1 Corinthians 5:12-13, Judgment

1 Corinthians 5:12-13 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.

The Apostle Paul has said in verse 3 that he has weighed the evidence and made a judgment concerning the incestuous person in the Corinthian church.

1 Corinthians 5:3 For I verily, as absent in body, but present in spirit, have judged already, as though I were present, concerning him that hath so done this deed.

He is not making a judgment concerning one that is outside the church. That he tells us in God’s prerogative. But for one that is within the church, there is a moral responsibility within the church to keep the purity of the body by dealing with sin through church discipline. He is urging the church to exercise their God-given duty to help this errant one to come back to God. And the verb “to put away” comes with it a sense of urgency, duty and command. The church is ” to put out the evil person from among its members” and it is to be done in love and  great sorrow. It seemed from indirect evidence from 2 Corinthians 2:1 that this brother was reclaimed.[Zodhiates]

May God’s body be strengthened as sin is purged and holiness restored. Amen.