the Week of Christ the King / Proper 29 / Ordinary 34
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New King James Version
1 Corinthians 5:1
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I don't want to believe what I am hearing—that there is sexual sin among you. And it is such a bad kind of sexual sin that even those who have never known God don't allow it. People say that a man there has his father's wife.
It is actually reported that there is immorality among you, and of a kind that is not found even among pagans; for a man is living with his father's wife.
There goeth a comen sayinge that ther is fornicacion amoge you and soche fornicacion as is not once named amonge the gentyls: that one shuld have his fathers wyfe.
It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you, and such sexual immorality as is not even named among the Goyim, that one has his father's wife.
It is actually reported that sexual immorality exists among you, and of a kind that is not found even among the Gentiles. A man is actually living with his father's wife!Leviticus 18:8; Deuteronomy 22:30; 27:20; 2 Corinthians 7:12; Ephesians 5:3;">[xr]
It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you, and sexual immorality of such a kind as does not exist even among the Gentiles, namely, that someone has his father's wife.
It is actually being said that there is sexual sin among you. And it is a kind that does not happen even among people who do not know God. A man there has his father's wife.
It is actually reported that there is fornication among you, and such fornication as is not even among the Gentiles, that one [of you] has his father's wife.
It is reported commonly [that there is] lewdness among you, and such lewdness as is not so much as named among the Gentiles, that one should have his father's wife.
It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you, and of a kind that is not tolerated even among pagans, for a man has his father's wife.
It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you, and such sexual immorality as is not even named among the Gentiles, that one has his father's wife.
It is commonly reported, that there is fornication among you, and such fornication, as is not even named among the heathens, that one should have his father's wife.
It is actually reported that there is fornication among you, and of a kind unheard of even among the Gentiles--a man has his father's wife!
In al maner fornycacioun is herd among you, and siche fornycacioun, which is not among hethene men, so that summan haue the wijf of his fadir.
It is actually reported that there is fornication among you, and such fornication as is not even among the Gentiles, that one [of you] hath his father’s wife.
It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you, and of a kind that is intolerable even among pagans: A man has his father's wife.
I have heard terrible things about some of you. In fact, you are behaving worse than the Gentiles. A man is even sleeping with his own stepmother.
It is actually reported [everywhere] that there is sexual immorality among you, a kind of immorality that is condemned even among the [unbelieving] Gentiles: that someone has [an intimate relationship with] his father's wife.
It is actually reported that there is fornication among you, and such fornication as is not even among the Gentiles, that one of you hath his father's wife.
It is said, in fact, that there is among you a sin of the flesh, such as is not seen even among the Gentiles, that one of you has his father's wife.
It is actually being reported that there is sexual sin among you, and it is sexual sin of a kind that is condemned even by pagans — a man is living with his stepmother!
It is universally reported [that there is] fornication among you, and such fornication as [is] not even among the nations, so that one should have his father's wife.
Fornication is commonly reported among you; and such fornication as is not heard among the Heathens, that the son should take the wife of his father.
In short, it is reported, there is whoredom among you; and such whoredom as is not even named among the heathen, that a son should even take the wife of his father.
It is reported commonly, that there is fornication among you, and such fornication, as is not so much as named amongst the Gentiles, that one should haue his fathers wife.
I can hardly believe the report about the sexual immorality going on among you—something that even pagans don't do. I am told that a man in your church is living in sin with his stepmother.
Someone has told me about a sex sin among you. It is so bad that even the people who do not know God would not do it. I have been told that one of the men is living with his father's wife as if she were his wife.
It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you, and of a kind that is not found even among pagans; for a man is living with his father's wife.
It is heard certainely that there is fornication among you: and such fornication as is not once named among the Gentiles, that one should haue his fathers wife.
IT is reported that immorality is com mon among you, and such immorality as is not known among pagans, that even a son should marry his father''s wife. *
On all hands, there is reported to be among you - fornication, and such fornication as this - which, not among the nations, is found , - as that one should have, his father's wife: -
It is absolutely heard that there is fornication among you and such fornication as the like is not among the heathens: that one should have his father’s wife.
There goeth a common saying that there is fornication among you, & suche fornication as is not named among the gentiles: that one shoulde haue his fathers wyfe.
Now, it is actually being said that there is sexual immorality among you so terrible that not even the heathen would be guilty of it. I am told that a man is sleeping with his stepmother!
It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you, and the kind of sexual immorality that is not even tolerated among the Gentiles—a man is sleeping with his father’s wife.
It is reported commonly that there is fornication among you, and such fornication as is not so much as named among the Gentiles, that one should have his father's wife.
It is reported everywhere that there is sexual immorality among you, and sexual immorality of such a kind which does not even exist among the Gentiles, so that someone has the wife of his father.
Everywhere it is heard that fornication is among you, and such fornication which is not named among the heathen, so as for one to have his father's wife.
Whoredom is actually heard of among you, and such whoredom as is not even named among the nations -- as that one hath the wife of the father! --
There goeth a commen reporte, that there is whordome amoge you, and soch whordome, as is not once named amoge the Heythen, that one shulde haue his fathers wife.
we have it from all quarters, that incest is practis'd among you, and such as is not among the Gentiles, that of a man's having his father's wife.
I also received a report of scandalous sex within your church family, a kind that wouldn't be tolerated even outside the church: One of your men is sleeping with his stepmother. And you're so above it all that it doesn't even faze you! Shouldn't this break your hearts? Shouldn't it bring you to your knees in tears? Shouldn't this person and his conduct be confronted and dealt with?
It is actually reported that sexual immorality exists among you, the kind of immorality that is not permitted even among the Gentiles, so that someone is cohabiting with his father's wife.
And another thing, I've heard there are perverts in your outfit there. There is dirty stuff going on there that even sinners would frown on. Please tell me there isn't a man sleeping with his stepmom!
It is actually reported that there is immorality among you, and immorality of such a kind as does not exist even among the Gentiles, that someone has his father's wife.
It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you, and sexual immorality of such a kind as does not exist even among the Gentiles, that someone has his father's wife.
Contextual Overview
Bible Verse Review
from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge
reported: 1 Corinthians 1:11, Genesis 37:2, 1 Samuel 2:24
fornication: 1 Corinthians 5:11, 1 Corinthians 6:9, 1 Corinthians 6:13, 1 Corinthians 6:18, Acts 15:20, Acts 15:29, 2 Corinthians 12:21, Galatians 5:19, Ephesians 5:3, Colossians 3:5, 1 Thessalonians 4:7, Revelation 2:21, Revelation 21:8
and: Jeremiah 2:33, Ezekiel 16:47, Ezekiel 16:51, Ezekiel 16:52
that one: Genesis 35:22, Genesis 49:4, Leviticus 18:8, Leviticus 20:11, Deuteronomy 22:30, Deuteronomy 27:20, 2 Samuel 16:22, 2 Samuel 20:3, 1 Chronicles 5:1, Ezekiel 22:10, Amos 2:7, 2 Corinthians 7:12
Reciprocal: Joshua 7:1 - the anger Joshua 7:13 - take away Judges 20:7 - ye are all 2 Samuel 16:21 - unto thy Jeremiah 2:10 - and see Jeremiah 5:28 - overpass Jeremiah 18:13 - who Ezekiel 5:6 - she hath Matthew 13:47 - and gathered Matthew 19:9 - except 1 Corinthians 5:8 - not 1 Corinthians 5:13 - Therefore 1 Corinthians 11:18 - I hear 2 Corinthians 2:3 - I wrote 2 Corinthians 2:5 - any 2 Corinthians 11:29 - and I burn Hebrews 12:16 - any fornicator 3 John 1:10 - I will
Cross-References
This is the history [fn] of the heavens and the earth when they were created, in the day that the Lord God made the earth and the heavens,
After he begot Lamech, Methuselah lived seven hundred and eighty-two years, and had sons and daughters.
So all the days of Methuselah were nine hundred and sixty-nine years; and he died.
This is the genealogy of Noah. Noah was a just man, perfect in his generations. Noah walked with God.
1 Chronicles 1:5-27">[xr] Now this is the genealogy of the sons of Noah: Shem, Ham, and Japheth. And sons were born to them after the flood.
Truly, this only I have found: That God made man upright, But they have sought out many schemes."
Remember now your Creator in the days of your youth, Before the difficult days come, And the years draw near when you say, "I have no pleasure in them":
Ruth 4:18-22; 1 Chronicles 2:1-5; Luke 3:23-38">[xr] The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the Son of David, the Son of Abraham:
For a man indeed ought not to cover his head, since he is the image and glory of God; but woman is the glory of man.
Gill's Notes on the Bible
It is reported commonly that there is fornication among you,.... The apostle having reproved the Corinthians for their schisms and divisions about their ministers, proceeds to charge them with immoralities committed among them, and which were connived at, and took no notice of by them; and particularly a very notorious one, which he here mentions with its aggravated circumstances. It was done among them; not only by one of their citizens, nor merely by one of their hearers, but by one of their members, and so was cognizable by them as a church; for though they had nothing to do with them that were without, yet they were concerned with them that were within: this was a public offence; it was known by everyone, and it was in everybody's mouth; it was heard in all companies; it was "commonly",
ολÏÏ, "universally" talked of, and reported; it was generally known at Corinth, and in all Achaia, so that the church could not plead ignorance, nor could they be excused from blame in not as publicly declaring their abhorrence of the fact, as it was committed, which was fornication: fornication, ολÏÏ, "generally" taken, might be committed among them in all the branches of it, as that may include simple fornication, adultery, incest, and all acts of uncleanness; wherefore the apostle proceeds to describe that particular instance of fornication, that one of their members was guilty of:
and such fornication as is not so much as named among the Gentiles, that one should have his father's wife; not but that such unnatural copulations were practised, as among the Indians, Moors, Bactrians, Ethiopians, Medes, and Persians, as reported by sundry writers y; and among the Arabians, before prohibited by Mahomet z; but then such marriages and mixtures were not allowed of among the more civil and cultivated nations, as the Grecians and Romans, and never mentioned but with detestation and abhorrence: and if this man was a Jew, it was an aggravation of his sin, that he should be guilty of a crime decried by the Gentiles, as well as it was a violation of a known law of God given to the Jews, Leviticus 18:7 and, according to the Jewish writers a, such a man was doubly guilty: their canon is,
"ba tva le abh he that lies with his father's wife is guilty, on account of her being his father's wife, and on account of her being another man's wife, whether in his father's life time, or after his death, and whether espoused or married;''
and such an one was to be stoned. Of this kind was this man's crime; he had his father's wife, not his own mother, but his stepmother; for there is a distinction between a mother and a father's wife, as in the above canon.
"These are to be stoned, he that lies with his mother, or with his father's wife.''
Whether this man had married his father's wife, or kept her as his concubine, continuing in an incestuous cohabitation with her, is not certain, and whether his father was dead or living; which latter seems to be the case from 2 Corinthians 7:12 his iniquity was abominable and intolerable, and by no means to be winked at in church of Christ.
y Alex. ab Alex. Genial. Dier. l. 1. c. 24. Curtius, l. 8. c. 2. Philo, de special. leg. p. 77. 8. Tertul. Apolog. c. 9. Min. Foelix, p. 34. Clement. Alex. Paedagog. p. 109. Origen. contr. Cels. l. 6. p. 331. Hieron. adv. Jovin. l. 2. fol. 26. z Koran, c. 4. Vid. Pocock. spec, Arab. Hist p. 337, 338. a Misn. Sanhedrin, c. 7. sect. 4.
Barnes' Notes on the Bible
It is reported - Greek It is heard. There is a rumor. That rumor had been brought to Paul, probably by the members of the family of Chloe, 1 Corinthians 1:11.
Commonly - ÎÌÌλÏÏ HoloÌs. Everywhere. It is a matter of common fame. It is so public that it cannot be concealed; and so certain that it cannot be denied. This was all offence, he informs us, which even the pagan would not justify or tolerate; and, therefore, the report had spread not only in the churches, but even among the pagan, to the great scandal of religion - When a report obtains such a circulation, it is certainly time to investigate it, and to correct the evil.
That there is fornication - See the note at Acts 15:20. The word is here used to denote incest, because the apostle immediately explains the nature of the offence.
And such fornication ... - An offence that is not tolerated or known among the pagan. This greatly aggravated the offence, that in a Christian church a crime should be tolerated among its members which even gross pagans would regard with abhorrence. That this offence was regarded with abhorrence by even the pagans has been abundantly proved by quotations from classic writers. See Wetstein, Bloomfield, and Whitby. Cicero says of the offence, expressly, that âit was an incredible and unheard of crime.â Pro Cluen. 5. 6 - When Paul says that it was not âso much as named among the Gentiles,â he doubtless uses the word (οÌνομαÌζεÏαι onomazetai) in the sense of ânamed with approbation, tolerated,â or âallowed.â The crime was known in a few instances, but chiefly of those who were princes and rulers; but it was no where regarded with approbation, but was always treated as abominable wickedness. All that the connection requires us to understand by the word ânamedâ here is, that it was not tolerated or allowed; it was treated with abhorrence, and it was therefore, more scandalous that it was allowed in a Christian church - Whitby supposes that this offence that was tolerated in the church at Corinth gave rise to the scandals that were circulated among the pagan respecting the early Christians, that they allowed of licentious contact among the members of their churches. This reproach was circulated extensively among the pagan, and the primitive Christians were at much pains to refute it.
That one should have - Probably as his wife; or it may mean simply that he had criminal contact with her. Perhaps some man had parted with his wife, on some account, and his son had married her, or maintained her for criminal contact. It is evident from 2 Corinthians 7:12, that the person who had suffered the wrong, as well as he who had done it, was still alive - Whether this was marriage or concubinage, has been disputed by commentators, and it is not possible, perhaps, to determine. See the subject discussed in Bloomfield.
Clarke's Notes on the Bible
CHAPTER V.
Account of the incestuous person, or of him who had married his
father's wife, 1.
The apostle reproves the Corinthians for their carelessness in
this matter, and orders them to excommunicate the transgressor,
2-5.
They are reprehended for their glorying, while such scandals
were among them, 6.
They must purge out the old leaven, that they may properly
celebrate the Christian passover, 7-9.
They must not associate with any who, professing the Christian
religion, were guilty of any scandalous vice, and must put away
from them every evil person, 10-13.
NOTES ON CHAP. V.
Verse 1 Corinthians 5:1. There is fornication among you — The word ÏοÏνεια, which we translate fornication in this place, must be understood in its utmost latitude of meaning, as implying all kinds of impurity; for, that the Corinthians were notoriously guilty of every species of irregularity and debauch, we have already seen; and it is not likely that in speaking on this subject, in reference to a people so very notorious, he would refer to only one species of impurity, and that not the most flagitious.
That one should have his father's wife. — Commentators and critics have found great difficulties in this statement. One part of the case is sufficiently clear, that a man who professed Christianity had illegal connections with his father's wife; but the principal question is, was his father alive or dead? Most think that the father was alive, and imagine that to this the apostle refers, 2 Corinthians 7:12, where, speaking of the person who did the wrong, he introduces also him who had suffered the wrong; which must mean the father and the father then alive. After all that has been said on this subject, I think it most natural to conclude that the person in question had married the wife of his deceased father, not his own mother, but stepmother, then a widow.
This was a crime which the text says was not so much as named among the Gentiles; the apostle must only mean that it was not accredited by them, for it certainly did often occur: but by their best writers who notice it, it was branded as superlatively infamous. Cicero styles it, scelus incredibile et inauditum, an incredible and unheard of wickedness; but it was heard of and practised; and there are several stories of this kind in heathen authors, but they reprobate not commend it. The word ονομαζεÏαι, named, is wanting in almost every MS. and version of importance, and certainly makes no part of the text. The words should be read, and such fornication as is not amongst the Gentiles, i.e., not allowed. Some think that this woman might have been a proselyte to the Jewish religion from heathenism; and the rabbins taught that proselytism annulled all former relationship, and that a woman was at liberty in such a case to depart from an unbelieving husband, and to marry even with a believing son, i.e., of her husband by some former wife.
