1 Corinthians 5:2
A focused desk for reading, commentary, cross-references, original language notes, and your own observations.
1 Corinthians 5:2
2 And ye are puffed up, and have not rather mourned, that he that hath done this deed might be taken away from among you.
Chapter Context
1 Corinthians 5 is a pastoral epistle chapter in the New Testament that explores themes of covenant, sacrifice, truth. Written during Paul's third missionary journey (c. 55 CE), this chapter should be understood within its historical context: The church existed in a prosperous, cosmopolitan, morally permissive Roman colony.
The chapter can be divided into several sections:
- Verses 1-5: Introduction and setting the context
- Verses 6-12: Development of key themes
- Verses 13-13: Central message and teachings
This chapter is significant because it demonstrates God's faithfulness despite human unfaithfulness. When studying this passage, it's important to consider both its immediate context within 1 Corinthians and its broader place in the scriptural canon.
Verse Study
1 Corinthians 5:2
2 And ye are puffed up, and have not rather mourned, that he that hath done this deed might be taken away from among you.
Analysis
And ye are puffed up (πεφυσιωμένοι ἐστέ)—the Corinthians' problem was pride, not ignorance. Rather than grieving over sin, they were arrogant, perhaps viewing their 'tolerance' as sophisticated spirituality or evidence of freedom in Christ. The verb phusioo ("puffed up") appears six times in 1 Corinthians (4:6, 18, 19; 5:2; 8:1; 13:4), always negatively—contrasted with love that "does not boast" (13:4).
Have not rather mourned (ἐπενθήσατε)—the proper response to sin in the body is grief, not indifference. The verb pentheo denotes deep sorrow, the same word used for mourning the dead. That he that hath done this deed might be taken away from among you—the goal of discipline is removal from fellowship (exairo, "take away"), protecting the church's purity while creating conditions for the sinner's repentance. Discipline is an act of love seeking restoration, not vengeance.
Historical Context
The Corinthian church reflected the city's philosophical culture, which prized rhetoric, wisdom, and tolerance. Greek philosophy often separated spirit from body, leading some to conclude bodily actions had no spiritual significance. Paul's call to mourn contradicted the Stoic ideal of apathy (absence of passion) valued in Greco-Roman culture.
Reflection
- Do you grieve over sin in your own life and the church, or have you become desensitized?
- How can church discipline be exercised in love, not self-righteousness, with restoration as the goal?
- What pride might prevent you from addressing sin—either fear of seeming intolerant or superior?