1 Corinthians 5:10-11
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Paul isn't saying we can just ignore sin outside the church; he's saying that if we were to cut off everyone in the world who fits those descriptions, there'd be no one left for us to reach. This highlights the urgent mission of the church: to be a transformative presence within the world, not a separate, isolated entity.
not at all meaning the sexually immoral of this world, or the greedy and swindlers, or idolaters, since then you would need to go out of the world. But now I am writing to you not to associate with anyone who bears the name of brother if he is guilty of sexual immorality or greed, or is an idolater, reviler, drunkard, or swindler—not even to eat with such a one.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Paul is addressing a serious issue of sexual immorality within the Corinthian church, specifically a man in an incestuous relationship that he has allowed to persist. He's been instructing them on how to deal with such situations and how to live as a distinct community. This verse clarifies that he's not telling them to cut off all ungodly people from the world, but rather to address and discipline sin within the church itself.
Paul tells believers to 'purge the old leaven' but then immediately offers a qualification. What was he getting at?
In 1 Corinthians 5:7-8, Paul uses the imagery of Passover and unleavened bread to call the Corinthian church to purity, urging them to 'clear out the old yeast' in their midst. However, in verse 10, he clarifies that this doesn't mean cutting off all sinful people from the world.
A Necessary Distinction
Paul isn't advocating for complete isolation. If Christians were to avoid every single person in the world who is immoral, greedy, or idolatrous, they would have to leave the planet entirely! This highlights a crucial tension: believers are called to be holy and separate from sin, yet they are simultaneously called to live in the world, interacting with and ministering to those who are lost.
If we can't avoid sinners, what is the church's purpose concerning them?
This verse isn't an excuse for complacency; it's a call to realistic, intentional engagement.
Witness and Discipline
While we cannot avoid the world, the church does have a specific calling regarding sin, both within and outside its community.
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Understand the original words
pleonektēs · Greek Noun
A covetous or rapacious desire for more, often at the expense of others; it is a form of idolatry that elevates material possessions or desires above God.
harpax · Greek Noun
Refers to individuals who use deceptive or dishonest means to gain money or property from others, embodying a lack of integrity and exploitation of one’s neighbor.
eidōlolatrēs · Greek Noun
The worship of created things or false gods instead of the Creator; biblically, it is the fundamental rejection of God's sovereignty, whether through objects, status, or self-worship.
adelphos · Greek Noun
One who belongs to the family of God through faith in Christ; a fellow member of the body of Christ. The term signifies a relational bond based on shared spiritual life.
porneia · Greek Noun
Sexual relations outside of the covenant of marriage between a man and a woman, encompassing all forms of illicit sexual activity. In a biblical context, it is a serious violation of God's design for human intimacy and holiness.
pleonektēs · Greek Noun
An intense, selfish desire for more, often involving wealth or possessions. It is condemned in Scripture as a form of idolatry, as it places material gain above trust in God.
eidōlolatrēs · Greek Noun
A person who worships or venerates anything other than the one true God. This includes both physical images and spiritual or emotional substitutes that replace God's rightful place in a person's life.
loidoros · Greek Noun
One who speaks abusively, insultingly, or railingly against others. This conduct is viewed as inconsistent with the character of a believer, who is called to speak life and truth.
methysos · Greek Noun
A person who is enslaved to alcohol or intoxicants, resulting in a loss of self-control and sober-mindedness. The Bible consistently warns against drunkenness as a hindrance to godly living.
harpax · Greek Noun
A person who obtains money or property through deceit, fraud, or exploitation of others. This term emphasizes the lack of integrity and love for one's neighbor.
Paul is writing to a church in a major Roman port city, known for its commercial prosperity and moral permissiveness. This context helps explain why he needs to clarify the boundaries of Christian community and discipline, distinguishing them from the world outside.
c. AD 41-50
Paul's Ministry in Corinth
The Apostle Paul establishes a church in the bustling, morally complex city of Corinth during his second missionary journey.
c. AD 50-52
Paul's Extended Stay
Paul spends about eighteen months in Corinth, teaching and building up the Christian community there.
c. AD 53-57— this verse
Letter Written from Ephesus
While ministering in Ephesus, Paul receives troubling reports from Corinth, prompting him to write this letter.
c. AD 57
The First Letter to the Corinthians
Paul writes 1 Corinthians to address various issues within the Corinthian church, including divisions, immorality, and doctrinal questions.
This passage lists various sins, similar to how Paul is categorizing in chapter 5, but then offers hope and transformation through Christ.
Matthew 13:24-30Jesus' parable of the wheat and the weeds illustrates that separating the wicked from the righteous in this world is not feasible until the final harvest.
John 17:15-16Jesus prays that His followers will be kept from evil but also acknowledges that they remain in the world, echoing Paul's practical impossibility of complete separation.
1 Timothy 1:15-16Paul, himself a former persecutor, highlights his own transformation from sin to faith, showing God's mercy extends even to the worst offenders, reinforcing the idea that complete separation from sinners isn't the goal.
Paul isn't saying we can just ignore sin outside the church; he's saying that if we were to cut off everyone in the world who fits those descriptions, there'd be no one left for us to reach. This highlights the urgent mission of the church: to be a transformative presence within the world, not a separate, isolated entity.
Paul is addressing a serious issue of sexual immorality within the Corinthian church, specifically a man in an incestuous relationship that he has allowed to persist. He's been instructing them on how to deal with such situations and how to live as a distinct community. This verse clarifies that he's not telling them to cut off all ungodly people from the world, but rather to address and discipline sin within the church itself.
Paul is addressing a serious issue of sexual immorality within the Corinthian church, specifically a man in an incestuous relationship that he has allowed to persist. He's been instructing them on how to deal with such situations and how to live as a distinct community. This verse clarifies that he's not telling them to cut off all ungodly people from the world, but rather to address and discipline sin within the church itself.
"not at all meaning the sexually immoral of this world, or the greedy and swindlers, or idolaters, since then you would need to go out of the world. But now I am writing to you not to associate with anyone who bears the name of brother if h…" — Paul isn't saying we can just ignore sin outside the church; he's saying that if we were to cut off everyone in the world who fits those descriptions, there'd be no one left for us to reach. This h…
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Last reviewed October 2026
