Your boasting is not good.In the context of 1 Corinthians, Paul addresses the Corinthian church's pride and arrogance, particularly regarding their tolerance of sin within the community. The church was boasting about their spiritual gifts and knowledge, yet they were ignoring serious moral failings. This reflects a broader biblical theme where pride precedes a fall (
Proverbs 16:18). The Corinthian church's attitude contrasts with the humility and repentance that God desires (
James 4:6). Historically, Corinth was a wealthy and cosmopolitan city, known for its immorality, which may have influenced the church's behavior. This phrase serves as a warning against complacency and self-righteousness.
Do you not know that a little leaven
Leaven, or yeast, is often used in Scripture as a metaphor for sin or corruption due to its pervasive nature. In Jewish culture, leaven was removed from homes during Passover to symbolize purity and separation from sin (Exodus 12:15). Jesus also used leaven to describe the corrupting influence of the Pharisees' teachings (Matthew 16:6). Here, Paul uses it to illustrate how even a small amount of tolerated sin can affect the entire community. This metaphor underscores the need for vigilance and purity within the church.
works through the whole batch of dough?
The imagery of leaven working through dough emphasizes the insidious and pervasive nature of sin. Just as a small amount of yeast affects the entire batch, unchecked sin can spread and corrupt the whole church. This concept is echoed inGalatians 5:9, where Paul warns that "a little leaven leavens the whole lump." The process of leavening is gradual but inevitable, highlighting the importance of addressing sin promptly and decisively. This phrase calls the church to maintain holiness and integrity, reflecting the purity of Christ, who is the true unleavened bread (1 Corinthians 5:7).
Persons / Places / Events
1.
Paul the ApostleThe author of the letter to the Corinthians, addressing issues within the Corinthian church.
2.
Corinthian ChurchThe recipients of the letter, a Christian community in Corinth struggling with moral and ethical issues.
3.
Yeast (Leaven)A metaphor used by Paul to illustrate how a small amount of sin can affect the entire community.
4.
Sin in the ChurchThe specific issue being addressed is the tolerance of immorality within the church.
5.
BoastingThe attitude of the Corinthians, who were proud despite the presence of sin among them.
Teaching Points
The Danger of Tolerating SinJust as a small amount of yeast affects the whole dough, tolerating even a small sin can corrupt the entire community. Christians must be vigilant in addressing sin within the church.
The Importance of HumilityThe Corinthians' boasting was misplaced. True Christian maturity involves humility and a recognition of our need for God's grace.
The Call to PurityBelievers are called to be a "new batch" without yeast, symbolizing a life of purity and holiness. This requires ongoing self-examination and repentance.
Community ResponsibilityThe church community has a responsibility to hold each other accountable and to lovingly confront sin, ensuring the health and holiness of the body of Christ.
The Influence of SinSin, like yeast, can spread quickly and affect others. Christians must be aware of their influence and strive to be a positive example.
Bible Study Questions and Answers
1.What is the meaning of 1 Corinthians 5:6?
2.How does "a little yeast leavens the whole batch" apply to church discipline?
3.What does 1 Corinthians 5:6 teach about tolerating sin within the church?
4.How can we ensure sin doesn't spread like "yeast" in our community?
5.What Old Testament passages relate to the concept of leaven and sin?
6.How can we practically "cleanse out the old leaven" in our lives today?
7.What does "a little yeast leavens the whole batch of dough" mean in 1 Corinthians 5:6?
8.How does 1 Corinthians 5:6 relate to the concept of sin affecting a community?
9.Why is the metaphor of yeast used in 1 Corinthians 5:6?
10.What are the top 10 Lessons from 1 Corinthians 5?
11.What does 'a little leaven leavens the whole lump' mean?
12.What does "a little leaven leavens the whole lump" mean?
13.Who is excluded from inheriting the Kingdom of God?
14.Leviticus 2:4–5: Why forbid leaven in grain offerings, given that leaven was common in ancient Near Eastern bread-making?What Does 1 Corinthians 5:6 Mean
Your boasting is not good“Your boasting is not good.” (1 Corinthians 5:6a)
• Paul confronts the Corinthian church for taking pride in their tolerance of open sin rather than grieving over it (compare1 Corinthians 5:2).
• Scripture consistently warns against pride: “Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord” (2 Corinthians 10:17; see alsoProverbs 8:13;James 4:16).
• Boasting about sin—or about being “broad-minded” toward it—reveals a heart out of step with God’s holiness (Isaiah 5:20).
• Healthy church life requires humility before God and sorrow over sin instead of self-congratulation (Psalm 51:17).
Do you not know“Do you not know…” (1 Corinthians 5:6b)
• Paul uses this phrase to jolt believers into remembering truths they should already grasp (see1 Corinthians 3:16; 6:19).
• The implied answer is, “Yes, you really do know this.” It underscores their accountability.
• God expects believers to live out the truth they profess (James 1:22;Luke 12:47-48).
• Knowledge without obedience leads to self-deception (1 John 2:4).
That a little leaven“…that a little leaven…” (1 Corinthians 5:6c)
• Leaven (yeast) is tiny yet powerful, illustrating how even one tolerated sin can influence an entire community (Galatians 5:9).
• In Scripture leaven often symbolizes corruption (Exodus 12:15;Matthew 16:6).
• The “little” nature of the leaven warns against minimizing sin. What seems insignificant can quickly grow destructive (Song of Songs 2:15;Ecclesiastes 10:1).
• God calls His people to vigilance in guarding purity, starting with the seemingly small areas (Ephesians 4:27).
Works through the whole batch of dough“…works through the whole batch of dough.” (1 Corinthians 5:6d)
• Sin spreads; it never stays isolated (Joshua 7:1-12;Hebrews 12:15).
• The health of the entire church is at stake when unrepentant sin is left unchecked (Revelation 2:20-23).
• The remedy is decisive action: “Remove the wicked man from among yourselves” (1 Corinthians 5:13; see alsoTitus 3:10-11).
• God’s goal is restoration and holiness, so confronting sin is an act of love (Matthew 18:15-17;Galatians 6:1).
summaryPaul rebukes Corinthian believers for boasting about their tolerance of sin, reminding them that even a small compromise endangers the whole fellowship. Knowledge brings responsibility; unchecked sin spreads like leaven. For the church to remain pure and useful to Christ, pride must give way to humility, and sin must be confronted in loving, restorative obedience to God’s Word.
(6)
Your glorying is not good.--There is possibly a reference here to some boasting regarding their spiritual state contained in the letter which had reached St. Paul from Corinth, and to which part of this Epistle is a reply. (See
1Corinthians 7:1.) So long as there is that one bad person amongst you it gives a bad character to the whole community, as leaven, though it may not have pervaded the entire lump, still makes it not the unleavened bread which was necessary for the Paschal Feast. This Epistle being written shortly before Pentecost (
1Corinthians 16:8), it was very likely some time about or soon after Easter, hence the leaven and the Paschal Feast naturally suggest themselves as illustrations. The Apostle passes on rapidly from the mention of the leaven to the whole scene of the feast. As with the most minute and scrupulous care the Jew would remove every atom of leaven when the Paschal lamb was to be eaten, so our Paschal Lamb having been slain, we must take care that no moral leaven remains in the sacred household of the Church while she keeps her perpetual feast of prayer and thanksgiving.
Verse 6. -
Your glorying; rather,
the subject of your boasting, the point on which you glorify yourselves. The Greek word does not mean the act of boasting, but the thing of which we boast.
Not good. The Greek word is not
agathon, but
kalon, an almost untranslatable word, which implies all moral beauty, and resembles the English word "fair" or "noble." When he says that it is "not good," he uses the figure called
litotes;
i.e. he employs an expression intentionally too weak, that it may be corrected into a stronger one by the involuntary indignation of the reader; as when Virgil calls the cannibal tyrant Busiris "unpraised." Hence the clause is equivalent to "the thing of which you are boasting is detestable."
Know ye not. This clause is used by St. Paul in specially solemn appeals, and almost exclusively in these Epistles (
1 Corinthians 3:16;
1 Corinthians 6:16, 19;
1 Corinthians 9:13, 24).
A little leaven leaveneth the whole lump (
Galatians 5:9). The taint alluded to is not only the presence of the unpunished offender, but the general laxity and impurity displayed by their whole bearing in the matter (comp. the line of Menander quoted in ch. 15:33, and the "root of bitterness" in
Hebrews 12:15). (For the word "lump," see
Romans 11:16.)
Parallel Commentaries ...
Greek
Yourὑμῶν(hymōn)Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive 2nd Person Plural
Strong's 4771:You. The person pronoun of the second person singular; thou.boastingκαύχημα(kauchēma)Noun - Nominative Neuter Singular
Strong's 2745:A boasting; a ground of boasting (glorying, exultation). From kauchaomai; a boast in a good or a bad sense.[is] notΟὐ(Ou)Adverb
Strong's 3756:No, not. Also ouk, and ouch a primary word; the absolute negative adverb; no or not.good.καλὸν(kalon)Adjective - Nominative Neuter Singular
Strong's 2570:Properly, beautiful, but chiefly good, i.e. Valuable or virtuous.Do you not knowοἴδατε(oidate)Verb - Perfect Indicative Active - 2nd Person Plural
Strong's 1492:To know, remember, appreciate.thatὅτι(hoti)Conjunction
Strong's 3754:Neuter of hostis as conjunction; demonstrative, that; causative, because.a littleμικρὰ(mikra)Adjective - Nominative Feminine Singular
Strong's 3398:Little, small. Including the comparative mikroteros apparently a primary word; small (figuratively) dignity).yeastζύμη(zymē)Noun - Nominative Feminine Singular
Strong's 2219:Leaven, ferment, both lit. and met. Probably from zeo; ferment.leavensζυμοῖ(zymoi)Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 2220:To leaven, ferment. From zume; to cause to ferment.theτὸ(to)Article - Accusative Neuter Singular
Strong's 3588:The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.wholeὅλον(holon)Adjective - Accusative Neuter Singular
Strong's 3650:All, the whole, entire, complete. A primary word; 'whole' or 'all', i.e. Complete, especially as noun or adverb.batch [of dough]?φύραμα(phyrama)Noun - Accusative Neuter Singular
Strong's 5445:A mass or lump, as of bread dough. From a prolonged form of phuro, mean to knead; a mass of dough.
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NT Letters: 1 Corinthians 5:6 Your boasting is not good (1 Cor. 1C iC 1Cor i cor icor) 
