1 Corinthians 5:6
A focused desk for reading, commentary, cross-references, original language notes, and your own observations.
1 Corinthians 5:6
6 Your glorying is not good. Know ye not that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump?
Chapter Context
1 Corinthians 5 is a pastoral epistle chapter in the New Testament that explores themes of sacrifice, obedience, worship. 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 provides guidance for worship and spiritual devotion. 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 5:6
6 Your glorying is not good. Know ye not that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump?
Analysis
Your glorying is not good (οὐ καλὸν τὸ καύχημα ὑμῶν)—their boasting about spiritual superiority, knowledge, or tolerance was misplaced. True spiritual maturity produces humility and grief over sin, not arrogance. Know ye not that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump?—Paul introduces the leaven metaphor, drawing on Jewish Passover imagery. Zyme (ζύμη, "leaven, yeast") represents sin's pervasive, corrupting influence.
The principle is organic and inevitable: small amounts of leaven ferment entire batches of dough. Similarly, tolerated sin spreads through the community, normalizing immorality and weakening witness. The rhetorical question "Know ye not?" implies this should be obvious—elementary spiritual knowledge. Their pride blinded them to a basic truth: holiness is corporate, not merely individual. One person's persistent, public sin affects the entire body, requiring decisive action to preserve communal purity.
Historical Context
Leaven appears throughout Scripture as a symbol of corruption and sin (Ex. 12:15-20; Matt. 16:6-12; Gal. 5:9). During Passover, Jews meticulously removed all leaven from their homes, symbolizing separation from Egypt's corruption. Paul applies this imagery to the church as God's holy community, called to remove the 'leaven' of sin.
Reflection
- What 'small' sins are you tolerating that might be spreading their influence in your life?
- How does the corporate nature of holiness challenge Western individualism in your faith?
- Do you view church discipline as protecting the community or merely punishing individuals?
Cross-References
- Good: 1 Corinthians 15:33
- Parallel theme: 1 Corinthians 5:2, Matthew 13:33, Galatians 5:9, James 4:16