What does 1 Corinthians 5:1 mean?

It is reported commonly that there is fornication among you, and such fornication as is not so much as named among the Gentiles, that one should have his father’s wife. 1 Corinthians 5:1

Explanation

1 Corinthians 5:1 addresses a specific issue of sexual immorality reported to Paul about the Christian community in Corinth. Paul points out that the type of fornication occurring in Corinth is so egregious that even pagans, or Gentiles, do not engage in such behavior. The particular sin mentioned is a man having a sexual relationship with his father’s wife, which likely means his stepmother, as such a relationship would be considered incestuous and was strictly forbidden in Jewish law.

Historical Context

Corinth was a cosmopolitan Greek city known for its wealth, diversity, and moral laxity. It was also home to the temple of Aphrodite, where temple prostitution was practiced. In this cultural setting, the new Christian community struggled to maintain moral standards distinct from their surrounding environment. The issue Paul addresses reflects the entanglement between the Corinthian Christians and the sexually permissive culture they were part of. This letter from Paul is a direct response to reports and questions from the Corinthian church regarding issues of morality and church discipline.

Theological Insights

From a theological viewpoint, this verse brings into focus the Christian teaching on sexual purity and the importance of discipline within the church. Paul’s response suggests that sexual sins are not only personal issues but can affect the health of the entire church community.

• Holiness: The sanctity of the body is stressed; Christians are called to live in holiness, separating themselves from the corrupt practices of their past or of their surrounding culture.
• Church Discipline: There is an underlying principle that the church has the responsibility to judge and correct behaviors of its members that are openly sinful, as such behaviors impact the witness of the church.
• Repentance and Redemption: While Paul’s tone is harsh, his ultimate goal is not simply punishment but restoration of the offender to fellowship with God and the community, provided there is genuine repentance.

Practical Applications

In contemporary times, the essence of this verse can be applied by considering the impact of our actions on the communities we are part of. It encourages personal introspection and community accountability. Practically, it suggests:

• A need for communities to maintain standards of behavior aligned with their values.
• The church’s role in confronting sin within its body and offering paths to restoration.
• Awareness of cultural influences that potentially compromise Christian ethical and moral standards.

Cross-References

• Leviticus 18:8 – “The nakedness of thy father’s wife shalt thou not uncover: it is thy father’s nakedness.”
• Deuteronomy 22:30 – “A man shall not take his father’s wife, nor discover his father’s skirt.”
• Leviticus 18:29 – “For whosoever shall commit any of these abominations, even the souls that commit them shall be cut off from among their people.”

Language Study

• Fornication (πορνεία – porneia): This Greek term refers to a wide range of sexual sins, including adultery, prostitution, and incest. It is often translated as “sexual immorality.”
• Commonly (ὅλως – holos): This word literally means ‘entirely’ or ‘at all,’ but in this context, it seems to imply that the report of immorality is widely known or acknowledged.
• Gentiles (ἔθνη – ethne): Typically refers to non-Jewish people, emphasizing the difference in moral expectations between pagans and the Christian community.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

In Greco-Roman culture, sexual behaviors that the Jewish and early Christian traditions considered immoral were often more accepted. Incest, as mentioned in 1 Corinthians 5:1, was generally frowned upon, but there were notable exceptions in some royal families, suggesting that Paul’s outrage was atypical even for some Gentiles.

Scientific Perspectives

Modern science emphasizes the psychological and sociological effects of sexual relationships on individuals and communities. The breakdown in family structure and community standards can lead to psychosocial problems. From a scientific viewpoint, the call for sexual integrity in this verse can be seen as conducive to psychological and social well-being.

Commentaries

Scholars and theologians offer various perspectives on this verse:

• Some emphasize the gravity of the sin, suggesting that it may have been tolerated due to the convert’s previous pagan lifestyle.
• Others focus on the need for church correction, seeing Paul’s response as a model for church discipline.
• A few suggest that this situation reflects the complex process of ethical transformation as Gentile converts integrated into the Christian faith.
• The consensus highlights the importance Paul places on the integrity of the Christian community and its witness in a morally permissive society.