1 Corinthians 5:11 Meaning and Explanation
“But now I have written unto you not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such an one no not to eat.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →Paul's real instruction is about those within the church: a so-called brother who persists openly in serious sin is not to be welcomed at the common table.
What Does 1 Corinthians 5:11 Mean?
Now Paul makes his meaning plain. The separation he commands applies to a person who claims the name of brother yet lives openly and unrepentantly in sins like immorality, greed, idolatry, abusive speech, drunkenness, or fraud. Such a one is not even to be eaten with.
To share a meal in that culture was to share fellowship. Withholding it is not contempt but a sober signal that something is gravely wrong, meant to awaken the wanderer to their condition. The standard is higher for those inside the family of faith precisely because they bear Christ's name before the watching world.
1 Corinthians 5:11 in the Original Language
loidoros (λοίδορος), 'railer' -- a verbal abuser, one who wounds others with reviling, slanderous speech.
Frequently Asked Questions About 1 Corinthians 5:11
What does 1 Corinthians 5:11 mean?
Paul's real instruction is about those within the church: a so-called brother who persists openly in serious sin is not to be welcomed at the common table.