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"THE FIRST EPISTLE TO THE CORINTHIANS"
Chapter Five
OBJECTIVES IN STUDYING THIS CHAPTER
1) To understand the need for proper church discipline
2) To understand the nature of church discipline
SUMMARY
Having dealt with the problem of division in the first four chapters,
Paul now addresses the problem of immorality in the church at Corinth.
He describes the particular case at hand, one which even pagan Gentiles
would find shameful (1). Rebuking them for being "puffed up" instead
of mourning (2), Paul then instructs them to "deliver such a one to
Satan", giving them reasons why this action is necessary (3-8).
Clarifying what may have been written in an unknown earlier epistle,
Paul concludes by limiting towards whom such action is to be taken, and
describing how it is to be carried out in practice (9-13).
OUTLINE
I. THE PROBLEM OF IMMORALITY IN THE CHURCH AT CORINTH (1-2)
A. THE PARTICULAR CASE AT HAND (1)
1. Something not even the Gentiles would approve! (1a)
2. A man was living with his father's wife (1b)
B. HOW THE CORINTHIANS WERE HANDLING IT (2)
1. They were "puffed up" (2a)
2. Rather than mourning that such conduct might result in the
removal of the offender (2b)
II. INSTRUCTIONS FOR DEALING WITH THIS PROBLEM (3-13)
A. HOW TO ADMINISTER CHURCH DISCIPLINE (3-5a)
1. Must exercise judgment, as Paul though present has already
done (3)
2. When assembled together in the name of Jesus, deliver such a
one to Satan (4-5a)
B. WHY CHURCH DISCIPLINE IS NEEDED (5b-8)
1. To save the sinner (5b)
a. By destroying the flesh (its pride and works)
b. That his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord
2. To save the church (6-8)
a. "A little leaven leavens the whole lump" (6)
b. Christ, our "passover", should be kept with the unleavened
bread of sincerity and truth (7-8)
C. CLARIFICATIONS CONCERNING CHURCH DISCIPLINE (9-13)
1. Not to be exercised toward those who are of the world (9-10)
2. But towards brethren in Christ who remain in sin, with such
don't even eat (11)
3. For God judges those outside the church, while we must judge
those inside (12-13a)
4. The nature of church discipline: "put away from yourselves
that wicked person" (13b)
REVIEW QUESTIONS FOR THIS CHAPTER
1) List the main points of this chapter
- The Problem Of Immorality In The Church At Corinth (1-2)
- Instructions For Dealing With This Problem (3-13)
2) What was the nature of the immorality that existed in the church at
Corinth? (1)
- A man had his father's wife
3) What was the attitude of the church in this regard? (2)
- They were "puffed up"
4) Why does a church "deliver such a one to Satan"? (5)
- For the destruction of the flesh
- That his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord
5) Why should a church be diligent in exercising church discipline? (6)
- A little leaven leavens a whole lump
6) Who is the "passover" for Christians? (7)
- Christ
7) How should we observe our "passover"? (8)
- With sincerity and truth
8) Towards whom is church discipline to be administered? (9-11)
- Those in the church who do not repent; not those in the world
9) Who has the responsibility of judging whom? (12-13)
- God judges those outside the church; the church is to judge its
own
10) What expressions may help explain what it means to "deliver such a
one to Satan"? (11,13)
- "not to keep company"
- "not even to each with such a person"
- "put away from yourselves that wicked person"
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Executable Outlines, Copyright
© Mark A. Copeland, 2001
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