1 Corinthians 5:10

I was not including the sexually immoral of this world, or the greedy and swindlers, or idolaters. In that case you would have to leave this world.

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — Paul writes to the Corinthian church to correct a misunderstanding of his previous letter regarding church discipline and social boundaries. He clarifies that his instruction to separate from sinners does not apply to non-Christians.

The words — οὐ (ou) translates as "not," and κόσμου (kosmou) means "world." The text explicitly denies that the command to avoid the sexually immoral, greedy, swindlers, and idolaters extends to the broader world.

The thread — This boundary between internal church discipline and external engagement runs through John 17:15, where Jesus prays for believers to remain in the world while being kept from evil, and aligns with 1 Corinthians 10:27, which permits eating with unbelievers without religious hesitation.

Why it lands — The text demands a practical distinction: believers must enforce moral separation within the church while remaining physically present in society. Readers must stop using church discipline as an excuse for isolation and apply it strictly to professing members.

Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.

The Greek words

King James Version

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.

Cross-references

1 Corinthians 10:27 If an unbeliever invites you to a meal and you want to go, eat anything set before you without raising questions of conscience.
John 17:15 I am not asking that You take them out of the world, but that You keep them from the evil one.
Matthew 5:14 You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden.
John 8:23 Then He told them, “You are from below; I am from above. You are of this world; I am not of this world.
John 15:19 If you were of the world, it would love you as its own. Instead, the world hates you, because you are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world.
1 Corinthians 1:20 Where is the wise man? Where is the scribe? Where is the philosopher of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world?
2 Corinthians 4:4 The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.
Ephesians 2:2 in which you used to walk when you conformed to the ways of this world and of the ruler of the power of the air, the spirit who is now at work in the sons of disobedience.
Philippians 2:15 so that you may be blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and perverse generation, in which you shine as lights in the world
1 John 4:5 They are of the world. That is why they speak from the world’s perspective, and the world listens to them.