What does 1 Corinthians 5 mean?
1 Corinthians 5 tells the church to deal seriously with open sexual sin and not treat it as harmless. Paul says to remove the unrepentant man, because a little leaven spreads through the whole lump. Early Christian writers like Clement, Origen, Cyprian, Tertullian, and Ignatius used this chapter to teach church discipline and moral purity.
128 early-church witnesses · 252 source quotations · compared with Scripture
What does 1 Corinthians 5 mean?
1 Corinthians 5 means that the church must not accept open, unrepentant sin as normal. Paul tells believers to remove the guilty man from fellowship, because sin spreads and can poison the whole church. He also uses Passover and leaven language to call the church to live in sincerity and truth.
Early Christian writers like Cyprian, Clement of Alexandria, Origen, Tertullian, and Ignatius used this passage to support church discipline and to warn against sharing fellowship with a brother who lives in grave sin. Many more early Christian quotations, Bible passages, and source links are gathered below so you can study the evidence for yourself.
Passage context
Paul is correcting the Corinthian church for tolerating sexual immorality that even pagans would condemn. He says the church was proud instead of grieving, and he tells them to remove the man from among them. He then explains that the church must keep the feast with sincerity and truth, not with the old leaven of malice and wickedness.
Why early Christian sources matter
Early Christian writers show how the church read this passage very early and very concretely. Clement, Origen, Cyprian, and Tertullian all use it for church discipline, separation from grave sin, and moral cleansing. Their comments help confirm that the passage was not read as a mild warning, but as a serious command for church life.
Common interpretation points
- The strongest early Christian use of this chapter is about church discipline, not about a hidden symbolic meaning.
- Several writers connect the leaven image to moral purity and to the Passover theme.
- Some nearby cards only repeat the wording without adding much new interpretation, so they are supporting rather than direct witnesses.
Evidence-Based Summary
1 Corinthians 5 teaches that the church must not excuse serious public sin, must remove an unrepentant offender from fellowship, and must keep its life free from the old leaven of sin. Early Christian writers such as Clement of Alexandria, Origen, Cyprian, Tertullian, and Ignatius used this chapter to support church discipline and to warn believers not to share table fellowship with a person who claims the name of brother while living in grave sin.
They also read the leaven language as a call to live with sincerity, truth, and moral purity, not just as a food law. The evidence is strong on discipline and purity, and also fairly strong on the Passover and leaven imagery, though some quotations are indirect or only use part of the chapter.
Key Takeaways
- 1 Corinthians 5 calls the church to remove unrepentant serious sin from fellowship.
- The leaven image means sin spreads and must be cleared out.
- Early Christian writers consistently used this passage for discipline and moral purity.
Questions Answered by the Sources
Did early Christians think 1 Corinthians 5 teaches church discipline?
Yes. Early Christian writers used 1 Corinthians 5 to say the church should remove an unrepentant person who claims to be a brother but lives in grave sin. They treat Paul’s command as real church discipline, not just a private warning.
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1 Corinthians 5:5 Direct teaching
deliver such a one to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.
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1 Corinthians 5:11 Direct teaching
But now I am writing to you not to associate with anyone who bears the name of brother if he is guilty of sexual immorality or greed, or is an idolater, reviler, drunkard, or swindler—not even to eat with such a one.
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1 Corinthians 5:10 Supporting witness
Yet I certainly did not mean with the sexually immoral people of this world, or with the covetous, or extortioners, or idolaters, since then you would need to go out of the world.
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1 Corinthians 5:2 Supporting witness
And ye are puffed up, and have not rather mourned, that he that hath done this deed might be taken away from among you.
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1 Corinthians 5:13 Supporting witness
But them that are without God judgeth. Therefore put away from among yourselves that wicked person.
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Clement of Alexandria, The Stromata (Miscellanies) Direct teaching
...rtain men of this kind, he commands, "Do not even associate, if anyone called a brother is sexually immoral, or greedy, or an idolater, or abusive, or a drunkard, or a robber. With such a man, do not even eat," 1 Corinthians 5:11. For, "Through the law I died to the law," he says, "that I might live to God. I have been crucified with Christ." And I no longer live, as I used to live by desires. But Christ lives in me, chastely and blessedly, through obedience to the commandments. Therefore, though at that time I lived in the flesh in a fleshly way, "what I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God," Galatians 2:19-20. "Do not go into the way of the Gentiles, and do not enter into a city of the Samaritans," Matthew 10:5. By this the Lord warns us away from the opposite way of life. For "the conduct of wicked men is evil," and such is the life of all who do what is unjust, Proverbs 1:18-19. "Woe to that man," says the Lord. "It would be good for him if he had not been born, rather than that he should cause one of my chosen ones to stumble," Matthew 26:24. "It would be better for him if a millstone were put around him and he were sunk in the sea, than that he should pe
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Origen, Commentary on Matthew Direct teaching
... even if he is called a brother. As the Apostle says, “If anyone who is named a brother is sexually immoral, or covetous, or an idolater,” and so on, “with such a one, do not even eat.” 1 Corinthians 5:11 For no one who is an idolater, or sexually immoral, or covetous, is a brother. For if someone who seems to bear the name of Christ, though he is called a brother, has some of the marks of these sins, he would not rightly be called a brother. So then, the one who says that these words are spoken about every sin, whether the sin is murder, or poisoning, or pederasty, or anything of that sort, would give occasion for injury to the exceeding goodness of Christ. On the other hand, the one who distinguishes between the brother and the man who is called a brother might teach that, in the case of the smallest sins, a man who has not repented after being shown his fault is to be counted as a Gentile and a tax collector, for sins that are not to death, 1 John 5:16 or, as the law describes them in the Book of Numbers, not death-bringing. Numbers 18:22 This would seem very harsh. For I do not think anyone will easily be found who has not been rebuked three times for the same kind of sin, s
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Clement of Alexandria, The Instructor (Paedagogus) Direct teaching
1 Corinthians 5:11 neither in discourse or food are we to join, looking with suspicion on the pollution thence proceeding, as on the tables of the demons.
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Ignatius of Antioch, Connection to 1 Corinthians 5:11 Direct teaching
Have no fellowship with such a man, lest ye perish along with him, even should he be thy father, thy son, thy brother, or a member of thy family.
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Tertullian, On Modesty Supporting witness
What more disgraceful than immodesties? If, moreover, even from a brother who walks idly he warns the Thessalonians to withdraw themselves, how much more withal from a fornicator!
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Tertullian, Against Marcion Direct teaching
and when he bade the wicked person be put away from the midst of them, 1 Corinthians 5:13 he only mentioned what is a very frequently recurring sentence of the Creator.
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Apostolic Constitutions, Apostolic Constitutions Supporting witness
... out of the congregation as a murderer of his brother. Some time later, if he says that he repents, discipline him with fastings. After that, lay your hands on him and receive him again, but still keep watch over him, so that he does not disturb anyone a second time. But if, after he is admitted again, he is still troublesome and will not stop disturbing and quarreling with his brother, looking for faults out of a contentious spirit, cast him out as a harmful person, so that he may not lay waste the Church of God. For such a man stirs up disturbances in cities. Even though he is inside, he does not become the Church, but is an unnecessary and useless member, casting a stain, as far as he can, on the body of Christ. For if people who are born with extra parts on their body, hanging from them like fingers or lumps of flesh, cut them off because of their ugliness, so that the deformity disappears and the man recovers his natural good shape by the surgeon's work, how much more ought you, the pastors of the Church, to do the same. For the Church is a perfect body, with sound members, made up of those who believe in God, in the fear of the Lord, and in love. So when an unnecessary mem
More related quotations from this section 7 shown
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Apostolic Constitutions, Apostolic Constitutions Supporting witness
II. But if any one who calls himself a brother is seduced by the evil one, and acts wickedness, and is convicted and condemned to death as an adulterer, or a murderer, depart from him, that you may be secure, and none of you may be suspected as a partner in such an abominable practice;
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Irenaeus, Against Heresies: Book IV Supporting witness
And we have the precept: “If any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner, with such an one go not to eat.” And again does the apostle say, “Let no man deceive you with vain words;
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Cyprian, Epistles Supporting witness
Nor does what you described in your letters disturb us, dearest brother: that the Novatians re-baptize those whom they lure away from us. It does not matter to us at all what the enemies of the Church do, as long as we ourselves keep respect for our authority and for the firmness of reason and truth. For Novatian, like apes, which are not men and yet imitate human actions, wants to claim for himself the authority and truth of the Catholic Church, though he himself is not in the Church. No, more than that, up to now he has come forward as a rebel and enemy against the Church. For although he knows that there is one baptism, he claims this one for himself, so that he may say that the Church is with him and make us heretics. But we, who hold to the head and root of the one Church, know and confidently trust that nothing is lawful there outside the Church, and that the one baptism is among us, where he himself also was formerly baptized, when he still held to both the wisdom and truth of divine unity. But if Novatian thinks that those who have been baptized in the Church must be re-baptized outside the Church, he ought to begin with himself, so that he might first be re-baptized with a
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Cyprian, Treatises Supporting witness
Discipline is the safeguard of hope, the bond of faith, the guide on the way of salvation, the encouragement and nourishment of good dispositions, and the teacher of virtue. It causes us to remain always in Christ, to live continually for God, and to attain the heavenly promises and the divine rewards. To follow it is wholesome, and to turn away from it and neglect it is deadly. The Holy Spirit says in the Psalms, "Keep discipline, lest perhaps the Lord be angry, and you perish from the right way, when His wrath is quickly kindled against you." And again: "But to the ungodly God says, 'Why do you preach my laws, and take my covenant into your mouth? Since you hate discipline, and have cast my words behind you.'" And again we read: "He that casts away discipline is miserable." Wisdom 3:11. And from Solomon we have received the commands of wisdom, warning us: "My son, do not despise the discipline of the Lord, nor faint when you are rebuked by Him; for whom the Lord loves He corrects." Proverbs 3:11. But if God rebukes those whom He loves, and rebukes them for the very purpose of correcting them, then brothers also, and especially priests, should not hate but love those whom they reb
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Tertullian, On Modesty Supporting witness
...s wholly saddened, he has not wholly saddened me, but in part, lest I burden you all. Sufficient is such a rebuke as is given by many; so that, on the contrary, you should rather forgive and comfort him, lest perhaps such a one be devoured by too much sadness. For which reason, I beg you, confirm toward him affection. For to this end I also wrote, that I might learn proof of you, that in all things you are obedient to me. But if you have forgiven anyone, so have I. For I too, if I have forgiven anything, have forgiven in the person of Christ, lest we be overreached by Satan, since we are not ignorant of his injections." What reference to the fornicator is understood here? What reference to the defiler of his father's bed? What reference to the Christian who had gone beyond the shamelessness of the heathens? For surely he would have absolved by a special pardon one whom he had condemned by a special anger. He is more obscure in his pity than in his indignation. He is more open in his austerity than in his lenity. And yet anger is usually more indirect than indulgence. Sadder things are more accustomed to hesitate than more joyful things. Of course, the matter in hand concerned so
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Cyprian, Epistles Background
... whose commands and warnings we ought to keep, describes the honor of a bishop and the order of His Church in the Gospel. He says to Peter: “I say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my Church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. And I will give to you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.” From there, through the changes of times and successions, the ordering of bishops and the arrangement of the Church continues on. So the Church is founded upon the bishops, and every act of the Church is directed by these same rulers. Since this is founded on divine law, I am amazed that some, with reckless boldness, have chosen to write to me as if they were writing in the name of the Church, when the Church is established in the bishop and the clergy, and in all who stand firm in the faith. Far be it from the mercy of God and His unlimited power to allow the number of the lapsed to be called the Church, since it is written, “God is not the God of the dead, but of the living,” Matthew 22:32. For we do indeed desire that all may be made alive, a
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Cyprian, Epistles Background
3. But, dearest brother, ecclesiastical discipline is not on that account to be forsaken, nor priestly censure to be relaxed, because we are disturbed with reproaches or are shaken with terrors;
What does the old leaven mean in 1 Corinthians 5?
The old leaven means sin and corruption that must be removed from the church. Early Christian writers also connect the passage to Passover and to a life of sincerity, truth, and purity.
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1 Corinthians 5:7 Direct teaching
Therefore purge out the old leaven, that you may be a new lump, since you truly are unleavened. For indeed Christ, our Passover, was sacrificed for us.
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1 Corinthians 5:8 Direct teaching
Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness; but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.
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1 Corinthians 5:6 Supporting witness
Your glorying is not good. Do you not know that a little leaven leavens the whole lump?
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Cyprian, Treatises Direct teaching
16. The warning apostle says, "Purge out the old leaven, so that you may be a new lump, as you are unleavened; for Christ our Passover also has been sacrificed. Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, nor with the leaven of malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth." 1 Corinthians 5:7 But are sincerity and truth being kept when what is sincere is stained by adulterous colors, and what is true is changed into a lie by the deceitful dyes of cosmetics? Your Lord says, "You cannot make one hair white or black." Matthew 5:36 And yet, in order to overcome your Lord's word, you would make yourself mightier than He is, and stain your hair with bold effort and profane contempt. With an evil sign of what is to come, you are already making for yourself a beginning of flame-colored hair. And you sin, O wickedness, with your head—that is, with the nobler part of your body! And although it is written of the Lord, "His head and His hair were white like wool or snow," Revelation 1:14 you curse that whiteness and hate that gray hair which is like the Lord's head.
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Origen, Commentary on John Supporting witness
but we keep the feast 1 Corinthians 5:8 not with the old leaven, nor with the leaven of malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.
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Tertullian, Against Marcion Supporting witness
1 Corinthians 5:7 The unleavened bread was therefore, in the Creator's ordinance, a figure of us (Christians).
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Clement of Alexandria, The Stromata (Miscellanies) Supporting witness
Expurgate ergo vetus fermentum, ut sitis novo conspersio, 1 Corinthians 5:7 nobis exclamat Apostolus.
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Cyprian, Treatises Supporting witness
for even Christ our passover is sacrificed. Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.
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Justin Martyr, Dialogue with Trypho Supporting witness
...ly cleanses the flesh and body? Cleanse the soul from wrath, covetousness, envy, and hatred; and behold, the body will be pure. This is the symbolic meaning of unleavened bread—that you do not do the old deeds of wicked leaven. But you have understood everything in a physical sense, thinking it is piety to do such things, while your souls are filled with deceit and every kind of wickedness. Therefore, after the seven days of eating unleavened bread, God commanded them to mix in new leaven, meaning the performance of new works, not the imitation of old, evil deeds. Because this is what the new Lawgiver demands, I will again reference the words I have quoted, and others which have been overlooked. They are given by Isaiah in this way: 'Listen to me, and your soul shall live; and I will make with you an everlasting covenant, the sure mercies of David. Look, I have made Him a witness to the people, a leader and commander to the nations. Nations that do not know you shall call upon you; and peoples who do not know you shall run to you, because of your God, the Holy One of Israel, for He has glorified you. Seek God; and call on Him while He is near you. Let the wicked abandon his ways
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Justin Martyr, Dialogue with Trypho Supporting witness
Accordingly, also, after the seven days of eating unleavened bread, God commanded them to mingle new leaven, that is, the performance of other works, and not the imitation of the old and evil works.
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Clement of Alexandria, The Stromata (Miscellanies) Supporting witness
...s in the midst of the devil’s works, suffer the most hostile treatment. For it is written, “lest he deliver you to the judge, and the judge deliver you to the officers” of Satan’s kingdom. For I am persuaded that neither death, through the assault of persecutors, nor life in this world, nor angels, the apostate ones, nor powers—and Satan’s power is the life that he chose, for such are the powers and principalities of darkness belonging to him—nor things present, among which we exist during the time of life, such as the hope held by the soldier and the merchant’s gain, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, because of the activity proper to a man, opposes the faith of him who acts according to free choice. “Creature” is another word for activity, since it is our work. And such activity will not be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord, Romans 8:38-39. You have here a compendious account of the gnostic martyr.
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Ignatius, Epistle to the Magnesians (Short Version) Supporting witness
...ristianity. For anyone called by any other name besides this is not of God. Lay aside the evil, the old, the sour leaven, and be changed into the new leaven, which is Jesus Christ. Be salted in Him, lest anyone among you becomes corrupted, since by your savor you will be judged. It is absurd to profess Christ Jesus and then follow Judaism. For Christianity did not embrace Judaism, but Judaism embraced Christianity, so that every tongue which believes might be gathered together to God.
More related quotations from this section 9 shown
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Ignatius, Epistle to the Magnesians (Long Version) Supporting witness
... when Paul and Peter were laying the foundations of the Church. Lay aside, therefore, the evil, the old, the corrupt leaven, and be changed into the new leaven of grace. Abide in Christ, so that the stranger may not have dominion over you. It is absurd to speak of Jesus Christ with the tongue, and to harbor in the mind a Judaism which has now ended. For where there is Christianity, there cannot be Judaism. For Christ is one, in whom every nation that believes, and every tongue that confesses, is gathered unto God. And those with a stony heart have become the children of Abraham, the friend of God; and in his seed all those have been blessed who were ordained to eternal life in Christ.
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Ignatius, Epistle to the Magnesians (Short Version) Supporting witness
Lay aside, therefore, the evil, the old, the sour leaven, and be ye changed into the new leaven, which is Jesus Christ.
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Ignatius, Epistle to the Magnesians (Long Version) Supporting witness
Lay aside, therefore, the evil, the old, the corrupt leaven, and be ye changed into the new leaven of grace.
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Tertullian, Against Marcion Supporting witness
Purge out the old leaven, that you may be a new lump, as you are unleavened.
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Cyprian, Treatises Supporting witness
16. The voice of the warning apostle is, Purge out the old leaven, that you may be a new lump, as you are unleavened;
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Justin Martyr, Dialogue with Trypho Supporting witness
and, lo! the body is pure. For this is the symbolic significance of unleavened bread, that you do not commit the old deeds of wicked leaven.
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Justin Martyr, Connection to 1 Corinthians 5:7 Supporting witness
the Passover was Christ, as Paul declares.
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Tatian, The Diatessaron Background
Matthew 16:12 Then they understood that he spoke, not that they should beware of the leaven of the bread, but of the doctrine of the Pharisees and Sadducees, which he called leaven.
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Anonymous, Connection to 1 Corinthians 5:6 Background
What power, the paschal image
Common Questions
Did early Christians think 1 Corinthians 5 was about church discipline?
Yes. Clement of Alexandria, Origen, Cyprian, Tertullian, and Ignatius all use the chapter to argue that the church should not stay in close fellowship with a person who claims to be a brother but lives in serious sin.
What does the leaven in 1 Corinthians 5 mean?
It means sin and corrupt teaching or behavior that spreads through the church. Early Christian writers also use the leaven image as a call to live in purity, sincerity, and truth.
What sin is Paul talking about in 1 Corinthians 5?
He is talking about open sexual immorality, along with the pride that let it remain in the church.
Why does Paul say to deliver someone to Satan?
He says it so the man may be corrected and saved, with the goal of spiritual restoration rather than destruction.
Did early Christians use 1 Corinthians 5 to exclude immoral people from fellowship?
Yes. They often quote it when warning believers not to eat or associate closely with someone who claims to be a brother but lives in grave sin.
Source Index for 1 Corinthians 5
The guided sections above show the strongest quotations. This compact index highlights 160 ranked source links from 252 compiled sources for deeper study.
Source index 160 ranked links shown
Early Christian Writings 80 shown of 128
Primary-source quotations from early Christian writers and church documents.
Bible Passages 80 shown of 124
Related Bible passages saved for comparison with the early Christian quotations.
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Book 79 1:52
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