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Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.comRobertson Word Pictures - 1 Corinthians 5:1 - 5:1
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This Chapter Verse Commentaries:
Actually (holōs). Literally, wholly, altogether, like Latin omnino and Greek pantōs (1Co 9:22). So papyri have it for “really” and also for “generally” or “everywhere” as is possible here. See also 1Co 6:7. With a negative it has the sense of “not at all” as in 1Co 15:29; Mat 5:34 the only N.T. examples, though a common word.
It is reported (akouetai). Present passive indicative of akouō, to hear; so literally, it is heard. “Fornication is heard of among you.” Probably the household of Chloe (1Co 1:11) brought this sad news (Ellicott).
And such (kai toiautē). Climactic qualitative pronoun showing the revolting character of this particular case of illicit sexual intercourse. Porneia is sometimes used (Act 15:20, Act 15:29) of such sin in general and not merely of the unmarried whereas moicheia is technically adultery on the part of the married (Mar 7:21).
As is not even among the Gentiles (hētis oude en tois ethnesin). Height of scorn. The Corinthian Christians were actually trying to win pagans to Christ and living more loosely than the Corinthian heathen among whom the very word “Corinthianize” meant to live in sexual wantonness and license. See Cicero pro Cluentio, v. 14.
That one of you hath his father’s wife (hōste gunaika tina tou patros echein). “So as (usual force of hōste) for one to go on having (echein, present infinitive) a wife of the (his) father.” It was probably a permanent union (concubine or mistress) of some kind without formal marriage like Joh 4:8. The woman probably was not the offender’s mother (step-mother) and the father may have been dead or divorced. The Jewish law prescribed stoning for this crime (Lev 18:8; Lev 22:11; Deu 22:30). But the rabbis (Rabbi Akibah) invented a subterfuge in the case of a proselyte to permit such a relation. Perhaps the Corinthians had also learned how to split hairs over moral matters in such an evil atmosphere and so to condone this crime in one of their own members. Expulsion Paul had urged in 2Th 3:6 for such offenders.