1 Corinthians 5:1

It is reported. The new subject, dealing with the case of scandalous incest in the church, is abruptly introduced. This case, like the matter of the factions, had not been mentioned in the letter written by the church to Paul (see on ch. 7:1). It was probably reported by the members of Chloe’s household (see ch. 1:11).

Commonly. Gr. holds, “actually,” or “generally.” The report given to the apostle was beyond question a statement of absolute fact. It was a matter of general knowledge among the believers, and this made their attitude toward the offender the more reprehensible.

Fornication. Gr. pomeia. This word, appearing twice in this verse, is a general term describing illicit sexual relationships whether between married or unmarried persons (see Matt. 5:32; Acts 15:20).

Named. Textual evidence attests (cf. p. 10) the omission of this word. The reading then would be “such fornication as is not among the Gentiles.” It would be bad enough if the report concerned any form of immorality, but that which existed at Corinth was of a nature that even heathen people condemned. This was indeed a cause of amazement and wonder to Paul, and to any person who knew the exalted standard of purity held before the believer in Jesus (see Ex. 20:14; Matt. 5:8, 27-32; 1 Cor. 6:9, 10; Gal. 5:19-21; Eph. 5:5; Rev. 21:8). That a crime which even heathen people would regard with abhorrence should be tolerated in a Christian church greatly aggravated the offense, and called for immediate and drastic action.

One should have. The Greek may mean that he had either married her or that he was simply maintaining her for immoral purposes. The father may earlier have died or his wife may have ran away or have been divorced by him.

His father’s wife. Not his mother, but another wife of his father’s. The two are distinguished in Lev. 18:6-8. The crime was punishable by death (Lev. 20:11). The penalty was not relaxed in the Mishnaic period. The Mishnah contains the following:

“The following are stoned: he who commits incest with his mother, his father’s wife, or his daughter-in-law ...” (Sanhedrin 7.4, Soncino ed. of the Talmud, p. 359). Roman law also forbade the relationship (Gaius Institutes i. 63).