The big picture
1 Corinthians 5 opens in verse 1 with “It is reported commonly that there is fornication among you, and such fornication as is…”, reaches its middle movement near verse 7 with “Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For…”, and closes in verse 13 with “But them that are without God judgeth. Therefore put away from among yourselves that…” Repeated or prominent terms include leaven, Christ, Jesus, Lord, spirit. Together, those details trace this chapter’s own movement from its opening to its conclusion.
Scripture beside the summary
1 Corinthians · King James Version · 131 Corinthians 5:1-7
1–7: It is reported commonly that there is fornication among you, and such…
1 Corinthians 5:1–7 opens with “It is reported commonly that there is fornication among you, and such fornication as is not so…” and reaches “Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even…” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on 1 Corinthians 5 develops its own movement around leaven, Christ, Jesus, Lord, spirit, with particular weight carried by Christ, Jesus, Lord.
Deep dive
The movement opens with “It is reported commonly that there is fornication among you, and such fornication as is not…” By verse 4, the text has turned to “In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, when ye are gathered together, and my spirit, with the…” It lands on “Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For…” The distance between those lines matters as much as any isolated phrase. The passage has a voice and pulse of its own, including 1 question, 1 stated contrast, 1 verse naming the LORD or God. Those features reveal where the narrative slows down, speaks directly, or changes direction.
Connecting words, claims, reasons, contrasts, and commands hold the argument together. Each instruction draws its force from the truth that supports it. Words such as Christ, Jesus, Lord, spirit, deed, fornication tie the complete block together. The central idea, “1 Corinthians 5 develops its own movement around leaven, Christ, Jesus, Lord, spirit,” should remain answerable to the text. Some conclusions are explicit, some gather support across several verses, and others remain strong inferences or interpretations.
Names or load-bearing terms in this scene include Christ, Jesus, Lord, Gentiles, Know, Purge. Its number language includes one. The nearest hinge to the center comes in verse 6: “Your glorying is not good. Know ye not that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump?” That detail helps separate the opening situation from what the passage changes next.
Words to trace: Christ, Jesus, Lord, spirit, deed, fornication
Verse-by-verse path
- 1 Corinthians 5:1
“It is reported commonly that there is fornication among you, and such fornication as is not so much as named among the…” The number one makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.
- 1 Corinthians 5:2
“And ye are puffed up, and have not rather mourned, that he that hath done this deed might be taken away from among…” The line’s distinctive content terms include deed, mourned, puffed. Its relationship to verses 1 and 3 shows what work it does in this passage.
- 1 Corinthians 5:3
“For I verily, as absent in body, but present in spirit, have judged already, as though I were present, concerning him…” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.
- 1 Corinthians 5:4
“In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, when ye are gathered together, and my spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus…” Naming Christ and Jesus keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
- 1 Corinthians 5:5
“To deliver such an one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the…” The number one makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.
- 1 Corinthians 5:6
“Your glorying is not good. Know ye not that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump?” The question slows the passage down. Notice who is being pressed to answer, what the question assumes, and whether the next lines provide a response.
- 1 Corinthians 5:7
“Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our passover is…” Naming Christ and Purge keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
1 Corinthians 5:1-7
King James Version1It 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.
2And ye are puffed up, and have not rather mourned, that he that hath done this deed might be taken away from among you.
3For I verily, as absent in body, but present in spirit, have judged already, as though I were present, concerning him that hath so done this deed,
4In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, when ye are gathered together, and my spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ,
5To deliver such an one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.
6Your glorying is not good. Know ye not that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump?
7Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us:
1 Corinthians 5:8-13
8–13: Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, neither with the…
1 Corinthians 5:8–13 opens with “Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, neither with the leaven of malice and…” and reaches “But them that are without God judgeth. Therefore put away from among yourselves that wicked…” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on 1 Corinthians 5 develops its own movement around leaven, Christ, Jesus, Lord, spirit, with particular weight carried by company, covetous, fornicators.
Deep dive
The movement opens with “Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, neither with the leaven of malice and…” By verse 10, the text has turned to “Yet not altogether with the fornicators of this world, or with the covetous, or…” It lands on “But them that are without God judgeth. Therefore put away from among yourselves that wicked…” The distance between those lines matters as much as any isolated phrase. The passage has a voice and pulse of its own, including 1 verse with a speech marker, 1 question, 4 stated contrasts, 1 verse naming the LORD or God. Those features reveal where the narrative slows down, speaks directly, or changes direction.
Connecting words, claims, reasons, contrasts, and commands hold the argument together. Each instruction draws its force from the truth that supports it. Words such as company, covetous, fornicators, judge, keep, leaven tie the complete block together. The central idea, “1 Corinthians 5 develops its own movement around leaven, Christ, Jesus, Lord, spirit,” should remain answerable to the text. Some conclusions are explicit, some gather support across several verses, and others remain strong inferences or interpretations.
Names or load-bearing terms in this scene include God, Yet. Its number language includes one. The nearest hinge to the center comes in verse 11: “But now I have written unto you not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an…” That detail helps separate the opening situation from what the passage changes next.
Words to trace: company, covetous, fornicators, judge, keep, leaven
Verse-by-verse path
- 1 Corinthians 5:8
“Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness; but with the…” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.
- 1 Corinthians 5:9
“I wrote unto you in an epistle not to company with fornicators:” The line’s distinctive content terms include company, epistle, fornicators. Its relationship to verses 8 and 10 shows what work it does in this passage.
- 1 Corinthians 5:10
“Yet not altogether with the fornicators of this world, or with the covetous, or extortioners, or with idolaters; for…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.
- 1 Corinthians 5:11
“But now I have written unto you not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous…” The number one makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.
- 1 Corinthians 5:12
“For what have I to do to judge them also that are without? do not ye judge them that are within?” The question slows the passage down. Notice who is being pressed to answer, what the question assumes, and whether the next lines provide a response.
- 1 Corinthians 5:13
“But them that are without God judgeth. Therefore put away from among yourselves that wicked person.” The verse names God rather than leaving the action without a source. Watch whether the next line continues, answers, or contrasts that action.
1 Corinthians 5:8-13
King James Version8Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness; but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.
9I wrote unto you in an epistle not to company with fornicators:
10Yet not altogether with the fornicators of this world, or with the covetous, or extortioners, or with idolaters; for then must ye needs go out of the world.
11But now I have written unto you not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such an one no not to eat.
12For what have I to do to judge them also that are without? do not ye judge them that are within?
13But them that are without God judgeth. Therefore put away from among yourselves that wicked person.
Resources gathered for this chapter
The story map and deeper reflection are available as distinct resources alongside this teaching plan. Each opens on its own page.
A chapter-specific teaching brief
These anchors come from this chapter itself. They help a teacher use the Level 1 story map, the Level 2 analysis, and the Scripture text as one lesson.
Open with the chapter’s first image
1 Corinthians 5:1: “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…”
Slow down at the turning point
1 Corinthians 5:6: “Your glorying is not good. Know ye not that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump?”
Keep this word trail visible
leaven, Christ, Jesus, Lord, spirit, company
Observation and teaching prompt
- Identify the audience, problem, argument, command, and pastoral purpose.
- Follow connecting words so that one sentence remains inside the author’s reasoning.
- Distinguish a universal theological claim from an instruction shaped by a particular situation.
Text first
Where readers differ
The chapter summary begins with what the passage says and how its parts fit together. It does not assume one denomination has already settled every question. Where a conclusion depends on a tradition, literary theory, or historical reconstruction, that dependence is named openly.
The KJV text is presented first. Interpretive conclusions are labeled, and differences are introduced only when they help a reader understand why serious communities do not always reach the same answer.
Comparative interpretive notes for this chapter are in preparation. Until reviewed notes are ready, this page separates the KJV text from summary and application without claiming that serious readers agree on every question.
Learning objectives
- Place 1 Corinthians 5 within 1 Corinthians 5 and explain its role in 1 Corinthians.
- Describe from the text how the passage develops this focus: 1 Corinthians 5 develops its own movement around leaven, Christ, Jesus, Lord, spirit.
- Distinguish an explicit statement, a Scripture-supported conclusion, and an interpretation.
- Explain how letter shapes a responsible reading of this unit.
- Compare a related song or video with the passage, then return to the text to test it.
- Form a personal and communal response that does not exceed the evidence of Scripture.
Teacher preparation
- Read 1 Corinthians 5 twice, then read the material immediately before and after it.
- Review the book movement: 1 Corinthians 5 (1 Corinthians 5).
- Mark speakers, actions, repeated words, commands, contrasts, promises, and consequences.
- Preview each related song or video and note where it condenses, interprets, or dramatizes the text.
- Prepare a participation option that lets learners respond without forced personal disclosure.
Evidence and interpretation checks
Explicit
Record two claims that 1 Corinthians 5 states directly and cite the verses.
Scripture-supported
Form one conclusion that joins several parts of 1 Corinthians 5. Show each step.
Strong inference
Identify a conclusion that follows the text closely even though it is not stated in one sentence.
Possible or traditional reading
Where responsible readings differ, present the difference without turning it into certainty.
Limit
Do not use speculation as a teaching conclusion.
Discussion with answer guidance
1. What does 1 Corinthians 5 state directly about God, people, or the situation?
Show teacher guidance
Begin with the passage’s words and actions. Require an exact verse before accepting a conclusion.
2. How does this focus develop across the passage: 1 Corinthians 5 develops its own movement around leaven, Christ, Jesus, Lord, spirit?
Show teacher guidance
Trace the opening, change, and outcome. Do not rely on one sentence when the unit presents a sequence.
3. Which word, action, contrast, or response repeats, and what work does it do?
Show teacher guidance
Repetition may signal structure or emphasis, but explain its meaning inside the immediate context.
4. How does this unit contribute to the 1 Corinthians 5 movement?
Show teacher guidance
Compare the unit with what comes before and after it in the same book.
5. What interpretive caution does letter require here?
Show teacher guidance
Trace the author’s argument through connecting words, stated problems, theological claims, commands, and pastoral purpose.
6. What faithful response follows for an individual and for a community?
Show teacher guidance
Form a concrete, proportionate response. Do not turn a description into a command without evidence.
Responsible application
Heart and habits
Name one belief, desire, or practice that 1 Corinthians 5 corrects, strengthens, or redirects.
Relationships and community
Form one action that protects dignity, truth, justice, mercy, or faithfulness in a real relationship.
Worship and prayer
Write a prayer using the vocabulary and concerns of the passage.
Service and witness
Choose one observable response for this week and one person who can support accountability.
Audience adaptations
Children
Use a short reading block, a people-and-actions map, and one concrete response. Explain difficult vocabulary before reading.
Youth
Ask learners to identify pressure, loyalty, power, and consequences. Permit written responses without public disclosure.
Adults
Add literary and historical context, compare responsible readings, and require evidence for each claim.
Intergenerational group
Pair different ages, assign observation before interpretation, and close with a shared prayer.
Online or at home
Send the reference in advance, use media as an observation pause, and gather responses in a shared document.
Complete 75-minute teaching path
A shorter group can omit the extended discussion while preserving the Scripture reading, evidence check, and closing response.
Orient the group
Name the book, 1 Corinthians 5, genre, and central question. Explain that every conclusion will be checked against the text.
Read the complete unit
Read aloud or silently. Learners mark speakers, repetitions, commands, contrasts, and changes.
Work through the reading blocks
Summarize each block in one sentence and record the verse that supports the summary.
Use a song or video
Play one related resource. Compare its emphasis and omissions with the passage.
Discuss from evidence
Use the questions and require a Scripture reference for every major answer.
Form responsible application
Develop one personal and one communal response. Avoid promises or commands that the text does not establish.
Summarize and pray
Let each learner complete one sentence about the passage. Pray with its vocabulary and concerns.
Song and video learning lab
A song or video may interpret, compress, or dramatize the text. Its value becomes clearer when its choices are compared with Scripture.
- Before the media: the exact passage and its central movement.
- During the media: the words, people, events, and emotions the artist emphasizes.
- After the media: what it clarifies, what it leaves out, and what belongs back in the biblical text.