Devine Scripture

1 Corinthians 5:2

What does 1 Corinthians 5:2 mean?

A plain-English look at 1 Corinthians 5:2 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What 1 Corinthians 5:2 means

Instead of grieving over the disgrace, the church is “puffed up.” Their pride—perhaps in their gifts, leaders, or supposed tolerance—blinds them to the seriousness of the offense. The proper response to scandal in Christ’s body is mourning, because sin wounds the sinner, the community, and the name of Christ. Paul says the offender should be “taken away” from among them, pointing to removal from fellowship. This is not cruelty but sober realism: if the church will not name evil as evil, it participates in the harm. Godly sorrow should move the church to loving, corrective discipline for the sake of holiness and the sinner’s restoration.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

And ye are puffed up, and did not rather mourn, that he that had done this deed might be taken away from among you.

KJV

King James Version · 1611

And ye are puffed up, and have not rather mourned, that he that hath done this deed might be taken away from among you.

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

And ye are puffed up, and did not rather mourn, that he that had done this deed might be taken away from among you.

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

And in place of feeling sorrow, you are pleased with yourselves, so that he who has done this thing has not been sent away from among you.

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

and ye are having been puffed up, and did not rather mourn, that he may be removed out of the midst of you who did this work,

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

And you are puffed up and have not rather mourned: that he might be taken away from among you that hath done this thing.

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

And ye are puffed up, and ye have not rather mourned, in order that he that has done this deed might be taken away out of the midst of you.

Context

After exposing the sin in verse 1, Paul now rebukes the congregation’s posture. Their arrogance is out of step with the grief sin should produce. This contrast prepares for the authoritative judgment of verses 3–5, where Paul, though absent, directs the church to act decisively. The verse frames discipline as a corporate responsibility, not a private preference, which will be reinforced by the gathered action “in the name of our Lord Jesus” in the next verses.

v.1It is actually reported that there is fornication among you, and such fornication as is not even among the Gentiles, that oneof you hath his father’s wife.

v.2This passage

v.3For I verily, being absent in body but present in spirit, have already as though I were present judged him that hath so wrought this thing,

Cross references

Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

  • Jeremiah 13:17

    But if ye will not hear it, my soul shall weep in secret for your pride; and mine eye shall weep sore, and run down with tears, because Jehovah’s flock is taken captive.

  • Revelation 2:20

    But I have this against thee, that thou sufferest the woman Jezebel, who calleth herself a prophetess; and she teacheth and seduceth my servants to commit fornication, and to eat things sacrificed to idols.

  • Psalms 119:136

    Streams of water run down mine eyes, Because they observe not thy law. צ TSADHE.

  • 2 Corinthians 7:7

    and not by his coming only, but also by the comfort wherewith he was comforted in you, while he told us your longing, your mourning, your zeal for me; so that I rejoiced yet more.

  • 1 Corinthians 5:13

    But them that are without God judgeth. Put away the wicked man from among yourselves.

  • 1 Corinthians 4:18

    Now some are puffed up, as though I were not coming to you.

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