ACC ~ 1 Corinthians 5 v9 - 13

OVERVIEW:

Since immoral believers corrupt the church more than do unbelievers (ORIGEN), do not mix with them (AMBROSIASTER). They are to be withdrawn from table fellowship (THEODORET OF CYR). Only those who voluntarily decide to enter into the church fellowship are due the discipline that is fitting within the church (CHRYSOSTOM). The most extreme discipline consists in withholding the sacred mysteries of bread and wine from the recalcitrant believer (AMBROSIASTER). The whole people of God gain by being freed from such plagues as fornication, as has been true since the days of Moses (CHRYSOSTOM). Only with this cleansing does Christ again come to dwell in you (ORIGEN). Some argue that “my letter” refers to a previous letter (AMBROSIASTER), while others see it as a reference to this letter (THEODORET OF CYR).

5:9 | Paul’s Letter

A SECOND LETTER. AMBROSIASTER: Paul tells us here that he has already written to the Corinthians once. Because they failed to take action then, he is now writing a second time. COMMENTARY ON PAUL’S EPISTLES.

WHICH LETTER? THEODORET OF CYR: Paul is not referring to another letter but to this one, for he has just said that a little leaven leavens the whole lump. COMMENTARY ON THE FIRST EPISTLE TO THE CORINTHIANS 193.

5:10 | Immoral Believers

IMMORAL BELIEVERS HARM THE CHURCH MORE THAN DO UNBELIEVERS. ORIGEN: Immoral unbelievers cannot harm the church, but immoral believers corrupt it from within, which is why they must be avoided and expelled. COMMENTARY ON 1 CORINTHIANS 2.26.23-26.

DO NOT MIX. AMBROSIASTER: Paul means that it would be better to die than to mix with fellow believers who sin like the fornicator in question, because death would put an end to it sooner rather than later. COMMENTARY ON PAUL’S EPISTLES.

5:11 | Not Associating with Immoral Believers

WITHDRAWAL OF FELLOWSHIP NOT APPLICABLE TO UNBELIEVERS. AMBROSIASTER: Note that none of this applies to relations with unbelievers. COMMENTARY ON PAUL’S EPISTLES.

NO TABLE FELLOWSHIP. THEODORET OF CYR: Obviously if we are not to eat ordinary food with such people, we are not to admit them to the Lord’s table either. COMMENTARY ON THE FIRST EPISTLE TO THE CORINTHIANS 194.

5:12 | Judging Fellow Believers

BARRING FROM SACRAMENTS. AMBROSIASTER: A bishop cannot do anything about unbelievers. But a brother who is caught doing such things he can bar not only from the sacraments but also from common intercourse with his fellows, so that when he is avoided he may feel ashamed and repent. COMMENTARY ON PAUL’S EPISTLES.

DISCIPLINE APPLICABLE INSIDE THE CHURCH. CHRYSOSTOM: Did Paul not care about those who were outside the church? Of course he did! But it was not until after they had received the gospel and he had made them subject to the teaching of Christ that he laid down requirements for them. As long as they despised Christ, it was pointless to speak to them about his commandments. HOMILIES ON THE EPISTLES OF PAUL TO THE CORINTHIANS 16.2.

5:13 | God Judges Unbelievers

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).