1 Corinthians 5:13- “God will judge those outside. ‘Expel the wicked person from among you.’”

Extended Explanation

In this verse, Paul brings his discussion on church discipline to a firm conclusion. He makes two important points:

1. God is the one who will judge unbelievers – Christians are not called to police the world’s morality. Non-believers act according to their nature, and their judgment belongs to God alone.

2. The church must remove unrepentant sinners from its fellowship – Paul quotes from the Old Testament, “Expel the wicked person from among you,” a phrase that appears several times in the Law of Moses (Deuteronomy 13:5, 17:7, 22:21). This means that when a person claims to be a believer but continues in open, unrepentant sin, the church must take action to maintain its holiness.

Paul is not talking about sinners outside the church—he just clarified in verse 12 that Christians should not judge non-believers. His focus here is on sin within the church. If someone refuses to repent, even after correction, they should no longer be part of the church community.

This is not about being harsh or unforgiving. The purpose is always restoration—the hope is that this action will wake the person up spiritually, leading them to repentance (see 2 Corinthians 2:6-8, where Paul encourages restoring a repentant sinner).

Historical Context

Corinth was a city known for its immorality. Sexual sin, greed, and idol worship were everywhere, and many of the believers in the Corinthian church had come out of that lifestyle (1 Corinthians 6:9-11).

Some in the church, however, were still living in sin without repentance. In 1 Corinthians 5:1, Paul rebukes the church for tolerating a man who was involved in an immoral relationship with his father’s wife—something even non-Christians found shocking. Instead of addressing the issue, the church was ignoring it or even boasting about their tolerance.

In ancient Jewish culture, removing someone from the community was a serious step. In the Old Testament, certain sins required that the guilty person be “cut off” from Israel (Deuteronomy 17:7). Paul applies this principle to the New Testament church—not through physical punishment but by removing unrepentant sinners from fellowship.

The early church took holiness seriously, recognizing that allowing sin to remain unchecked could weaken the entire body. Paul is reminding them that discipline is necessary for the church to stay spiritually healthy.

Theological Implications

1. God Alone Judges the World – Christians are not called to condemn non-believers. Instead, they are called to share the gospel with them. Only God has the right to judge those outside the church (Romans 14:10-12).

2. Holiness is Essential for the Church – The church is meant to reflect God’s character. If sin is tolerated within the church, it damages its witness and leads others into compromise (1 Peter 1:15-16).

3. Church Discipline is Biblical – Removing an unrepentant sinner from the church is not about punishment but about restoring them to repentance. Discipline is an act of love (Hebrews 12:6).

4. Sin Affects the Whole Church – Paul has already warned that a little yeast (sin) spreads through the whole dough (1 Corinthians 5:6). Ignoring sin does not just affect one person—it weakens the entire church body.

Literary Analysis

Paul’s words in this verse are direct and authoritative.

• “God will judge those outside.” – This is a clear statement that judgment of unbelievers is God’s responsibility, not ours.
• “Expel the wicked person from among you.” – This is a command, not a suggestion. Paul is quoting the Old Testament, showing that this principle of removing sin from God’s people is consistent throughout Scripture.

Paul does not soften his words here because the issue is serious. His concern is not about being politically correct—it is about keeping the church holy and faithful to Christ.

Biblical Cross-References

• Deuteronomy 13:5 – “You must purge the evil from among you.” Paul’s quote comes directly from these Old Testament passages about removing sin from Israel.
• Matthew 18:15-17 – Jesus teaches that if a fellow believer refuses to repent after being confronted, they should be treated “as a pagan or a tax collector” (meaning outside the church).
• 2 Thessalonians 3:6 – Paul commands believers to “keep away” from those who live in disobedience.
• 2 Corinthians 2:6-8 – Paul later urges the church to forgive and restore a sinner who repents.
• 1 Peter 1:15-16 – “Be holy, because I am holy.” The church is called to reflect God’s holiness.

What This Verse Means for Today’s Christian

This verse helps clarify how Christians should respond to sin:

1. We are not called to condemn non-believers. Many Christians spend more time criticizing the world than sharing the gospel. But Paul reminds us that judging non-Christians is not our job—God will handle that. Our job is to love them and lead them to Christ.

2. We are called to hold fellow believers accountable. If someone claims to be a Christian but is living in open sin without repentance, they should be confronted (Matthew 18:15-17). If they refuse correction, they should not remain in fellowship with the church.

3. Church discipline should be done in love. The goal of removing someone from the church is not rejection but repentance. If they turn back to God, they should be welcomed back with grace (2 Corinthians 2:6-8).

For churches today, this verse is a warning against two extremes:

• Some churches ignore sin completely, afraid of being labeled judgmental. But allowing sin to go unchecked weakens the church and damages its witness.
• Other churches become harsh and unforgiving, cutting people off without love. But the goal of discipline is always restoration.

The biblical balance is to call sin what it is, address it when necessary, but always leave room for repentance and grace.

How This Verse Relates to a Loving God

At first, this verse may seem harsh, but it actually shows God’s love in two ways:

1. God’s Love is Patient with the Lost – He does not immediately judge the world; instead, He gives time for repentance (2 Peter 3:9).
2. God’s Love is Protective of His Church – Just as a good father disciplines his children for their good, God disciplines His people to protect them from destruction (Hebrews 12:6).

True love does not ignore sin—it addresses it for the sake of restoration. God’s love is both just and merciful, calling people to holiness while providing a path to forgiveness.

How This Verse Connects to Jesus Christ

• Jesus Came to Save, Not Condemn (John 3:17) – This aligns with Paul’s teaching that God alone will judge the world.
• Jesus Calls the Church to Holiness (Ephesians 5:25-27) – Jesus died to make His church holy and blameless.
• Jesus Taught Church Discipline (Matthew 18:15-17) – He commanded the church to lovingly confront sin and, if necessary, remove unrepentant believers.
• Jesus Welcomes Back the Repentant (Luke 15:11-32) – The story of the Prodigal Son shows that when sinners repent, God welcomes them with open arms.

Paul’s instruction in this verse reflects the very heart of Jesus—calling believers to holiness while leaving the door open for repentance and restoration.

Questions for Reflection and Discussion

1. How does this verse help clarify the difference between judging the world and holding believers accountable?
2. Why do you think many churches today struggle with practicing church discipline?
3. How can church discipline be done in a way that reflects both truth and love?
4. What does this verse teach us about God’s patience with sinners?
5. How does Jesus’ example help us apply Paul’s teaching in a way that honors God?