1 Corinthians 5:2- “And you are proud! Shouldn’t you rather have gone into mourning and have put out of your fellowship the man who has been doing this?”

Extended Explanation

Paul is confronting the Corinthian church, not only because of a serious moral failure among them but also because of their attitude toward it. Instead of being heartbroken over the sin that has crept into their community, they are proud—either ignoring it or even feeling a sense of superiority despite it.

Paul rebukes them sharply. Rather than boasting, they should be grieving. The phrase “gone into mourning” suggests deep sorrow, as if mourning a death. Paul sees sin as something that should bring grief, not indifference. He then gives a strong instruction: the man committing this sin should be removed from their fellowship.

This is an example of what is often called church discipline—removing someone from the church community when they refuse to repent. The goal is not cruelty but restoration. Paul sees unchecked sin as dangerous, not only for the individual but for the whole church. If sin is tolerated, it will spread like a disease.

Historical Context

Corinth was a city known for its extreme immorality. It was home to the Temple of Aphrodite, where prostitution was part of religious practice. Sexual sin was widely accepted in Corinthian society, and many new Christians in the church had come out of that background (1 Corinthians 6:9-11).

But even in such a sinful culture, the specific sin in this chapter—an immoral relationship between a man and his stepmother—was considered disgraceful, even among non-Christians. Roman law and Jewish law both condemned such relationships (Leviticus 18:8, Deuteronomy 22:30).

Despite this, the church was doing nothing about it. Whether out of fear, misunderstanding of grace, or misplaced pride, they were tolerating a sin that even the world around them found shocking. Paul is reminding them that as the people of God, they must live by a higher standard.

Theological Implications

This verse highlights several important truths about God’s view of sin and the role of the church:

1. Sin should grieve believers – Paul expects the church to mourn over sin. When we become indifferent to sin, we are out of step with God’s heart. Sin always damages lives, relationships, and our witness to the world.

2. The Church is called to holiness – The church is not just a gathering of people but the body of Christ (1 Corinthians 12:27). Just as a body fights disease, the church must address sin before it spreads and weakens the community.

3. Church discipline is necessary – This is a difficult but essential teaching. The purpose of removing someone from fellowship is not to punish them, but to lead them to repentance (2 Corinthians 2:6-8). Allowing someone to persist in sin without correction is not love—it is neglect.

Literary Analysis

Paul’s tone in this verse is one of strong correction. The exclamation “And you are proud!” expresses his shock and frustration. The contrast between their pride and the mourning they should have shows how far their attitude is from God’s perspective.

The structure of the verse moves from rebuke (“And you are proud!”) to correction (“Shouldn’t you rather have gone into mourning?”) to instruction (“put out of your fellowship the man who has been doing this.”). Paul does not just criticize—he gives them a clear course of action.

The word “put out” is significant. It is a direct command, emphasizing that there are times when the church must take action for the sake of the whole community. This connects with later verses where Paul explains that unchecked sin is like yeast that spreads through dough (1 Corinthians 5:6-7).

Biblical Cross-References

• Matthew 18:15-17 – Jesus’ teaching on confronting sin in the church, including the final step of removing an unrepentant person.
• Galatians 6:1 – Encouragement to restore someone caught in sin, but with caution and humility.
• Hebrews 12:6 – “The Lord disciplines the one he loves.” God’s discipline is an act of love, not rejection.
• 2 Corinthians 2:6-8 – A later passage where Paul encourages the church to forgive and restore the disciplined person once they repent.

What This Verse Means for Today’s Christian

Many churches today struggle with how to handle sin. Some ignore it completely, afraid of being labeled judgmental. Others swing to the opposite extreme, acting harshly and without love. Paul teaches a balanced approach—sin must be confronted, but with the goal of repentance and restoration.

This verse challenges us to take sin seriously, both in our personal lives and in our church communities. It also reminds us that pride can blind us to spiritual danger. If we find ourselves tolerating sin because “times have changed” or “we don’t want to offend anyone,” we need to ask if we are being more like the Corinthian church than like Christ.

How This Verse Relates to a Loving God

At first, this verse might seem harsh, but it actually reflects God’s deep love. Just as a loving parent disciplines a child for their own good, God calls His people to deal with sin because He knows its destructive power.

God does not want to see people trapped in sin. His heart breaks for those who are lost, and He desires their repentance and restoration (Ezekiel 18:23). By instructing the church to take sin seriously, He is protecting both the individual and the community.

How This Verse Connects to Jesus Christ

Jesus’ entire mission was to rescue people from sin. He did not ignore sin or excuse it—He called people to repentance and offered them a way to be made new.

• John 8:11 – When Jesus forgave the woman caught in adultery, He also told her, “Go now and leave your life of sin.”
• Ephesians 5:25-27 – Jesus gave His life to make His church holy, cleansing it from sin.
• Luke 15:4-7 – Jesus told the parable of the lost sheep to show that He seeks to bring back those who have gone astray.

Even in church discipline, the goal is always restoration. Jesus welcomes sinners, but He never leaves them in their sin—He transforms them.

Questions for Reflection and Discussion

1. Why do you think the Corinthian church was proud instead of grieving over sin?
2. How does this verse challenge our modern view of sin in the church?
3. What are some dangers of ignoring sin in our personal lives and in our church communities?
4. How can we practice church discipline in a way that reflects both truth and love?
5. Is there a sin in your own life that you have been tolerating instead of mourning?