Read & explore together
Immorality Rebuked
In this part of the letter, Paul rebukes the church because they have not responded rightly to serious sexual immorality. He calls them away from pride and uses yeast and Passover language to teach about the church’s shared holiness.
Understanding the passage
The setting of these words
These verses come as direct correction within a letter. Paul says a report has reached him about sexual immorality in the church, and he addresses both the man involved and the congregation’s proud response. He speaks with the authority of the Lord Jesus Christ and explains his instruction with the picture of yeast spreading through dough.
1 Corinthians 5:1–8Main takeaway
This passage teaches that a church must not boast while tolerating open sin, but should act seriously and pursue sincerity and truth in the light of Christ.
Follow the letter’s teaching
Open a card to explore the full explanation and its Bible references.
01A grave report and a wrong responsePaul begins with a shocking report: there is sexual immorality among them, specifically that a man has his father’s wife.
Explanation
Paul begins with a shocking report: there is sexual immorality among them, specifically that a man has his father’s wife. He does not treat this lightly. He also rebukes the church’s attitude, saying they are arrogant when they should have mourned and removed the man from among them.
02Paul’s judgement and the gathered churchAlthough absent in body, Paul says he is present in spirit and has already judged the person who did this deed.
Explanation
Although absent in body, Paul says he is present in spirit and has already judged the person who did this deed. He tells them to act when they are gathered in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and with his power. This shows the matter is communal and serious, not private or casual.
03A hard action with a stated purposePaul says they are to deliver this person to Satan for the destruction of the flesh. The verse itself also gives the purpose: that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.
Explanation
Paul says they are to deliver this person to Satan for the destruction of the flesh. The verse itself also gives the purpose: that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus. The passage states both severity and a saving aim, even though it does not explain every detail of the phrase.
04Yeast, Passover, and a new way to livePaul says their boasting is not good and uses the image of a little yeast spreading through the whole lump.
Explanation
Paul says their boasting is not good and uses the image of a little yeast spreading through the whole lump. He tells them to purge out the old yeast so they may be a new lump. He then links this to Christ, saying Christ our Passover has been sacrificed, and urges sincerity and truth instead of malice and wickedness.
Questions to explore
Pause, look back at the verses and talk together.
01What two things does Paul criticise at the start of the passage?
Look for both the reported sexual immorality and the church’s proud attitude instead of mourning.
02How does Paul describe the way the church should act in this matter?
Notice the gathering, the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the power of the Lord Jesus Christ.
03What contrast does Paul make with the yeast image at the end?
Compare old yeast, malice, and wickedness with unleavened bread, sincerity, and truth.
Read the Bible passage
World English Bible ClassicScripture quotation · Public domain
1 Corinthians 5:1–8
1It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you, and such sexual immorality as is not even named among the Gentiles, that one has his father’s wife.
2You are arrogant, and didn’t mourn instead, that he who had done this deed might be removed from among you.
3For I most certainly, as being absent in body but present in spirit, have already, as though I were present, judged him who has done this thing.
4In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, when you are gathered together with my spirit with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ,
5you are to deliver such a one to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.
6Your boasting is not good. Don’t you know that a little yeast leavens the whole lump?
7Purge out the old yeast, that you may be a new lump, even as you are unleavened. For indeed Christ, our Passover, has been sacrificed in our place.
8Therefore let’s keep the feast, not with old yeast, neither with the yeast of malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.