Right Response to Rampant Sin

Robert Wurtz II

 

It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you, and of a kind that is not tolerated even among pagans, for a man has his father’s wife. And you are arrogant! Ought you not rather to mourn? Let him who has done this be removed from among you (1 Cor. 5:1-2 ESV). 

 

I fear that when I come again my God may humble me before you, and I may have to mourn over many of those who sinned earlier and have not repented of the impurity, sexual immorality, and sensuality that they have practiced (2 Corinthians 12:19-21). 

 

A Carnal Church

 

The Corinthian letters reveal a church with members who were carnal but believed themselves to be spiritual. Some practiced iniquity alongside the gifts of the Spirit. These two letters, unlike any of the others, help explain why many on that day will perform miracles and prophesy only to hear the dreaded words, depart from me, you who work iniquity (Matthew 7:23). 

The recurring theme is that the Corinthians were puffed up. This is a figurative way of saying that they were proud, arrogant, and self-congratulatory. This phrase “puffed up” is the Greek word phusioo, and it is used seven times in the New Testament, and six of them are in 1 Corinthians (1 Cor 4:6, 1 Cor 4:18-19; 1 Cor 5:2; 1 Cor 8:1; 1 Cor 13:4). The ESV translates phusioo as arrogant in 1 Corinthians 5:2. 

 

Misunderstanding the Gifts of the Spirit

 

When King Saul was anointed, he prophesied to the place that some thought he was a prophet (1 Samuel 10:10-11). Yet his life was a story of tragic rebellion and destruction. If he understood his anointing to mean he was at liberty to behave as he wished and still be in favor with God, he was sorely mistaken. Yet this seems to be a common misconception even to this day. 

The late Pentecostal scholar Finis Dake (1902-1987) commented on our passage, “You are puffed up over your gifts and powers and so full of strife and contention related to your parties and favorite teachers, you have neglected the discipline of the church. Had you considered the greatness of the crime, you would have mourned and acted to put away the fornicator.” (Dake commentary) 

Notice Finis Dake addresses the fact that there were factions among the people and relates it to the situation with the fornication. It is quite possible that they would protect the guilty party if he were in their group. This is only one example of how factions are destructive, as it brings about a miscarriage of justice (so to speak). It’s almost shocking the lengths to which a group will go to defend one of their own. 

Uncommon Sin

Paul addresses sexual immorality thoroughly in 1 Corinthians. He uses the Greek word pornea, which is a generic term that covers all kinds of sin, including adultery, incest, homosexuality, bestiality, idolatrous worship, premarital sex, and any other form of sexuality contrary to sound doctrine. 

It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you, and of a kind that is not tolerated even among pagans, for a man has his father’s wife. (1 Corinthians 5:1).

Scholars are divided on why the man would be sexually involved with his stepmother. Some say it was for the money, others point out that some step-mothers were actually younger than the step-sons. Regardless, it is contrary to God’s law, and even according to Roman law, it was illegal. “The Institutes of the Roman jurist Gaius (c. AD 161) deal with this crime. He declares, ‘It is illegal to marry a father’s or mother’s sister; neither can I marry her who has been quondam (formerly? at one time? ever?) my mother-in-law or stepmother.'” (NIGTC) The penalty was banishment to one of the islands, such as Corsica, Capri, or Patmos. 

How and Why? 

Pride brings a sense of superiority that deceives the proud one into believing that they are above the law, which is precisely what Paul addresses. Something was missing from their reaction to the sin. Surely with such flagrant flouting of God and man’s law, there would be some reasonable response? The Corinthians remained proud as if nothing was wrong, even though people knew there was gross sin in the camp. 

Some believe the sinful man may have been popular in the church or financially supported it. Perhaps he intimidated the people brazenly with his intellect or through legal action.  Others think he had connections within the church, so the situation was hushed up. Yet Paul told them they were “puffed up” about it. Perhaps they were defending him and making excuses. They never humbled themselves while they looked on, suggesting to me that they were more concerned about their image before men than their status before God. 

Why Didn’t You Mourn? 

Paul told the Corinthians that they did not rather mourn (kai ouchi mallon epenthēsate), which may have been a question. “The very least that they could have done, rather than be puffed up, was to mourn for shame (pentheō, old verb for lamentation) as if for one dead. (A.T. Robertson) As P. Zaas nicely put it, “the incestuous brother … has damaged the boundary between the church and the world” (“Catalogues and Context: 1 Corinthians 5 and 6,” NTS 34 [1988], 622–29, quotation from 629 quoted in the NICNT)

The verb “to mourn” occurs in the LXX (Greek Old Testament) in the context of mourning over the sins of fellow members of the covenant that will bring or worsen God’s judgment on the entire nation ( See Exodus 33:4; Numbers 14:39; Jeremiah 4:28; 12:4; 14:2; Daniel 10:2; Amos 8:8; etc.). If the church had mourned in a meaningful way in the meetings, it might have impacted the sensibilities of the offending parties and changed their minds about their sin. 

 

The Reporters

 

The last group I wish to address in this entry is those who reported to Paul what was happening. Obviously, not everyone was happy, nor was everyone proud, despite the events unfolding. There is no telling how a carnal church would’ve characterized those people who were brave enough to reach out to Paul. Like Jehu in 2 Kings 9, he wasn’t intimidated or afraid to deal with it.

Understand that when bad behavior is tolerated, it leaves the impression that some people can get by with any sin. I believe this was the cause of the discouragement that led Elijah to flee from Jezebel. He believed that she could do whatever she wanted to do with no consequences. She killed many (perhaps hundreds of) prophets, and didn’t face Divine judgment, or so it seemed. In time, she was dealt with severely (2 Kings 9:30-37). The same spirit of Jezebel can operate within a church when Church discipline is neglected.

Paul Mourning

The Corinthian church was something else! Paul relentlessly went after their sin and misconceptions. They didn’t seem to take him seriously as they should, again, because they were puffed up. But at least they followed through with removing the fornicator until he genuinely repented. Nevertheless, there was still sin going on that was worthy of mourning and lamentation. 

I fear that when I come again my God may humble me before you, and I may have to mourn over many of those who sinned earlier and have not repented of the impurity, sexual immorality, and sensuality that they have practiced (2 Corinthians 12:19-21). 

How horrible a sight that would be! Paul bewailing in a meeting, Old Testament style. That would have gotten all of their attention, and I’m sure they wouldn’t want any more of it. Yet this is how serious the situation was. A little leaven will leaven the whole lump if the perpetrators do not repent. Without Paul’s instruction, the Corinthian church may have been destroyed. 

 

Additional Articles of Interest

 

Shepherds After God’s Own Heart

 

The spirit of the Pharisees