What is the meaning of 1 Corinthians 5:6? Your boasting is not good “Your boasting is not good.” (1 Corinthians 5:6a) • Paul confronts the Corinthian church for taking pride in their tolerance of open sin rather than grieving over it (compare 1 Corinthians 5:2). • Scripture consistently warns against pride: “Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord” (2 Corinthians 10:17; see also Proverbs 8:13; James 4:16). • Boasting about sin—or about being “broad-minded” toward it—reveals a heart out of step with God’s holiness (Isaiah 5:20). • Healthy church life requires humility before God and sorrow over sin instead of self-congratulation (Psalm 51:17). Do you not know “Do you not know…” (1 Corinthians 5:6b) • Paul uses this phrase to jolt believers into remembering truths they should already grasp (see 1 Corinthians 3:16; 6:19). • The implied answer is, “Yes, you really do know this.” It underscores their accountability. • God expects believers to live out the truth they profess (James 1:22; Luke 12:47-48). • Knowledge without obedience leads to self-deception (1 John 2:4). That a little leaven “…that a little leaven…” (1 Corinthians 5:6c) • Leaven (yeast) is tiny yet powerful, illustrating how even one tolerated sin can influence an entire community (Galatians 5:9). • In Scripture leaven often symbolizes corruption (Exodus 12:15; Matthew 16:6). • The “little” nature of the leaven warns against minimizing sin. What seems insignificant can quickly grow destructive (Song of Songs 2:15; Ecclesiastes 10:1). • God calls His people to vigilance in guarding purity, starting with the seemingly small areas (Ephesians 4:27). Works through the whole batch of dough “…works through the whole batch of dough.” (1 Corinthians 5:6d) • Sin spreads; it never stays isolated (Joshua 7:1-12; Hebrews 12:15). • The health of the entire church is at stake when unrepentant sin is left unchecked (Revelation 2:20-23). • The remedy is decisive action: “Remove the wicked man from among yourselves” (1 Corinthians 5:13; see also Titus 3:10-11). • God’s goal is restoration and holiness, so confronting sin is an act of love (Matthew 18:15-17; Galatians 6:1). summary Paul rebukes Corinthian believers for boasting about their tolerance of sin, reminding them that even a small compromise endangers the whole fellowship. Knowledge brings responsibility; unchecked sin spreads like leaven. For the church to remain pure and useful to Christ, pride must give way to humility, and sin must be confronted in loving, restorative obedience to God’s Word. |
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