What does Paul mean by not keeping company with fornicators?

Paul is not talking about avoiding every sinful person in the world. He explains that if believers tried to stay away from all sexually immoral, greedy, or idolatrous people in society, they would have to leave the world altogether, which is impossible. His main point is about people who claim to be Christians yet live in open, unrepentant sin. With such people, the church should not share close fellowship, even to the point of not eating with them, so that the person feels the weight of their sin and is moved to repent.

Why does Paul tell the church not to eat with a sinning brother?

In that culture, eating together was a sign of close friendship and shared life. Paul says that if someone calls himself a brother but lives in clear, ongoing sin, the church should not treat him as if everything is fine. Not eating with him is a way of saying, “Your life does not match your confession.” This is meant to shame him in a loving way, to wake him up to his condition and call him back to repentance, and also to protect the church’s witness and keep others from being drawn into the same sin.

How is treating sinful people inside the church different from those outside?

Paul draws a clear line between those “within” and those “without.” Those within are people who claim to follow Christ and belong to the church. The church is responsible to judge their conduct and, when needed, use discipline. Those without are people who do not claim to follow Christ. The church is not called to pass church discipline on them. Instead, Paul says that God judges those outside. Believers still interact with them in daily life, but the special duty of correction and discipline belongs inside the church family.

Why does Paul say God judges those who are outside?

Paul reminds the church that their main responsibility is to those who belong to their fellowship. They are not set up to police the behavior of the whole world. God sees and will judge those who are outside the church. This keeps believers from being distracted by trying to reform society while ignoring sin in their own midst. It also shows that final judgment belongs to God. The church’s duty is to be faithful in its own house, dealing with unrepentant sin among those who wear the name of Christ.

What does “put away from among yourselves that wicked person” mean?

This phrase is Paul’s closing command about the man living in serious sin. To “put away” means to remove him from the fellowship of the church. He is no longer to be treated as a brother in good standing. This is not about personal hatred but about the church as a body saying, “We cannot join Christ’s name to this open sin.” The goal is both to protect the church’s purity and to bring the person to see the seriousness of their sin, so that, by God’s grace, they may one day repent and be restored.

Why can’t Christians just avoid all sinful people altogether?

Paul says that if believers tried to avoid every sinner, they would have to go out of the world. In business, family, and daily life, Christians will meet people who live in many kinds of sin. That contact is unavoidable and expected. The difference is that such people do not claim to follow Christ or belong to the church. With them, believers can still work, trade, and talk. The stricter separation is only commanded when someone proudly bears the name of brother or sister while stubbornly living in open sin.

How does this passage guide church discipline today?

This passage shows that church discipline is part of caring for God’s people. When someone who claims to be a believer lives in open, serious sin and refuses to repent, the church should not act as if nothing is wrong. After patient warnings, there may come a point where the church must stop treating that person as a member in good standing. This protects others from being led astray, guards the honor of Christ’s name, and can be a strong wake-up call for the person to turn back to God.

What kinds of sins does Paul mention in this warning?

Paul lists several patterns of life that show open rebellion against God: sexual immorality, greed, worshiping idols, abusive speech, drunkenness, and extortion or cheating others. His point is not that these are the only sins, but that such clear, ongoing behavior does not fit someone who claims to follow Christ. When these sins are known, ongoing, and unrepented, the church must not ignore them. Instead, it should lovingly confront and, if needed, separate from the person until there is real change.

1Cor.5.9

1 Corinthians 5:9

KJV

I wrote unto you in an epistle not to company with fornicators:

Expel the Immoral Brother

I wrote unto you in an epistle not to company with fornicators:

Yet not altogether with the fornicators of this world, or with the covetous, or extortioners, or with idolaters; for then must ye needs go out of the world.

But now I have written unto you not to keep company, 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 no not to eat.

For what have I to do to judge them also that are without? do not ye judge them that are within?

But them that are without God judgeth. Therefore put away from among yourselves that wicked person.

Cross References

No cross references available for this verse.