What immorality was going on in the Corinthian church that even the Gentiles condemned?
A man in the Corinthian church had his father’s wife, his stepmother—an act of immorality even the Gentiles condemned. Instead of mourning, the congregation was puffed up and boasted, tolerating the offender rather than removing him from their midst.
Les explains that Paul confronted the Corinthians because they were permitting an act of immorality that even the Gentiles would not think of doing: a man had his father’s wife, a stepmother. Rather than mourning and dealing with the deed, they were puffed up, smiling about it, and making snide remarks—they were glorying and gloating over it. Paul, absent in body but present in spirit, had already judged the offender. In the name and power of the Lord Jesus Christ, when gathered together, they were to deliver such a one to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, not the soul—physical death if he would not straighten up. They were just as guilty as he was because they gloated over the sin. Paul reminded them that a little leaven permeates the whole loaf. In the second letter, they did deal with it, brought the man back into fellowship, and his sin was forgiven and cleansed; the letter had done its work.
It is reported commonly that there is fornication among you, and such fornication as is not so much as named among the Gentiles, that one should have his father’s wife.
More Questions
What was the sin in 1 Corinthians 5 that Paul was addressing?
The sin described in this passage was a stepson and his stepmother actually living together as husband and wife, which is what the commentators pretty much agree on.