In 1 Corinthians 5, the apostle Paul addresses a serious issue within the Corinthian church. He admonishes them for tolerating a case of sexual immorality that even the surrounding non-believers would find appalling. A man in the congregation had engaged in a relationship with his stepmother, a clear violation of God's law.
Paul sternly instructs the Corinthians to address this sin within their community. He rebukes them for their pride and emphasizes the importance of maintaining the purity of the church. The apostle insists that they should have expelled the immoral individual from their midst.
Paul reminds them that their fellowship is not to be contaminated by those who persist in sin, as a little yeast leavens the whole batch of dough. He calls for the man to be handed over to Satan for the destruction of his flesh, with the hope that he would repent and be saved.
The chapter concludes with Paul's instruction for the Corinthians to purge the evil person from among them, reaffirming the principle of separation from unrepentant sinners.