ACC ~ 1 Corinthians 5 v13

EXPEL THE IMPENITENT. ORIGEN: Do all you can to expel the wicked person, for once he is gone, Christ will dwell in you. COMMENTARY ON 1 CORINTHIANS 2.26.57-59.

THE LAW SPEAKS WITH SEVERITY. CHRYSOSTOM: Paul uses an expression taken from the Old Testament, partly because he is hinting that the Corinthians will be great gainers in being freed from a kind of plague and partly to show that this kind of thing is no novelty but goes right back to the beginning. Even Moses the lawgiver thought that people like this should be cut off, but he did it with greater severity than is shown here. Moses would have had the man stoned, but Paul thinks only of trying to lead him to repentance. HOMILIES ON THE EPISTLES OF PAUL TO THE CORINTHIANS 16.3.

RESOLVING DIFFERENCES INSIDE THE CHURCH 1 CORINTHIANS 6:1-8

OVERVIEW: It is doubly wrong to take believers to court to be judged by unbelievers (ORIGEN, AMBROSIASTER, CHRYSOSTOM, PELAGIUS). Bringing suit may cause scandal to those outside the church (THEODORE OF MOPSUESTIA) and multiply guilt (AMBROSIASTER, CHRYSOSTOM). Submit rather to arbitration (CHRYSOSTOM) within the community of faith (AMBROSIASTER). It is a disgrace for Christians to be judged by outsiders over trivial matters (CHRYSOSTOM). Yet this was a common practice among the Corinthians (THEODORET OF CYR). The saints are destined finally to judge the world (AMBROSIASTER), as the twelve apostles will judge the twelve tribes of Israel (SEVERIAN OF GABALA). It remains in dispute as to whether the angels to be judged are false teachers (SEVERIAN), demons (CHRYSOSTOM, THEODORET OF CYR) or angels (AMBROSIASTER). Few are wise enough to judge (ORIGEN), but believers will be given such wisdom (AMBROSIASTER). Even those least esteemed in the church will turn out to judge better than those who lack understanding and discernment in the Christian sense (CHRYSOSTOM, SEVERIAN). This passage is not opposed to the obedience to authorities commended in Romans 13 (THEODORET OF CYR).

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