feast to a spiritual Christian reality.
• Is sacrificed for us: (ἐτύθη ὑπὲρ ἡμῶν, etythē hyper hēmōn)
  • Is sacrificed (etythē): Passive voice, emphasizing that Christ's sacrifice was offered on our behalf. It directly refers to the act of killing a sacrificial victim.
  • For us (hyper hēmōn): Signifies substitutionary atonement; Christ died on behalf of or instead of us. This sacrifice establishes the ground for their "unleavened" status and the imperative for practical holiness.

1 Corinthians 5 7 Bonus section

The concept of "leaven" also functions polemically here, implicitly challenging any pagan Corinthian understanding of spirituality that might tolerate moral laxity. While pagans might engage in cultic purity rites, Paul highlights a holistic purity (moral, spiritual, doctrinal) rooted in the unique sacrifice of Christ. Furthermore, this verse underscores the corporate responsibility of the church. While individual purity is vital, the leaven metaphor primarily speaks to the community's collective integrity. Tolerating open sin, even if by a minority, contaminates the entire body, demonstrating a failure to live in the reality of their identity as Christ's unleavened people. This verse is thus not merely about personal repentance but about the church's collective commitment to guarding its holy witness in the world.

1 Corinthians 5 7 Commentary

First Corinthians 5:7 is a theological cornerstone uniting church discipline with the work of Christ. Paul employs the potent Old Testament Passover imagery to emphasize that purity is not an option but a commanded necessity for the Christian community. The command to "cleanse out the old leaven" flows directly from the reality that Christ has already effected a far greater spiritual purification. "Old leaven" represents pervasive sin, contaminating doctrine, or any influence contrary to the new life in Christ. Its removal is critical to maintain the corporate holiness of the "new lump"—the church. The phrase "even as ye are unleavened" signifies that believers' positional purity, attained through Christ, demands corresponding practical holiness. The foundational truth "For Christ our passover is sacrificed for us" reveals Christ as the antitype, the ultimate fulfillment of the Passover lamb. His single, decisive sacrifice once for all delivered believers from spiritual bondage and consecrated them. This historical-redemptive event calls Christians to ongoing sanctification, reflecting in their daily lives the purity Christ has already secured for them. It links doctrine directly to ethics, making Christian conduct a response to Christ's saving work.