I wrote you in my letterThis phrase indicates that Paul had previously communicated with the Corinthian church through another letter, which is not part of the New Testament canon. This suggests that Paul's correspondence with the Corinthians was ongoing and that he was addressing specific issues within the church. The existence of this earlier letter highlights the importance of understanding the context and the ongoing relationship between Paul and the Corinthian believers. It also underscores the pastoral care Paul had for the churches he established, as he continued to guide them even from a distance.
not to associate
The term "associate" implies a level of fellowship or close relationship. In the context of the early church, association would have included sharing meals, worship, and communal activities. The instruction not to associate is a call for the church to maintain purity and holiness, reflecting the call to be separate from sin. This echoes Old Testament principles where Israel was instructed to be distinct from the surrounding nations (Leviticus 20:26). The idea is not to completely isolate from the world but to avoid intimate connections that could lead to moral compromise.
with sexually immoral people
Sexual immorality, or "porneia" in Greek, encompasses a range of illicit sexual behaviors outside the bounds of biblical marriage. In the Greco-Roman world, sexual immorality was rampant and often intertwined with pagan religious practices. The Corinthian church, situated in a city known for its moral laxity, faced significant challenges in maintaining sexual purity. This instruction aligns with the broader biblical teaching on sexual ethics, as seen in passages like1 Thessalonians 4:3-5 andEphesians 5:3. It also reflects the call to holiness found throughout Scripture, where believers are urged to live lives that honor God, as seen in1 Peter 1:15-16.
Persons / Places / Events
1.
Paul the ApostleThe author of the letter, addressing the church in Corinth. Paul is a key figure in the early Christian church, known for his missionary journeys and epistles.
2.
The Church in CorinthA Christian community in the city of Corinth, known for its diverse population and moral challenges. The church faced issues of immorality and division, which Paul addresses in his letters.
3.
Sexually Immoral PeopleRefers to individuals engaging in sexual practices outside the boundaries set by Christian teachings. In the context of Corinth, this included a range of behaviors prevalent in the city.
4.
Paul's Previous LetterAn earlier correspondence from Paul to the Corinthians, which is not part of the canonical New Testament but is referenced here.
5.
CorinthA major city in ancient Greece, known for its wealth, commerce, and moral laxity. The cultural environment posed challenges for the early Christians living there.
Teaching Points
Understanding ContextRecognize that Paul's instruction is specific to the church community and aims to maintain the integrity and witness of the church.
Moral PurityChristians are called to uphold moral standards that reflect their faith and commitment to Christ, avoiding behaviors that contradict biblical teachings.
Community AccountabilityThe church is a community where members hold each other accountable, encouraging one another to live according to God's standards.
Separation from SinWhile believers are in the world, they are not to adopt its sinful practices. This separation is not about isolation but about maintaining a distinct Christian identity.
Restoration and RedemptionThe goal of addressing immorality within the church is not merely punitive but redemptive, aiming to restore individuals to right relationship with God and the community.
Bible Study Questions and Answers
1.What is the meaning of 1 Corinthians 5:9?
2.How does 1 Corinthians 5:9 guide us in avoiding immoral influences today?
3.What does "not to associate with sexually immoral people" mean for Christians?
4.How can we balance 1 Corinthians 5:9 with Jesus' example of loving sinners?
5.In what ways can the church implement 1 Corinthians 5:9 in its community?
6.How does 1 Corinthians 5:9 connect with Matthew 18:15-17 on church discipline?
7.What does 1 Corinthians 5:9 mean by "not to associate with sexually immoral people"?
8.How should Christians apply 1 Corinthians 5:9 in modern society?
9.Does 1 Corinthians 5:9 suggest complete separation from non-believers?
10.What are the top 10 Lessons from 1 Corinthians 5?
11.How do we reconcile Paul’s instructions in 1 Corinthians 5:9–11 about disassociating with sinners with Jesus’ example of befriending them?
12.How many letters were sent to the Corinthians?
13.Can Christians befriend non-Christians?
14.2 Thessalonians 3:14 – How is shunning disobedient individuals consistent with the broader New Testament call to restore and reconcile sinners?What Does 1 Corinthians 5:9 Mean
I wrote you- Paul reminds the Corinthians that he has already spoken to them about this matter (1 Corinthians 4:14).
- His words carry apostolic weight—“What I am writing to you is the Lord’s command” (1 Corinthians 14:37).
- By saying “I wrote,” Paul anchors the instruction in an earlier communication, showing continuity and consistency in teaching (2 Corinthians 13:10).
in my letter- The phrase points to a specific written document that the Spirit has preserved for the church, now recognized as Scripture (2 Peter 3:15-16).
- Written words allow truth to be revisited, tested, and applied (Acts 17:11;2 Timothy 3:16-17).
- A letter transcends geography and time; what guided Corinth still guides believers today (Romans 15:4).
not to associate- “Associate” implies close, deliberate fellowship—shared meals, ministry, and friendship (1 Corinthians 5:11: “do not even eat with such a one”).
- The aim is restorative, to awaken repentance through loving but firm distance (2 Thessalonians 3:14-15).
- This separation guards the purity of the church (Ephesians 5:11) and protects weaker believers from harmful influence (1 Corinthians 15:33).
- It is not a call to hatred or public shaming but a sober boundary that highlights the seriousness of sin (Galatians 6:1).
with sexually immoral people- Sexual immorality (porneia) covers all sexual activity outside the covenant of one-man, one-woman marriage (Genesis 2:24;Hebrews 13:4).
- Paul clarifies that he is focusing on those who claim to be believers yet persist unrepentantly in such sin (1 Corinthians 5:10-13).
- God judges outsiders, but the church must address sin within its own fellowship (1 Peter 4:17).
- Persistent immorality threatens a person’s inheritance in God’s kingdom (1 Corinthians 6:9-10;Ephesians 5:3-6;Revelation 21:8).
- Loving confrontation paired with separation calls the offender back to holiness (James 5:19-20; Jude 23).
summaryPaul’s brief sentence—“I wrote you in my letter not to associate with sexually immoral people”—reaffirms a previous directive. In his authoritative, Spirit-inspired letter, he instructs believers to withdraw close fellowship from anyone inside the church who persists in sexual immorality. The purpose is twofold: to maintain the church’s purity and to prompt the sinner to repent and be restored. This timeless standard, rooted in love and holiness, continues to safeguard Christ’s community and uphold the truth of the gospel.
(9)
I wrote unto you in an epistle.--These words have given rise to some controversy as to whether the Apostle here refers to some former Epistle addressed to the Corinthian Church, and which has not been preserved, or whether the reference is not to this Epistle itself. It has been suggested by some who adopt the latter view that these words may have been added as an interpolation after the completion of the Epistle, and be intended to intensify the remarks made by the Apostle on this subject in
1Corinthians 5:6-8;
1Corinthians 6:9-20. Such an interpretation, however, seems rather strained. It is more natural to suppose that the reference is to an Epistle written to the Corinthians, probably from Ephesus, after a visit paid to Corinth of which we have no record, for in
2Corinthians 12:14;
2Corinthians 13:1, we read of a third visit being contemplated, whereas only one previous one is recorded. (See also
Introduction.) The condition of the Church which caused the Apostle that "heaviness," which he connects with this visit in
2Corinthians 2:1, would naturally have given rise to an Epistle containing the kind of direction here referred to.
Verses 9-13. -
Correction of a mistaken inference which they had deduced from a former letter of St. Paul's.Verse 9. -
In an Epistle; rather,
in the
Epistle;
in some former letter to the Church, which is no longer extant (comp.
2 Corinthians 10:10). The attempt to get rid of so plain a statement, in the supposed interests of some superstitious notion that every line which an apostle wrote to a Church must necessarily have been inspired and infallible, is at once unscriptural and grossly superstitious. The notion that "the Epistle" intended is
this Epistle is an absurdity invented in the interests of the same fiction. The only hypothesis which could give the least plausibility to such a view is that which makes this paragraph a postscript or marginal addition after the letter was finished; but there is little or nothing in favour of such a view.
Not to company with. The Greek word is rather stronger:
not to be mingled up among (comp.
2 Thessalonians 3:14). The spirit of the injunction is repeated in
Ephesians 5:11, "Have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them."
Parallel Commentaries ...
Greek
I wroteἜγραψα(Egrapsa)Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 1st Person Singular
Strong's 1125:A primary verb; to 'grave', especially to write; figuratively, to describe.youὑμῖν(hymin)Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative 2nd Person Plural
Strong's 4771:You. The person pronoun of the second person singular; thou.inἐν(en)Preposition
Strong's 1722:In, on, among. A primary preposition denoting position, and instrumentality, i.e. A relation of rest; 'in, ' at, on, by, etc.[my]τῇ(tē)Article - Dative Feminine Singular
Strong's 3588:The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.letterἐπιστολῇ(epistolē)Noun - Dative Feminine Singular
Strong's 1992:A letter, dispatch, epistle, message. From epistello; a written message.notμὴ(mē)Adverb
Strong's 3361:Not, lest. A primary particle of qualified negation; not, lest; also (whereas ou expects an affirmative one) whether.to associate withσυναναμίγνυσθαι(synanamignysthai)Verb - Present Infinitive Middle
Strong's 4874:From sun and a compound of ana and mignumi; to mix up together, i.e. associate with.sexually immoral [people].πόρνοις(pornois)Noun - Dative Masculine Plural
Strong's 4205:A fornicator, man who prostitutes himself. From pernemi; a prostitute, i.e. a debauchee.
Links
1 Corinthians 5:9 NIV1 Corinthians 5:9 NLT1 Corinthians 5:9 ESV1 Corinthians 5:9 NASB1 Corinthians 5:9 KJV
1 Corinthians 5:9 BibleApps.com1 Corinthians 5:9 Biblia Paralela1 Corinthians 5:9 Chinese Bible1 Corinthians 5:9 French Bible1 Corinthians 5:9 Catholic Bible
NT Letters: 1 Corinthians 5:9 I wrote to you in my letter (1 Cor. 1C iC 1Cor i cor icor) 
