1 Corinthians 5 9

1 Corinthians 5:9 kjv

I wrote unto you in an epistle not to company with fornicators:

1 Corinthians 5:9 nkjv

I wrote to you in my epistle not to keep company with sexually immoral people.

1 Corinthians 5:9 niv

I wrote to you in my letter not to associate with sexually immoral people?

1 Corinthians 5:9 esv

I wrote to you in my letter not to associate with sexually immoral people ?

1 Corinthians 5:9 nlt

When I wrote to you before, I told you not to associate with people who indulge in sexual sin.

1 Corinthians 5 verses

1 Corinthians 5 9 Meaning

The Apostle Paul is clarifying a previous instruction given in an earlier, now lost, letter. His initial command was that the Corinthian believers should not enter into close, familiar fellowship or intimate association with people known for unrepentant sexual immorality. This verse serves as a crucial bridge to explain that this previous instruction was misconstrued by some to mean complete isolation from all immoral people in the world, whereas Paul specifically meant believers who claim to be part of the church yet live in persistent sin.

1 Corinthians 5 9 Context

1 Corinthians chapter 5 deals specifically with an egregious case of sexual immorality (incest) within the Corinthian church itself. Paul begins the chapter expressing shock and dismay that the congregation has allowed such behavior to persist and has not taken action. This specific verse (5:9) serves as Paul's clarification to avoid misunderstanding. It clarifies that his previous, broader command about associating with sexually immoral people was directed at professing believers within the church who are living in unrepentant sin, rather than all sexually immoral individuals in the broader, pagan world. The following verses (5:10-13) reinforce this by explaining the vital distinction: believers must associate with non-believing sinners in order to share the gospel, but they must not fellowship intimately with those claiming to be Christians yet living unrepentantly sinful lives, especially regarding sexual immorality, which defiles the body of Christ and dishonors God. The chapter emphasizes the importance of church purity and discipline, reflecting God's holiness and safeguarding the church's witness.

1 Corinthians 5 9 Word analysis

• "I wrote": (ἔγραψα, egrāpsa) - This is an aorist active indicative verb, indicating a completed action in the past. It literally means "I wrote." This confirms Paul had sent a previous letter to the Corinthians, which is now lost to us, containing an initial instruction regarding association with immoral people. This present letter (1 Corinthians) serves, in part, as a clarification of that earlier message. Its significance highlights Paul's consistent concern for the Corinthians' moral conduct and their tendency to misunderstand his directives.

• "to you": (ὑμῖν, hymin) - The dative plural pronoun, clearly identifying the recipients as the Corinthian believers, specifically addressing their comprehension and actions.

• "in my letter": (ἐν τῇ ἐπιστολῇ, en tē epistolē) - Refers to the previously sent written communication. This confirms that Paul is not introducing a new teaching here but re-emphasizing and clarifying an instruction that was apparently either misunderstood or misapplied by the Corinthians. This shows Paul's pastoral method of teaching and correcting.

• "not to associate with": (μὴ συναναμίγνυσθαι, mē synanamignusthai) -

  • mē (μὴ): A particle of prohibition, often used for present imperatives or ongoing actions, suggesting a cessation or prevention of a continued activity.
  • synanamignusthai (συναναμίγνυσθαι): A strong compound verb derived from syn (together with), ana (up/again), and mignymi (to mix). It means "to mix intimately with," "to mingle with," "to have social dealings or close companionship with," "to have a close and prolonged association with." It goes beyond mere polite interaction; it implies shared fellowship, social integration, and commonality, possibly even sharing meals. This depth of association is key to understanding the boundaries Paul sets.

• "sexually immoral people": (πορνῶν, pornōn) - The genitive plural of pornos (πόρνος), which describes someone engaged in porneia.

  • Porneia (πορνεία) is a broad Greek term for all kinds of unlawful sexual activity. This includes but is not limited to prostitution, fornication (sex outside marriage), adultery, homosexuality, incest (as seen in 1 Cor 5:1), and bestiality.
  • The use of pornōn here means individuals characterized by or habitually engaged in these practices. Paul clarifies in subsequent verses (5:10-11) that he is not talking about the non-Christian world at large, but those professing to be believers while living in unrepentant sexual sin. This targets behavior that brings grave discredit to the name of Christ and pollutes the community of faith.

• Words-group Analysis:

  • "I wrote to you in my letter": This phrase functions as a significant textual cue. It alerts the reader that the subsequent command is a re-statement and clarification, not an entirely new directive. It points to a challenge Paul faced: his initial instruction was either misunderstood or intentionally ignored, necessitating further elucidation to guide the Corinthians correctly in matters of church purity. This implies a prior breakdown in communication or application on the part of the Corinthian church.
  • "not to associate with sexually immoral people": This core prohibition reveals the essence of Paul's concern. It highlights the principle of separation, not from the world at large, but from close fellowship with professing Christians whose lives contradict their profession through flagrant, unrepentant sexual sin. The command emphasizes safeguarding the church's holiness, witness, and the purity of believers from the corrupting influence of such open sin within their own ranks. The nature of "associating" (intimate mingling) combined with "sexually immoral people" (those characterized by pervasive illicit sexual conduct) defines the boundary for communal fellowship.

1 Corinthians 5 9 Bonus section

This verse subtly introduces the concept of a "lost letter" from Paul, reminding us that not all of his written communications to the early churches have been preserved in the New Testament canon. While we only have a portion of Paul's full correspondence, what is divinely preserved is sufficient for "all Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness" (2 Tim 3:16). The fact that Paul needed to clarify his previous instruction underscores the challenge of applying ethical principles in diverse contexts and the tendency for commands to be misconstrued, either by literal over-application or selective omission. It highlights the importance of discerning the spirit and intent behind biblical commands, not just the letter. The sharp contrast drawn by Paul between separating from sinful believers and interacting with sinful unbelievers (1 Cor 5:10) is pivotal; the church's mission involves engaging the world for evangelism while simultaneously upholding distinct internal standards of holiness and discipline.

1 Corinthians 5 9 Commentary

In 1 Corinthians 5:9, Paul steps back to explain the logic and boundaries of the disciplinary action he is urging regarding the incestuous man in their midst. The verse clarifies a misinterpretation of a previous instruction. Paul had, in a prior letter, commanded them "not to associate with sexually immoral people." The Corinthians had apparently taken this to mean total isolation from anyone in the world engaged in such sin. Paul's intent, as he quickly clarifies in 5:10-11, was not that believers should remove themselves entirely from the world—which would necessitate "going out of the world"—but specifically to avoid intimate fellowship with professing Christians who continue in unrepentant, public, and defiling sins like sexual immorality.

This command is foundational for church discipline and maintaining the purity of the body of Christ. The church, as the light of the world, must itself be pure to effectively testify against sin. To intimately associate (sharing meals, deep friendship, active church fellowship) with those claiming to be brothers or sisters in Christ while unrepentantly practicing grave sexual sins would tacitly endorse such behavior, obscure the gospel message, and bring reproach upon the name of Christ. It undermines the very nature of Christian conversion and holiness. The purpose is dual: to maintain the integrity and purity of the church community and to shock the sinning individual into repentance by withdrawing the privileges of fellowship. This discipline is a painful yet loving measure, hoping to restore the erring member (2 Cor 2:5-11).

Examples:

• Congregational Fellowship: A believer leading Sunday worship and sharing regular meals with a fellow church member who openly boasts about infidelity, without any sign of repentance, would violate this principle.
• Marriage and Relationship Advice: Advising a young believer not to seek a romantic partner from within the church who consistently shows evidence of unrepentant pre-marital sexual activity, reinforcing Paul's command on close association.