1 Corinthians 5:9–13, King James Version
Italic words were supplied in the English translation for clarity.
1 Corinthians 5:9–13
Internal Accountability Is Not Withdrawal from the World
The world's table is not the church's lie.
Paul had written them not to associate with sexually immoral people, and they heard a command to leave the planet. He clarifies: not the immoral of this world, or the greedy and swindlers, or idolaters, or they would need to go out of the world. The line is about someone who bears the name of brother or sister and is sexually immoral, greedy, an idolater, a reviler, a drunkard, or a swindler — do not even eat with such a one.
What have they to do with judging outsiders? God judges those outside. 'Drive out the evil person from among you' is household honesty, not a warrant to hunt the city. Internal discipline does not authorize a theocracy, harassment of outsiders, discrimination in public services, or withdrawal from ordinary society.
How this should shape us
Share a city, a job, and ordinary life with people who do not share your faith without pretending the church has no inside. The hard case is the person who wants the family name and an unrepentant public pattern. Honesty at the table is not hatred of the world.
Teach it back
Explain 1 Corinthians 5:9–13 in your own words. Include its place in 1 Corinthians, the unit's logic, one material uncertainty, and one use the context rules out.
Your explanation stays in this browser. It is not sent or saved.
Go deeper
The explanation above is meant to stand on its own. Open these notes only if you want language, history, disagreements, or source locations.
Where careful interpreters disagreeThe strongest options and their difficulties
Where do careful interpreters disagree?
Best judgment: The precise duration and practice of exclusion vary among interpreters; the inside/outside distinction and named economic as well as sexual harms are explicit.
How certain? probableResearch trail and exact locationsThe source record behind this section
Supports: Exact reader-facing Scripture wording, paragraph markers, supplied-word markup, and complete verse coverage.
1 Corinthians 5:9–13, pinned eng-kjv2006 USFM corpus
Supports: Greek wording, clause relationships, repeated terms, and original-language discussion.
SBLGNT official text file 1Cor.txt, 5:9–13
Supports: Verse-level syntax, KJV-era wording, textual variants, and interpretive alternatives.
NET Bible 1 Corinthians 5:9–13 print view with translator, study, and textual notes
Supports: Independent morphology and lexical-range cross-check for material Greek claims.
STEP Bible Data repository morphology and lexical records for 1 Corinthians 5:9–13
Supports: Whole-letter movement, Corinthian setting, bibliography, major alternatives, and verse-level interpretation.
Redmond, The Gospel Coalition Bible Commentary: 1 Corinthians, introduction and section on 5:9–13
Supports: Competing legal-social reconstructions and limits for the disputed relationship in chapter 5.
De Vos, 'Stepmothers, Concubines and the Case of Porneia in 1 Corinthians 5,' New Testament Studies 44.1 (1998), pp. 104–114, official abstract and extract
Sources for This Section
These records identify the source, the claim it supports, and the exact location used. A source remains evidence to evaluate; it does not replace the biblical text.
Biblical text
King James (Authorized) Version — eng-kjv2006
eBible.org and CrossWire Bible Society
USFM archive eng-kjv2006_usfm.zip; source files dated 2026-08-19; downloaded 2026-08-24; archive SHA-256 aec1b3b26c622fd3d963d2bbac963016b9513246ffbfa20da00bb100372ea007; normalized corpus SHA-256 09aef51d90488aa7b9722b3fd9a93f4b25f6bf2064c5fd798fb39673c300ddf2.
Supports: Exact reader-facing Scripture wording, paragraph markers, supplied-word markup, and complete verse coverage.
Exact location: 1 Corinthians 5:9–13, pinned eng-kjv2006 USFM corpus
Open source ↗Greek textual evidence
The Greek New Testament: SBL Edition
Michael W. Holmes, editor; Society of Biblical Literature and Logos
Society of Biblical Literature and Logos Bible Software, 2010
Supports: Greek wording, clause relationships, repeated terms, and original-language discussion.
Exact location: SBLGNT official text file 1Cor.txt, 5:9–13
Open the 1 Corinthians Greek text file ↗Translation and textual notes
NET Bible - 1 Corinthians with translators' and textual notes
Biblical Studies Press
Biblical Studies Press, 2005-2026 online edition
Supports: Verse-level syntax, KJV-era wording, textual variants, and interpretive alternatives.
Exact location: NET Bible 1 Corinthians 5:9–13 print view with translator, study, and textual notes
Open the official NET 1 Corinthians PDFLexical and grammatical evidence
STEP Bible Data
Tyndale House Cambridge
Tyndale House Cambridge, repository snapshot verified 2026
Supports: Independent morphology and lexical-range cross-check for material Greek claims.
Exact location: STEP Bible Data repository morphology and lexical records for 1 Corinthians 5:9–13
Open source ↗modern open commentary
1 Corinthians
Eric C. Redmond
The Gospel Coalition Bible Commentary, 2023
Supports: Whole-letter movement, Corinthian setting, bibliography, major alternatives, and verse-level interpretation.
Exact location: Redmond, The Gospel Coalition Bible Commentary: 1 Corinthians, introduction and section on 5:9–13
Open source ↗peer reviewed social legal article extract
Stepmothers, Concubines and the Case of Porneia in 1 Corinthians 5
Craig Steven de Vos
New Testament Studies 44(1), 1998
Supports: Competing legal-social reconstructions and limits for the disputed relationship in chapter 5.
Exact location: De Vos, 'Stepmothers, Concubines and the Case of Porneia in 1 Corinthians 5,' New Testament Studies 44.1 (1998), pp. 104–114, official abstract and extract
Open source ↗