Paul’s Paternal Care 1 Corinthians 5:11 But now I have written to you not to keep company with anyone named a brother, who is sexually immoral, or covetous, or an idolater, or a reviler, or a drunkard, or an extortioner—not even to eat with such a person. A reviler would be one who is known as being characteristically abusive toward others. At any rate, this should be a warning to us to exercise control of our language. Theologian Ironside wrote, “Many people say that they are just careless with their tongue, but he points out that they might just as well say that they are careless with a machine gun.” But the general rule is that professing believers who are guilty of the sins listed should be subjected to social ostracism in order to impress on them the enormity of their transgression and to bring them to repentance. If it is objected that the Lord ate with publicans and sinners, we would point out that these men did not profess to be His followers, and in eating with them He did not recognize them as His disciples. What this passage teaches is that we should not fellowship with Christians who are living wicked lives. 1 Corinthians 5:12 For what have I to do with judging those also who are outside? Do you not judge those who are inside? Paul’s two questions in verse 12 mean that Christians are not responsible for the judgment of the unsaved. Wicked men in the world about us will be brought into judgment by the Lord Himself in a coming day. But we do have a responsibility as far as judging those who are inside the confines of the church. It is the duty of the local church to exercise godly discipline. Again, if it is objected that the Lord taught, “Judge not that you be not judged,” we would reply that there He is speaking about motives. We are not to judge men’s motives because we are not competent for that type of judgment. But the word of God is equally clear that we are to judge known sin in the assembly of God so as to maintain its reputation for holiness and so as to restore the offending brother to fellowship with the Lord. 1 Corinthians 5:13 But those who are outside God judges. Therefore “put away from yourselves the evil person.” Paul explains that God will take care of the judgment of those who are outside, that is, of the unsaved. In the meantime, the Corinthians should exercise the judgment which God has committed to them by putting away the evil person from among themselves. This calls for a public announcement in the church that this brother is no longer in fellowship. The announcement should be made in genuine sorrow and humiliation and should be followed by continual prayer for the spiritual restoration of the wanderer. Lawsuits among Believers (6:1–11)-The first eleven verses of chapter 6 have to do with lawsuits among believers. News had come to Paul that some Christians were going to law against their fellow believers—before the judges of this world. So he lays down these instructions of lasting value for the church. Note the repetition of the expression “Do you not know” (vv. 2, 3, 9, 15, 16, 19). 1 Corinthians 6:1 Dare any of you, having a matter against another, go to law before the unrighteous, and not before the saints? The phrase in Gr. was commonly used of a lawsuit (“go to law”). Suing another believer in a secular law court is a daring act of disobedience because of its implications related to all sin—the displeasure of God. Unrighteous - This does not refer to their moral character, but to their unsaved spiritual condition. Believers are to settle all issues between themselves within the church. 1 Corinthians 6:2 Do you not know that the saints will judge the world? And if the world will be judged by you, are you unworthy to judge the smallest matters? A second glaring inconsistency is that those who one day will judge the world should be incapable of judging trivial matters that come up among themselves. The Scriptures teach that believers will reign with Christ over the earth when He returns in power and glory, and that matters of judgment will be committed to them. If Christians are going to judge the world, should they not be able to handle petty differences that plague them now? 1 Corinthians 6:3 Do you not know that we shall judge angels? How much more, things that pertain to this life? Paul reminds the Corinthians that they will judge angels. It is almost astounding to consider the manner in which the apostle injects such a momentous statement into the discussion. Without fanfare or build-up, he states the tremendous fact that Christians will one day judge angels. Macdonald, W. (1995). Believer’s Bible Commentary: Old and New Testaments. (A. Farstad, Ed.). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.