1 Corinthians 5:9-13
9 “I wrote to you in my letter not to associate with sexually immoral people;10 I did not at all mean with the sexually immoral people of this world, or with the greedy and swindlers, or with idolaters, for then you would have to leave the world. 11 But actually, I wrote to you not to associate with any so-called brother if he is a sexually immoral person, or a greedy person, or an idolater, or is verbally abusive, or habitually drunk, or a swindler—not even to eat with such a person. 12 For what business of mine is it to judge outsiders? Do you not judge those who are within the church? 13 But those who are outside, God judges. Remove the evil person from among yourselves.”
Immoral people: Paul wanted to make sure the Corinthian Christians understood his intentions. He was not encouraging believers to be isolated from unbelievers. Unbelievers will never act better because they are spiritually dead and will continuously walk after the flesh. Rather, Paul was talking about not associating with believers who are caught up in scandalous sins such as the one cited in this chapter. Believers are to judge such actions out of love and with a view to restoration. And this is precisely what appears to have happened to the individual in question (see 2 Corinthians 2:8).
Not even to eat with such a person: Paul does not want believers to associate with believers who are habitually immoral in areas of sexual immorality, greed, idolatry, verbal abuse, drunkenness and swindling. Such sinful behavior mars the reputation of believers amongst the culture.
